M50 secondary timing chain tensioner

Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:00 pm

How easy is it to change the secondary timing chain tensioner (the one inside the engine) on a non vanos m50? Any guides with pictures? will i need any specialst tools to do this?

Cheers guys

Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:59 pm

If you mean the chain guide then you cant unless the head is removed

Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:06 pm

Feck. Read that on the vanos you need to remove the vanos to get to it but can't find out about the nv. The tensioner I'm on about is between the inlet and exhaust pulleys - is that the same one as your saying?

Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:24 pm

Ah you mean the tensioner for the secondary chain, I read 'secondary tensioner'

Its a piece of p1ss, you need to take the sprockets off but if you mark everything with paint you cant go wrong

Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:33 pm

Thats me being "special"

Glad to hear that its easy, are you able to sort it with just the rocker rocker off? You're probably the man to ask though, are there any good books / websites that teach you about stripping these engines down and rebuilding them? I've got a bit of a dream conjuring up

Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:56 pm

You don't need the special BMW tool to lock the camshafts you can do it this way....

Dan will be cringing now

Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:19 pm

That has to be a Bob_S solution..

Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:32 pm

Jhonno wrote:That has to be a Bob_S solution..

Nope, even Bob used the BMW tool. He's sleeping with the guys in the parts department at our local dealer though - so they lent it to him in return for something.......!

Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:36 pm

They probably heard what happened when he tried to time up an M42 and thought they would do him a favour and lend him the right tool...

Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:38 pm

Theo325 wrote:They probably heard what happened when he tried to time up an M42 and thought they would do him a favour and lend him the right tool...

What happend when he tried to time up an M42? He's never shared that story with me.....

Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:32 pm

He probably timed it with a hammer..

Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:36 pm

Jhonno wrote:He probably timed it with a hammer..

Quite possibly, when we went to help Lee with his M52 touring we saw Bob cut a piece of wood with a hammer

Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:57 pm

Tools always have more than one use..
I've seen one frightfully scared tool experience his first 24v.. hello Dafs

Theo, that engine is spot on I'll have you know, spirit level wins

Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:06 pm

Bob_S wrote:Tools always have more than one use..

To be fair I do agree... you remember taking that rack off in the rain with a ball joint splitter

Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:13 pm

Daf318is wrote:
Bob_S wrote:Tools always have more than one use..
To be fair I do agree... you remember taking that rack off in the rain with a ball joint splitter

Just remember where your engine appeared from, you should be mighty greatful!

Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:29 pm

Bob_S wrote:
Daf318is wrote:
Bob_S wrote:Tools always have more than one use..
To be fair I do agree... you remember taking that rack off in the rain with a ball joint splitter
Just remember where your engine appeared from, you should be mighty greatful!

I am even thought I had to do the following jobs where you and your hammer had been before me....

- 1 engine to box stud snapped off in block.
- 1 other engine to box stud snapped off and drilled out including the thread.
- Dodgy idle - cured by fitting the correct no of bolts to the throttle body
- Oil leak - fitted the missing O ring to the dipstick tube also attaching the dipstic tube to something instead of leaving it floating around.
- wiring, used about a mile of shrink wrap where you pulled it out without disconnecting it (Daz?)
- Oil leak - replaced missing bolts from sump
- fitted correct number of bolts to engine mounts

Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:54 pm

Stop moaning Dafs, at least you know its right now

Whats this about M42 engines and special tools? You can time them up with a brick...

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:20 pm

DanThe wrote:Stop moaning Dafs, at least you know its right now

Whats this about M42 engines and special tools? You can time them up with a brick...

Ahh but if you use the 'special tool' - that will be where the IS engingine gets all that extra power from that makes it the baby M3!

Not moaning Dan - any excuse to have a dig at his Skubskiness can't be missed

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:23 pm

Daf that WAS a special lightweight M52 Look at all the weight you have added in! as for the bolts it had more than what we used on dan's 3ltr!

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:28 pm

Bob_S wrote:Daf that WAS a special lightweight M52 Look at all the weight you have added in! as for the bolts it had more than what we used on dan's 3ltr!

I have heard about you and bolts on the 3 litre....

Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:33 pm

Its now got 'all' the bolts, even the gearbox to sump ones

Manifold studs however......

Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:33 am

DanThe wrote:Its now got 'all' the bolts, even the gearbox to sump ones

Manifold studs however......

what about the half shaft bolts you were telling me about

Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:13 pm

town325i wrote:
DanThe wrote:Its now got 'all' the bolts, even the gearbox to sump ones

Manifold studs however......
what about the half shaft bolts you were telling me about

It's the fuel pump I think Dan was upset about

Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:39 pm

There are plenty of pics in my build thread of a M50 non-vanos in bits mate if that's any help

Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:41 pm

Cheers lee, i'll have a ganders. Although after todays dyno run, it might need more than a new tensioner

Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:49 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:There are plenty of pics in my build thread of a M50 non-vanos in bits mate if that's any help

Couldnt find any from when you were re-building it

Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:52 pm

Cook318IS wrote:
E30BeemerLad wrote:There are plenty of pics in my build thread of a M50 non-vanos in bits mate if that's any help
Couldnt find any from when you were re-building it

I have a head in pieces on my workbench if you need any pics.

Did you get the bentley manual ok?

Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:53 pm

Daf318is wrote:
Cook318IS wrote:
E30BeemerLad wrote:There are plenty of pics in my build thread of a M50 non-vanos in bits mate if that's any help
Couldnt find any from when you were re-building it
I have a head in pieces on my workbench if you need any pics.

Did you get the bentley manual ok?

No i haven't recieved anything

Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:05 pm

Hmm, looks like works not paid the bill for sending big files! Anyone know how I can send a 100mb file over tinternet for free?

If no one comes up with a suggestion PM me your address and I'll stick it on a CD for you and put it in the post

Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:07 pm

Daf318is wrote:Hmm, looks like works not paid the bill for sending big files! Anyone know how I can send a 100mb file over tinternet for free?

If no one comes up with a suggestion PM me your address and I'll stick it on a CD for you and put it in the post

i've just found a link for it on another forum actually

thanks for the offer though bud (i see what you mean about the size of it

)

Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:18 pm

Cook318IS wrote:
Daf318is wrote:Hmm, looks like works not paid the bill for sending big files! Anyone know how I can send a 100mb file over tinternet for free?

If no one comes up with a suggestion PM me your address and I'll stick it on a CD for you and put it in the post
i've just found a link for it on another forum actually thanks for the offer though bud (i see what you mean about the size of it )

Yeah, you don't wanna be on a dial up connection getting that thing!!