E46 Drive Belt unpleasantness

Post Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:32 pm

I had a bit of drama in my E46 318ci the other day when the drive belt that runs the power steering, water pump, alternator etc decided to snap! I had the car recovered by a BMW specialist who kindly fitted a new drive belt. After driving about 80 miles the new belt decided to detach itself from its pullies. Another garage has since inspected the tensioners etc and after finding no obvious faults, re-fitted the belt.

Any ideas why this has happened as I'm not exactly confident of driving the car without it happening again? Is it likely the belt wasn't originally fitted correctly or is there anything else I should be aware of? The car does have an oil leak which I'm hopefully getting sorted next week but I can't imagine this would affect the belt? The engine is the Valvetronic anchor if that helps. Thanks.

Post Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:34 pm

pullie allignment maybe or even a loose one.

Post Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:45 pm

the bottom pullie on my e39 looked fine when the car is not running but when you started it up you could see it was not running straight and looked to have a wobble yet when you inspected the pullie it was solid with no movement.

Post Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:58 pm

The power steering pulley on my engine looks fine till you fit a belt, then you notice the outer (front) has been pushed in (accident damaged from donor car). Means the belt rode up there, overheated and de-laminated. Just check all the belts run true (dont lean in with a tie on, trust me.....)

You could have been unlucky and just got a manufacturing defect in your belt.

Relax...

Jai