E30 Zone

Hey! I have an e30 325i on an '89 G plate. is it likely to be belt or chain timed? As something broke last night and now the starter motor spins but it won't start. I reckon its chain driven and it has snapped! Any ideas anyone? ps. its done 149,000 miles!

It will be a belt. same as mine.

Mine has 153490 on the clock, and still going strong.......(small overheating problem though).

belt driven dude

you have an m20 engine which was belt driven

m42 and m30 engines as well as all Mpower engines are chain i believe

So indeed, the belt has snapped! I hate the people at the garage I went to who said it was a chain! I would have had it changed otherwise! Now I bet that the head is buggered. I might take it to bits and see if any of the valves are bent

I could be other things, the starter motor clutch could have gone, or the Flywheel could have lost a couple of teeth (so thte starter motor don't engage)

try pushing the car forward in gear and then trying again.

Oh yea m10 engines have chains (as do most new bmw engines i ithink...)

If the pulleys and belts at the front of the engine go around when cranking, then it's nothing to do with the starter motor.
Look in the oil filler hole while it's being cranked, and see if the camshaft is turning / rockers are moving.

when I was accelerating (hard) suddenly I heard a bang and the car died. It now will not start.

louis_monk wrote:when I was accelerating (hard) suddenly I heard a bang and the car died. It now will not start.

Snapped cam belt.

So is that really bad??

oze30 wrote:So is that really bad??

Yep, M20's are interfernce engines.

oze30 wrote:So is that really bad??

About as bad as it gets, as far as the engine is concerned.

I have a complete car with mot and tax for sale. It is in good condition, with a new supersprint back box, the rest of the exhaust system has just been replaced, 16" wheels with brand new back tyres, a k & n cone filter and is otherwise in great condition. EXCEPT: the cam belt has snapped. I haven't inspected it to see if it has done any damage to the engine. first sensible bid buys. Buyer collects my number is 01489 575715 during office hours and ask for Louis. failing that just email me at louis_monk@hotmail.com I AM PREPARED TO BREAK. Also M-tec steering wheel and gearnob (leather)

where in the country are you mate?

Portsmouth. I'm just so annoyed that I was mislead by the garage after I went and asked them when I bought it. I guess I could fix it, but I'm a little disheartened now!

I also spent about Ԛ£300 three months ago on a supersprint exhaust system for it as the last one was blowing! Now I have to sell the whole car for very little!

I would encourage you to fix it if you have the capabilities. Possibly cheaper to get hold of another engine and do belts etc off the car.

If not I suppose a second hand engine is Ԛ£100 and a garage would probably want Ԛ£150-Ԛ£200 to fit it.

Car is worth more running dude or to keep and enjoy. Otherwise it is cut your losses and take what you can get for it

I want to cut my losses and take what I can for it. Anyone wanna give me a few hundred quid for it?

wish you weren't 300+ miles away!

dude, put a thread up in the for sale section, pretty sure it will go quickly, if not ebay will prob see Ԛ£150 for it on a bad day

I have put a thread up in the for sale section. My home number is 02392 619430 if anyone has any questions on it (but please don't call after 9pm... my granparents are staying with me!)