When to change 320i cambelt.

[ah]

I’ve just had it changed a couple of weeks ago, my car has done 140k.The new belt was a bit over due by a lot of miles and looking at it,I was very lucky it didn’t snap.The mechanic that changed it said in his opinion I should get it changed every 4 years.He is a vey good and trusted mechanic and his mother also owns a 325i which has been in their family for many year ,so he knows his way around an m20, anyway what’s the zone’s option on when to change.

[Cloggy Saint]

I'm in a similar situation. I fitted a new cam belt on my 325i 6 years ago but since then it's only done about 6000 miles. Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

[martauto]

Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

[Satan]

Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

Its a Baur, let it die............

See I had to get that one in lol na na na nah......

[Brianmoooore]

The mechanic that changed it said in his opinion I should get it changed every 4 years.

And he's about right. I expect that these days, most E30s, with the notable exception of Paultv's cab. require their belts changing on a time basis, rather than mileage.

[Cloggy Saint]

Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

t's not the cost that puts me off, it's the ball-ache of doing the job

[ah]

4 years it is then.

[martauto]

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven

See I had to get that one in lol na na na nah......

Mart.

[30316]

My E30 is chain driven but I do have an early E36 with m40 which has never done much mileage. On this I change it every 4 years regardless of the mileage. It does around 4K in that time. I asked a BMW dealer when I got the car in 2002 and they advised me to change the cam belt at 4 years so I have kept to that interval since then.

[minesapint]

Yes my service booklet for 325i says every four years.

[minesapint]

I'm in a similar situation. I fitted a new cam belt on my 325i 6 years ago but since then it's only done about 6000 miles. Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

Age.

[Brianmoooore]

these days, most E30s, with the notable exception of Paultv's cab. require their belts changing on a time basis, rather than mileage.

[Kedge]

I'll be changing mine this year, based on time rather than mileage. My question is though, would you change the water pump every time you change the belt, especially knowing it was a new water pump last time arond?

[Speedtouch]

Depends on whether it was a genuine or el-cheapo pattern pump, and the condition of it (check for play in the bearings, etc.)

If it's all OK, I wouldn't bother changing it, unless you're going to be doing some intergalactic mileage.

[Brianmoooore]

As above, and the same can apply to the tensioner and/or any idler pulleys.
Essentially, change the belt based on time, and the rest based on mileage/examination.

[paultv]

ISTG.JPG

and... make sure whilst you are in there that the intermdiate shaft timing gear is a cast item
and not the old pressed steel piece of crap - this is the correct one.

but not like this:

ISTG_pressed.JPG

Paul

[flybynite]

and... make sure whilst you are in there that the intermdiate shaft timing gear is a cast item
and not the old pressed steel piece of crap - this is the correct one.

Problem is they are now NLA form BMW and a bit thin on the ground second hand. I have had a couple of eBay jokers send me a pressed one when I bought a sintered one thinking I would not notice

[paultv]

strange - they are widely available here from the usual dealers - 23 euro's incl. vat - or on ebay for 40 euros !!

Paul

[flybynite]

strange - they are widely available here from the usual dealers - 23 euro's incl. vat - or on ebay for 40 euros !!

Paul

Are we taliking of the same thing? Part number 11311714988?

They are out of stock on Autodoc (Febi and Swag)

I'll have to check again, Jon (Cotswolds) told me there was prices but no actual stock anywhere in the world earlier this year.

[BristolE30]

these days, most E30s, with the notable exception of Paultv's cab. require their belts changing on a time basis, rather than mileage.

Why does age effect it with low mileage? Some timing belts have sat in packets for probably 5 years before use, not to mention NOS items.

Is it something to do with the oxygen?

[flybynite]

Why does age effect it with low mileage? Some timing belts have sat in packets for probably 5 years before use, not to mention NOS items.
Is it something to do with the oxygen?

Yes Heat, Light and Ozone. Same as tyres which is why they generally have a date code stamp. Contitech have an install-by date on their belts. I would not install a belt with an old date or a make of belt with no date

image.jpg

[BristolE30]

Why does age effect it with low mileage? Some timing belts have sat in packets for probably 5 years before use, not to mention NOS items.
Is it something to do with the oxygen?

Yes Heat, Light and Ozone. Same as tyres which is why they generally have a date code stamp. Contitech have an install-by date on their belts. I would not install a belt with an old date or a make of belt with no date



image.jpg

Interesting. Yea my 325i one was changed in 2016. Probably need a new one next year

[flybynite]

Interesting. Yea my 325i one was changed in 2016. Probably need a new one next year

There is a lot of difference in manufacture, bit like tyres. I have a set of 20 yer old Michelin TRX that look as good as new and still hold their pressure from one year to the next. Set of 4 year old Nankangs look like crazy paving and can't hold pressure from one week to the next.

Less easy to tell the difference on timing belts though

[Satan]

About a week after the one fitted snaps...........

[Andyboy]

Should the belt be changed relative to age or mileage?

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

t's not the cost that puts me off, it's the ball-ache of doing the job

M20, about the worlds easiest cambelt.

[coopman]

What's the consensus on oil-contaminated cambelts - change asap?

Also, how do you guys keep track of servicing? My logbook ran out of space about two decades ago, so I'm currently using a spreadsheet.

[Brianmoooore]

I'd have an oily belt out of there fairly quick, having worked out where the oil was coming from, and doing something about it.
All my cars have their own A4 ring binder, which contains their V5, MOT results and cert., insurance, and A4 pages constantly updated with any repairs or servicing done, recording date and mileage.
There's also the SI display that gives yearly reminders.

[Cloggy Saint]

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

t's not the cost that puts me off, it's the ball-ache of doing the job

M20, about the worlds easiest cambelt.

Me, about the world's laziest b@astard.

[Satan]

t's not the cost that puts me off, it's the ball-ache of doing the job

M20, about the worlds easiest cambelt.

Me, about the world's laziest b@astard.

I just get my man to do the work.......

[BristolE30]

Both of my BMW`s are chain driven but for the cost , I would not leave it more than three years to change the belt.
Most of these girls are quite old now and for the cost of a new belt I would change it just to be on the safe side of things, over the top maybe 20 years ago but now ??

Mart.

t's not the cost that puts me off, it's the ball-ache of doing the job

M20, about the worlds easiest cambelt.

Golf mk2 much easier

[Andyboy]

They're not bad. Ford Pintos, CVH and GM OHC are OK. BMW M40's are simple too if you ignore the BMW tensioning drama bullshit and set it up as normal.
I always replace the cam oil seal on an M20 as they always seem to have a bit of a leak if original. The crank oil seal rarely leaks but are more of a pain as you have to lock the flywheel and undo the 22mm bolt. I've only seen one crank seal failure in 20-30 years, on an E21 323i.

[Kedge]

I always replace the cam oil seal on an M20 as they always seem to have a bit of a leak if original.

Another thing on the list I need to do, assuming that is the culprit of an oil leak from the front of my engine.

[Blanca]

Opel Corsa / Astra etc, C14SE, ten minuets. biggest job taking the right hand wheel off and removing belt covers..

[fixedwheelnut]

these days, most E30s, with the notable exception of Paultv's cab. require their belts changing on a time basis, rather than mileage.

Why does age effect it with low mileage? Some timing belts have sat in packets for probably 5 years before use, not to mention NOS items.

Is it something to do with the oxygen?

Every four years or second inspection 2 which equates to approx 60,000 miles.

The reason for the time limit fitted and not relevant to parts on the shelf is that it is fitted under tension for those four years, it's so easy to do, if you start thinking it is too much to do start thinking about how much work reworking the cyl head and damaged valves and rockers would be.

[coopman]

Out of interest, what was the time/distance interval intended to be for the dealership inspections I & II, and how did those inspections align with the annual inspections and oil services? My service manual is strangely silent on the matter.