E30 Zone

My mate has a 318is and wanted to know whether he should change his timing chain. He has 115000 miles on it. What do you guys think?

Cheers.

If he's not getting a noise from the front of the engine, the best thing he can do is pop off the cover, make sure the cam timing is spot on (they can slip or be incorrectly adjusted) and replace the hyraulic tensioner from the old design M42 one to the newer M44 one. Do this before the tensioner goes and it'll help prevent everything else wearing on the timing side.

I didn't do this. When I first got mine it had a little noise, obviously needed a new tensioner, but I ignored it. When the noise got much worse I looked into it and the loose chain had slapped around, worn everything and stretched an awful lot. I had to change the chain and all the guides and tensioner.

On the plus side, since changing the chain my cam timing is spot on and the car drives a lot better. The crazy erratic idling has smoothed right out too..

God luck man.

Jai

Preventative maintenance is the key here. Like Jai said if it seems ok, change the tensioner and the just monitor it.

From other peeps experience, 150,000 seems to be the magic number tho. After that it can become a lottery as to when the chain gives up

When you say just monitor it (If you just change the tensioner), how do you do that. Do you just have to listen out for any noises or something else?

Check out the links page and goto 318is maintenance. Will take you to BP's web site. The guy's has more info on the 318is than any one. Top site and top help for changing and monitoring the chain. Well recommended.

Jaistanley did you do the work yourself? If so are there any difficulties such as getting the crank pulley/sprocket off?How much are all the bits, mine is going to get done next week now I have the time.did you replace the sprockets as well?

Sorry this reply is so late.. Didn't realise you'd asked me... Hope this'll help someone anyway...

The bottom pulley bolt it a complete and utter sh1t to remove. I mean in a big way. Firstly whack it with the biggest hammer you can find to shock it. Then hit it again. Then a bit more. Now go find a brake slider pin or something smoother and not brittle to pop into the flywheel locking hole on the bellhousing/fllywheel (see haynes or bently). Find the longest bar you can (5 foot, 3/4" drive snapon one I think we used) and go for it.

The bottom pulley bolt is a stretch bolt so you will need a new one to re-fit and remember to lube it up before fitting...

Good luck to anyone doing this. Perhaps I got unlucky and mine was seized..

Jai