Timing belt buying advice please

[jimf]

Hi folks, I'm gathering up all the bits I need for doing a timing belt, water pump and coolant change on my 325i.
There is plenty choice on eBay at good prices but would anyone recomend or advise to avoid any brand in particular.

Also, is it a wise move to change the pulley tensioner at the same time?

[kam-325i]

If you dont know when the tensioner was last changed, change it.....

i dont know about brands, but watch for the wrong belts, some have one less tooth...

I think the m20 should be 127 teeth.

[Rtaylor2208]

Www.carparts4less.co.uk

Contitech Timing belt kit about 36 quid you'll get a pump and coolant there too.

[capri_rob]

Contitech make the belts for BMW - if you buy one from the dealer its a Contitech belt in a BMW box at significantly more than you'll pay as above /\/\

Buy the kit which includes the tensioner and a KWP water pump is a good quality one.

[jimf]

Kam, great info there, will be sure to compare the new one to the old one. Thanks.

Rtaylor, thanks, that seems a bit steep compare to some I've seen but if it's good quality guarenteed then I'm sure it's worth it.

[jimf]

More great info, thanks rob.

[Grrrmachine]

Contitech Timing belt kit about 36 quid

That's odd, it's only 26 quid over here, plus postage.

[Blitz]

Contitech Timing belt kit about 36 quid

That's odd, it's only 26 quid over here, plus postage.

Its £10 cheaper to buy the belt and tensioner separately.

[Andyboy]

Whilst you're doing the belt, replace the tensioner spring ( a couple of quid from BMW) and the cam oil seal. The latter is dead easy; with the old belt still on, remove the rotor arm and just crack off the centre torx bolt and gently nip it up again to just more than finger tight. SEt the crank and cam pulleys to TDC, remove the belt as usual, and then undo the centre bolt again. The pulley comes off and you'll see the alloy oil seal holder with two 10mm bolts. Remove this, fit the new oil seal, grease or oil both this and the cam and carefully slide it back on. Refit the pulley, rotor arm flange and the centre bolt - this wants a dose of threadlock and just nipping up for now. Refit and tension the belt before tightening to 70 nm (50 lb.ft). Most M20's leak from this seal so it's worth the 8 quid or whatever a new seal costs now.

Definitely fit a new tensioner, the Contitech kits are excellent.

There is only one belt for the E30. The older square tooth belt was for the pre October 1981 engines - 320 and 323i E21 and the E12 520.