Right. i'm going to be having my timing chain changed in a few weeks, now i've heard its better to use the E26 chain tensioner but i was wondering if you can use the full chain kit, and whether it'd be any better?
Cheers
E30 or E36 318iS Timing Chain
Moderator: martauto
hi
the chain itself is the same part no between all m42s and m44s, as are the cam and bottom gears. the side guides are updated on later M42s and M44s, doesn't really make a lot of odds one way or the other. also late m42s and m44 have a deflection slide rather than wheel. if it fits, this is worth doing imo, not just because it should wear the chain less (one less gear in the system) but because it costs about a tenner rather than Ԛ£80 or something . i've never tried this though so would be intrigued to see if it fits. i'm not 100% that it does. from etk pictures it looks like it will fit, but i can't visualise it when i actually look at an e30 m42 front lower timing case, and don't have a later m42/m44 one to compare against.
chain and gears are worth changing, side guides are nice to do but not essential - they normally have a bit of wear, the top and bottom guides don't seem to wear much at all but are cheap if you want to do them. the guide with the tensioner on it is the most likely guide to have worn.
dunno what else to say really. i just wanna know if the deflection slide's a goer. i should buy one and try it on my spare case really.
the chain itself is the same part no between all m42s and m44s, as are the cam and bottom gears. the side guides are updated on later M42s and M44s, doesn't really make a lot of odds one way or the other. also late m42s and m44 have a deflection slide rather than wheel. if it fits, this is worth doing imo, not just because it should wear the chain less (one less gear in the system) but because it costs about a tenner rather than Ԛ£80 or something . i've never tried this though so would be intrigued to see if it fits. i'm not 100% that it does. from etk pictures it looks like it will fit, but i can't visualise it when i actually look at an e30 m42 front lower timing case, and don't have a later m42/m44 one to compare against.
chain and gears are worth changing, side guides are nice to do but not essential - they normally have a bit of wear, the top and bottom guides don't seem to wear much at all but are cheap if you want to do them. the guide with the tensioner on it is the most likely guide to have worn.
dunno what else to say really. i just wanna know if the deflection slide's a goer. i should buy one and try it on my spare case really.
2.1 318is, MS, LPG. 200bhp, 175ft/lbs GONE!
Boxster, e46 m3, e36 sport touring and alpina B3 3.0
Cheers mate, so it all comes as seperate parts then not in one kit?
Which tensioner would be best to use as i've heard mentioned using ones from M44, ones from a Z3 and ones from the E36 M3!
Which tensioner would be best to use as i've heard mentioned using ones from M44, ones from a Z3 and ones from the E36 M3!
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Demlotcrew
- E30 Zone Team Member
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- Location: East Anglia
The only one that will fit is from the M44 E36/Z3 engine.
Andrew
Andrew
Cheers mate, wondered if the resident M42 expert would pop up 
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Demlotcrew
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 13329
- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: East Anglia
TBH i think Tim knows more than me now.
But i do know that the early guides should be replaced as they are strong but are susceptible to fracture and can shatter when worn, causing the chain to have quite a bit of play and skipping on the upper sprockets.
I would change the two side guides and the lower sprocket, but the rest can stay as they dont wear.
Andrew
But i do know that the early guides should be replaced as they are strong but are susceptible to fracture and can shatter when worn, causing the chain to have quite a bit of play and skipping on the upper sprockets.
I would change the two side guides and the lower sprocket, but the rest can stay as they dont wear.
Andrew
lol, dunno about that andrew. think you just have superior engines on your mind! lucky sod!
didn't realise that the rails were liable to cracking when worn, sounds nasty! i'll definitely replace them when doing mine.
you don't reckon on replacing the cam gears then? I was considering changing those gears - new chain against old gears accelerating wear?
btw did you give karan that stuff in the end? did you give him the whole cracked head or cams and carriers? just bought some s50 throttle bodies (Ԛ£80 posted
) so will need a screwed head (i've got great foresight haven't i, a little bit of planning would save me so much hassle). and let me paypal you some money!
didn't realise that the rails were liable to cracking when worn, sounds nasty! i'll definitely replace them when doing mine.
you don't reckon on replacing the cam gears then? I was considering changing those gears - new chain against old gears accelerating wear?
btw did you give karan that stuff in the end? did you give him the whole cracked head or cams and carriers? just bought some s50 throttle bodies (Ԛ£80 posted
) so will need a screwed head (i've got great foresight haven't i, a little bit of planning would save me so much hassle). and let me paypal you some money!2.1 318is, MS, LPG. 200bhp, 175ft/lbs GONE!
Boxster, e46 m3, e36 sport touring and alpina B3 3.0
Cheers guys,
So i should get an M44 chain and tensioner, bottom sprocket and may as well replace all the guides especially the sides. Anymore opnion on the cam gears, worth doing or not?
Anything else worth doing at the sametime?
Tah!!
So i should get an M44 chain and tensioner, bottom sprocket and may as well replace all the guides especially the sides. Anymore opnion on the cam gears, worth doing or not?
Anything else worth doing at the sametime?
Tah!!
yeah sounds about right.
i really don't know about the cam sprockets. i'll have my engine apart quite soon and can tell you how they look then if you like. I have a spare lower timing case off a spare bottom end i have at the mo, and the deflection wheel has no wear on it - so i'm guessing they're good for life, but the bottom gear has some wear on it. the side rails have a bit of wear, the bottom guide none.
other stuff to do while there are front crank seal if it seeps and obviously the gaskets on the timing cases. water pump too if you want to be really complete.
when doing it no doubt you'll get to have a good look at everything anyway. the spare bottom end i have has a dodgy seal between the block and timing case around the water pump - that's worth checking while there.
i really don't know about the cam sprockets. i'll have my engine apart quite soon and can tell you how they look then if you like. I have a spare lower timing case off a spare bottom end i have at the mo, and the deflection wheel has no wear on it - so i'm guessing they're good for life, but the bottom gear has some wear on it. the side rails have a bit of wear, the bottom guide none.
other stuff to do while there are front crank seal if it seeps and obviously the gaskets on the timing cases. water pump too if you want to be really complete.
when doing it no doubt you'll get to have a good look at everything anyway. the spare bottom end i have has a dodgy seal between the block and timing case around the water pump - that's worth checking while there.
2.1 318is, MS, LPG. 200bhp, 175ft/lbs GONE!
Boxster, e46 m3, e36 sport touring and alpina B3 3.0
Cheers Tim
One last simple question, do you have to disturb to sump to remove the chain?
One last simple question, do you have to disturb to sump to remove the chain?
hi kedge, no you don't. you only need the front off the lower timing housing thing, not the back too.
you've seen this page, right?
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318istimingchain.html
you've seen this page, right?
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318istimingchain.html
2.1 318is, MS, LPG. 200bhp, 175ft/lbs GONE!
Boxster, e46 m3, e36 sport touring and alpina B3 3.0