M40 316i cambelt

[F1champ]

Hi just recently got my hands on a 316i touring. Anyway needs a bit of TLC and one of the things I need to do is the cambelt. I'm not confident enough to do it myself. So I'm asking how much should this cost at a BMW specialist roughly to have done. I live in the Manchester area.

[JP1800]

It is a very simple process, it should take roughly 2 hours to do. When I done mine I also replaced the water pump as the car had reached 100K miles and was on the original pump.

[daboy3000]

I just ordered a cam belt kit from Amazon of all places, I got the last one at £59 but they have two left at £70



If its the same as a 318 then it should fit, pump is about £35 from euro car parts.

[Brianmoooore]

316i and 318i service parts are the same.
M40 cambelt change is considerably more complicated than on a M20, but still easy.
Use a 10mm (?) drill bit to lock the crankshaft at TDC (in the hole under the starter motor), and a straight edge across the flat on the camshaft to get the timing right. Cam locking tool is a luxury - it won't move with the belt off.
The cam pulley is an interference fit on the camshaft, and you are supposed to fine tune the timing by slackening off the pulley bolt, but it was set correctly at the factory, and if it hasn't been messed with since, it won't be far out.
A good DIY method of tensioning the belt is shown in the Haynes manual.

[Brianmoooore]

If its the same as a 318 then it should fit, pump is about £35 from euro car parts.

£20 from ECP, or the same part, from the same shelf, packed by the same people, at £3-50 less, from CP4L.

[F1champ]

OK thanks for the input. I just don't want to mess it up and ruin the engine.
So I will get a local BMW specialist on it.

[Brianmoooore]

Buy a Haynes manual, roll your sleeves up, and get stuck in! Unless you're one of these people that shouldn't be let within ten metres of any toolbox, then you won't ruin anything.
An E30 can be the cheapest to run and most reliable car you'll ever own, but not if you farm basic mechanical work out to others.

[F1champ]

OK just bought a Haynes manual off Amazon. Your right if I get my hands dirty the e30 will be fairly cheap to own. I can and do service my own car so I reckon I could this. Wish me luck.

[Brianmoooore]

Wish me luck.

Luck not needed. Just a methodical approach, check everything, and resist the temptation to over tighten fasteners.

[minesapint]

And lots of photos as you go along to reference

[F1champ]

Thanks all will take my time. Lots of photos for reference.

[JP1800]

On a final note, when you have the belt on and tensioned rotate the engine at least twice by hand via the crank pulley bolt and check that your timing marks align and there is no abnormal resistance. This is a must before you fire up the engine as any shift in timing can ruin your engine in a matter of seconds.

[Andyboy]

I would fit a complete kit with all the rollers. Beware Tourings as from December 1990/Jan 1991 (H reg), they went to the E36 type front timing case and the big roller is different.
Buy a timing kit (cam lock and flywheel pin) from Ebay, about 20 quid. When doing the belt, remove the rotor arm and loosen the torx bolt so that the cam pulley rotates slightly. This is so the belt can be tensioned and the pulley moves to where it wants to be, with the cam locked. Threadlock the bolt and retighten it. M40 belts are really easy when you've done a couple. I used to do them without the cam lock, using a set square to get the cam in the right place. You can get away with not loosening the cam pulley bolt and just putting the belt on as the old one came off..........if you're 100% sure the cam timing is correct, and the belt was properly fitted last time.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-316i-1-6- ... SwZjJU5SX0