Please help with timing belt cam timing question

[Mwishlist]

When I took off the timing belt cover and took a good look before taking the belt off, the cam appears to be one tooth ahead. When the crank mark is lined up perfectly with the V in the head, the cam is exactly one gear advanced. I have hand rotated it a few times and every time its the same answer.

So my gut tells me when I put the new belt on I should line up the marks on both the crank and cam, but the car was running fine. The only reason I am changing the timing belt is preventative. Is it possible the previous owner advanced the timing a tooth forward for some reason? Should I line up the marks perfectly or should I put it back on exactly the way it came off? This seems wrong but it was running great, it seems a little sluggish but it's an auto, this is my first e30 and I am used to my e90.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Madhatter]

marks are there for a reason. line them up properly when you put it back on.

[rhE-30]

double check that the proper marks on the toothed wheel (harmonic balancer) behind crank pulley are the ones that are lined up. I'd had an issue with that.

[Mwishlist]

That's what I think, but I'm wondering if someone's replaced the cam or something. Wouldn't it have ran rough or something if the cam was a full tooth advanced?

[ahlem]

Make certain you are rotating the assembly in the correct direction. If you are going backwards, you will get goofy results as you see the slop usually taken up by the belt tensioner. This will appear as one tooth off.

[jlevie]

Use the mark on the crank hub and the V notch in the lower inner timing cover to align the crank. Then if necessary align the cam sprocket mark and the mark on the head and install the belt. Rotate the engine through two revolutions, stopping when the crank hub mark lines up and check the sprocket. Then lock down the tensioner bolt and call it done.

[Mwishlist]

Thanks for all the replies, I am going to line both marks up and call it a day. Right now I am waiting for a few parts to arrive then I'll button her up and report back!

[Mwishlist]

Got everything back together tonight, set the timing to factory and it runs like a fkg top! Thanks for the advice!