When to change 320i cambelt.

[flybynite]

My service manual is strangely silent on the matter.

Isn't that what the service indicator is for?

[coopman]

My service manual is strangely silent on the matter.

Isn't that what the service indicator is for?

So the owner has to rely entirely on the service indicator lights??

[Satan]

My service manual is strangely silent on the matter.

Isn't that what the service indicator is for?

So the owner has to rely entirely on the service indicator lights??

Not really now as the cars are not daily drivers anymore so its more a common sense thing, rubber bits perish over time other bits rusts and the rest last longer when not in daily use.

[flybynite]

So the owner has to rely entirely on the service indicator lights??

BMW have always gone
'Oil service'
'Inspection 1'
'Oil service'
'Inspection 2'

It was a Year between each, or earlier if it had lots of use and came up earlier on the Service indicatior

Always put my M3 in on what it said on service lights (that never really got to a year)

Says it quite clearly in the handbooks for my 323i, 325i 535i (and the one I still have for the M3 I don't have anymore )

[coopman]

So the owner has to rely entirely on the service indicator lights??

BMW have always gone
'Oil service'
'Inspection 1'
'Oil service'
'Inspection 2'

It was a Year between each, or earlier if it had lots of use and came up earlier on the Service indicatior

Always put my M3 in on what it said on service lights (that never really got to a year)

Says it quite clearly in the handbooks for my 323i, 325i 535i (and the one I still have for the M3 I don't have anymore )

Yeah, my handbook has some waffle about the way you drive the car influencing how often it should be serviced... and therefore follow the magic lights. But presumably the service lights are programmed based on distance?

[flybynite]

But presumably the service lights are programmed based on distance?

Distance or time, which ever comes first

Later ones also did 'how you drive' M3 came on 2000 miles earlier if I caned it

[Brianmoooore]

The clock symbol is a simple twelve month alarm clock, intended to remind owners to get a physical inspection of the condition of their car.
The other indicators are based on mileage, modified by a couple of simple operating condition multipliers. I forget the exact figures, but it's something like the mileage count proceeds at double the rate when the coolant temperature is below 70 degrees, and it proceeds at 1.5 times the rate when the engine revs are higher than 4500 RPM.

[coopman]

The clock symbol is a simple twelve month alarm clock, intended to remind owners to get a physical inspection of the condition of their car.
The other indicators are based on mileage, modified by a couple of simple operating condition multipliers. I forget the exact figures, but it's something like the mileage count proceeds at double the rate when the coolant temperature is below 70 degrees, and it proceeds at 1.5 times the rate when the engine revs are higher than 4500 RPM.

Smarter than I gave it credit for.

[coopman]

Out of interest/boredom I asked my local BMW dealership (in Sydney) for their prices to service an E30:

Inspection 1: $700-$800 (£400+)
Inspection 2: $1,100-$1,200 (£600+).

Their labour rate is $264ph (£145) as a guide. They don't have standard prices for anything pre-2006.

[biffer]

Due to this thread i'm all set to change cambelt etc. and also my pressed steel oil-pump gear for the sintered one.

To remove this gear am guessing i undo its bolt whilst the old belt is still in place, then release belt-tension, swap the gears, re-tension the belt and tighten the gear-bolt before then going on to replace the belt as usual.? Or is there another Zen way to do this?

Also- do i re-use the pressed-gear's big washer thing with the new gear or leave it off?

[Blanca]

On this subject, I fitted a new belt this year as well as the pump and radiator but I found the belt very tight to get on. I had the tensioner hard back but it seemed there should be more movement in it but hits the pump. (That's when I found out about the dizzy timing.)

[ah]

I only asked when I should change my cam belt.

[e30Passion]

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

I have a genuine M20 timing belt kit in front of me in the original BMW package. The belt (OEM contitech) nor the package-box have a date on them. Maybe it is incorporated in the code that's on the belt? (506320022012)

btw.. OEM waterpumps are from the brand THL only available from the dealer as far as i could see. The next best thing is SKF.

[HenryM3]

I like those dealer prices, makes you feel so much better when you DIY.

[flybynite]

Maybe it is incorporated in the code that's on the belt? (506320022012)

Correct

[BristolE30]

I only asked when I should change my cam belt.

caused all sorts of chaos

[martauto]

I only asked when I should change my cam belt.

caused all sorts of chaos

Did get folk talking

Mart.