M52b25 problems....

Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:48 pm

Hello,

On the sad day that I sell my E30, the universe decides to kick a man whilst he is down and throws what sounded like a spanner in the works of my e36 323i.

The car started to idle a little rough a couple days ago, very much from the front of the engine, thinking vanos/ chain tensioner. Video of noise below.

Today something went ping.

Any insightful thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Tom

Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:22 am

I am sure there is far more educated opinions on here than I, but that sounds very timing chain/timing chain guide issues...I would get the cam cover off ASAP and see if there's anything obviously amiss (like bits of timing chain guide floating around, loose chain). I can't hear the video too great, could also be a very very crunchy vanos unit. Doesn't sound healthy to run....

Good luck!

Cheers,
Gus

Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:23 am

Thank you Gus,

Haven't turn the car over since it happened, manage to turn it off very quickly so hopefully what damage done may be minimal. When it did happen the car was still running smoothly just made a metallic grinding noise.

Will be taking the cover off today.

Tom

Thu Sep 16, 2021 7:09 pm

Does sound like a rattly vanos, but the idle is also off/hunting which can make rattles worse.
Have you dipped the oil lately?
Could also be waterpump or belt tensioner

Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:10 am

Believe it to be the water pump, wasn't until I started to take the valve cover off that I noticed the fan was at a slight angle to the shroud. Quite a bit of play within the water pump itself, surprising given there was no indication of cooling problems whatsoever pre failure. Will be replacing vanos seals as a precaution and also addressing ICV.

Anything else recommended whilst addressing cooling system/ intake manifold off?

Thank you for your help