Timing belt help

[Matt325es]

Hey guys,

I have an 85 325e and i need to inspect the timing belt
it has a metal cover that i want to remove. The po claims the timing belt has 4k till replace....The waterpump was replaced at 175k im now at 200k......why wouldnt he change timing belt? maybe he forgot? anyways. Help me out

[Matt325es]

Ok so i got the cover off enought to inspect the belt around the pulley.. heres what i found Some very microscopic cracks on the outer belt, i have seen and delt with this much worse on previous cars. i also found that where the teeth entered the belt from the pulley there were light marks on the outer belt but not bad. I think its in good cond :]

[Matt325es]

[SpecM]

what's the problem?

I would replace them both with the tensioner

[Matt325es]

There is no problem, what im getting at is the po had the waterpump changed at 175k im at 200k now if he did water pump why wouldnt he do belt? i was checking the belt! Looks good to me :]

[blefevre]

It's a very easy change. Just change it. It's a heck of a lot cheaper then rebuilding a head.

[BoxDriver86]

If I were you, I would just go ahead and change it. Never trust the words of a PO. I'm not sure why he wouldn't have done the belt with the water pump...it's literally a no-brainer.

[nebulous123]

agreed with everyone above. the belt is super cheap anyways and it looks like you are already halfway done with it already. just make sure you are TDC.