Timing belt change
Moderator: martauto
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Cloggy Saint
- Old Skooler

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Bonymaenjack
- E30 Zone Regular

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I've just changed mine (325i) after it had completed 4 k since it's previous change but after 11 years of being static .BMW recommend 60k and some owners replace after 3 years regardless. Why take a chance on a relatively cheap job compared to an engine rebuildCloggy Saint wrote:I fitted a new belt/pump/tensioner about 4 years ago but in that time the car's only done about 15k miles. So which is more relevant, mileage or time?
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steve_k
- E30 Zone Team Member

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for the sake of £50 it makes sense to change it regardless of timescale/mileage, it's peace of mind at the end of the day.
or you could get hold of the gates racing carbon kevlar belt,
or you could get hold of the gates racing carbon kevlar belt,
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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Cloggy Saint
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Bonymaenjack
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Not too bad a job , a bit of a faff if you haven't a pit ( like me) as you need to get underneath and work on top but a great feeling when you put it back together andCloggy Saint wrote:Last time I changed it the engine was on a pallet, so nice and simple. I assume doing it with the engine in situ would be quite a PITA.
a ,it starts
b, there's no leaks
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TriggerFish
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I hate, hate, hate! dealing with cooling systems, especially on these. Has anyone tried to do it with the radiator in situ? Or is there just not space? (Can't remember how much room there is, and I don't have the car around to check.)
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Cloggy Saint
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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For the pump and tensioner, mileage, but for the belt, time, although 4 years isn't excessive.Cloggy Saint wrote:I fitted a new belt/pump/tensioner about 4 years ago but in that time the car's only done about 15k miles. So which is more relevant, mileage or time?
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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It can be done with the radiator in place, but E30 rads are so easy to remove (two screws and three hose clips), especially if you're already draining the system for a pump change, that it's pointless attempting it.TriggerFish wrote:I hate, hate, hate! dealing with cooling systems, especially on these. Has anyone tried to do it with the radiator in situ? Or is there just not space? (Can't remember how much room there is, and I don't have the car around to check.)
A M20 cambelt is one of the easiest to change known to mankind.

