help me decide how old this timing belt is (pic)

[nando]

I disagree, you told me to replace the belt (canned response) instead of responding to the question that was asked which was to venture a guess as to the mileage on the pictured belt.

your 'answers' are completely unrelated to the question, they are related to normal new used M20 powered car maintenance.

It was entirely related - you have a normal new used M20 car, and you don't know what the age of the belt is. My guess was it's old enough to just replace it, but I didn't think I had to spell it out.

I have no idea how old it is. Jim has no idea how old it is. Nobody knows or can tell by looking at a picture of 2 square inches of the belt. The answer to your problem is obvious - spend $40 and an hour and a half (or apparently a weekend for you, for some reason) and fix it, or leave it and hope it doesn't break.

How many times a year does somebody post up "broken M20 timing belt, help me" and every time, I have to wonder, why? I guess I know the answer to that question now.

[2.5-12]

So you started a thread in hopes that a single person would say that your belt looked fine so you could justify not changing it because you're lazy?

once one person says that the belt should be changed because I pulled a XX,XXX mile belt that looked better, I'll reconsider. seriously -- this isnt the point of my question, I dont know if it needs to be changed or not. thats why I asked. make sense?

lazyness isnt a factor. I have 7 cars right now and this one wont be driven more than probably 50 miles till late july and I do quite a lot of repairs and maintenance. I do, however, work. Its hard to get time off during this time of year and I will have to wait till July unless this is going to fail in the next 50 miles. again. why I asked the question to begin with.

Belt looks old enough to change IMO.

I changed a belt not too long ago that had 100k miles on it and looked better than the belt in your pic. Not a single crack on it - BUT - the tensioner was at it's fully extended position.

I concur with Nando and the others, you should change it as soon as you can - will it last to the end of summer? More than likely (with easy driving).

very good, thank you -- the car will probably be driven under 50 miles until I get a chance to change it, the tensioner is likely fully extended, I agree.

cant believe an M20 belt went 100k! it must have been an automatic vert'

[Dave]

takes me less time to get the head off an M20 than it does to get the timing belt changed, I know thats not really a valid comparison because of the costs and outside time associated with new gaskets/studs and valve job at a minimum.

Umm, yeah. You kinda have to do that t-belt if you are swapping on a new head.

Your logic there does not work.

Good luck with the car.

[2.5-12]

It was entirely related - you have a normal new used M20 car, and you don't know what the age of the belt is. My guess was it's old enough to just replace it, but I didn't think I had to spell it out.

I have no idea how old it is. Jim has no idea how old it is. Nobody knows or can tell by looking at a picture of 2 square inches of the belt. The answer to your problem is obvious - spend $40 and an hour and a half (or apparently a weekend for you, for some reason) and fix it, or leave it and hope it doesn't break.

How many times a year does somebody post up "broken M20 timing belt, help me" and every time, I have to wonder, why? I guess I know the answer to that question now.

it wasn't a direct reply though, I asked for a ballpark number and you said change the belt.

I already knew I needed to change the belt, I didnt' even need to look at it to know that since its an un documented high mile M20 powered BMW. any other information, specifically information pertenant to my question would have been much more useful, not by the book forum replies and dickishness.

I am aware of that and have seen plenty of threads and plenty of ruined M20s in person from neglected maintenance, this wasnt about any of that. it was about the estimated mileage on this belt (which I understand most cant get from that small window) but it would have been enough to venture a guess.

since the general response I'm getting is: yes, it will likely last the 50 miles or 1 month that I would have to wait to get to it, I will do exactly that. there are a few boxed contitech synchrobelt kits on my shelf, its just a matter of free time and thats why I asked in the first place.

[2.5-12]

Umm, yeah. You kinda have to do that t-belt if you are swapping on a new head.

Your logic there does not work.

Good luck with the car.

correlation without causation

two independent hypotheticals.

naturally if the belt snapped, a head replacement/reworking is nessesary as is a t-belt, this was comparing job time between the two and removing a head/tbelt is quicker than replacing a t-belt for me.

the logic is formally and informally valid.

[Dave]

removing a head/tbelt is quicker than replacing a t-belt for me.

Does not compute.

And in the amount of time you have wasted debating this on an internet forum, you could have replaced the t-belt.

[2.5-12]

Does not compute.

And in the amount of time you have wasted debating this on an internet forum, you could have replaced the t-belt.

in logic, I commited no fallacies formally or informally. You, however commited the false cause fallacy trying to negate my logic.

I've been at work this whole time -- still working. and its raining, teh suck.

[2.5-12]

tangent: anyone know the cooling system capacity on a 1990 525i?

should I just do the fill till it spits out the bleeder screw technique?

[FredK]

How old does the coolant look?

[2.5-12]

How old does the coolant look?

it looks good, I don't see any signs of impurity or breakdown and it smells lemony.

[nando]

and in the amount of time you have wasted debating this on an internet forum, you could have replaced the t-belt.

lol!

[FredK]

Then just drain it into a bucket and refill the system. I find using mom's old hosiery a sufficient method of straining out impurities when I reuse coolant. Avoid ones with big runs.

[Aptyp]

I replace belts 60k miles or 5-years. Whichever comes first.

[2.5-12]

Then just drain it into a bucket and refill the system. I find using mom's old hosiery a sufficient method of straining out impurities when I reuse coolant. Avoid ones with big runs.

I shall have to go and buy a new catch pan -- all mine are contaminated with oil/ps/brake fluid

good tip though, thanks!

[ForcedFirebird]

how old does the coolant look?

rofl!!!!!!