318is timing chain replacement

[Bob_S]

I took my 318is to an independant specialist to find out what the hell was wrong with it as I'd given up I'm an electrician not a mechanic anyway he ran a diagnostic check and checked the car over generally. During so he noticed that the timing chain was slack and could do with replacement

Now my question is, is £293.24 a realistic quote? Personally I think it is but I'd like a second opinion.
The car has done 133k and I intend to keep it for a few years as it's what i wanted in the first place. I've looked through the history and I cant see anything that would indicate it being changed at any point?

cheers guys!

[tim_s]

I took my 318is to an independant specialist to find out what the hell was wrong with it as I'd given up I'm an electrician not a mechanic anyway he ran a diagnostic check and checked the car over generally. During so he noticed that the timing chain was slack and could do with replacement

Now my question is, is £293.24 a realistic quote? Personally I think it is but I'd like a second opinion.
The car has done 133k and I intend to keep it for a few years as it's what i wanted in the first place. I've looked through the history and I cant see anything that would indicate it being changed at any point?

cheers guys!

if anything thats a bit cheap, depends how many parts he's replacing while in there. the side guides, the tensioner and the bottom gear normally have signs of wear and are worth doing while there, would've thought parts would come to sort of £150/200 at a guess if most parts are replaced. i'd go for it for that price though, sounds pretty good to me. and if you intend to hang on to the car for a few years its a good investment. have you tried a new tensioner in it?
whats the latest on the fuelling prob?

[Lordschleife]

I thought that BMW considered the timing chain a 'life part'
Have you tried a new e36 tensioner 1st?

[tim_s]

I thought that BMW considered the timing chain a 'life part'
Have you tried a new e36 tensioner 1st?

133,000 miles and 15+ years is a pretty good life!

[CaesarBob]

Bob - i would definitely clarify what parts are being replaced at that price. Like Tim said, you should be considering replacement of the slide guides, tensioner and possibly pulleys. My bill for the job was a damn site more than that and the list of parts ran to 2 sides of A4.

Sounds like you have similar problem, the chain has stretched to the point where the tensioner can no longer take out enough slack.

Bob.

[dodgem]

133,000 miles and 15+ years is a pretty good life!

190,000 miles here on my 318iS and i'm going to try just changing the tensioner to the M44 version to get rid of the chain noise - that's a £40-£50 part which you can fit yourself so i'd say it's defineately worth doing that before spending loads on getting the guides and chain replaced along with all the ancilliary parts - although it would be nice to have everything in that area like new

[Geeman]

£40 - £50...?

Nope... it's just short of £30 fella. Good news, huh?

[dazleeds]

anyone know how much the guides and chain cost??
need to mine when i refit the head

wasnt expecting prices as above

[Templ8e30]

I've just bought everything to do this job on my wife's e36 318is (M42) and i got the chain/guides/tensioner/gaskets/seals etc for £240 from the main dealer.

I should really have got new sprockets too but it's too late for that now as I'm doing the job this monday

What's the score with advancing the inlet cam to gain performance ?

Cheers,

Iain T

[Kedge]

[Bob_S]

Cheers guys. I know Ben-e30 has had a chain done on an M42 by the same people and said it was spot on.
I've spoken to the guy and seems adament that it's £293 which is fair enough my plan is to keep the car 3 years until i turn 21 so I'm seeing the chain as something that will need doing at some point in it's life!
When I spoke to the tech. he was saying that they have found a quick way of replacing the chain he wouldnt tell me how though?
also the local BM dealership reakon it's £433 for labour and is a 3.5hr job! interesting info

the fuelling? the slack in the chain is causing this they have sorted out a lot of problems and it's now just under 20MPG! and my brakes work proper too now! Apparently the fuel pump is fubared which sounds like the truth all it does is whine and hum, apparently the pressure from it is up and down so that wont be helping at all either.