[b]320 cambelt lesson[/b]

[koos]

Hello all e30ers. Did the cambelt on my 320 today, and learnt a lesson!!
I am a mechanic(trucks) so i thought this would be a walk in the park. Wasnt too bad until i started it and there was an almighty squeel and a wee bit of smoke, and then my heart sank to my nads!!!!!! what the hell has happened? To cut a long story short there are two metal covers that cover the cambelt, I had put the top one on first and then the bottom one, a no no. If you do it the way I did it, the cover sits too close to the tensioner and it rubs, causing a squeel and yes smoke, luckily not too much damage, did fit another tensioner though as the first new one went blue from the heat, so for all you DIYers put the bottom cover on first or you will be scratching your head trying to find the noise and smoke.
Not a bad job to do, if you can lift a spanner.

[slideways]

truck mechanic too and thats sounds a wee bit familar. had a diesel golf and changed the belt during my dinner hour in work. drove the 15 miles home after and when i hoped out got a burning smell. one of the spring clips was inside the cover and had worn a track down the center of the belt!!

[chu346]

take it you didn't read the haynes manual "fitting is the reverse of removal"