how often do you do valve adjustments?

[peytonracer4]

a have a lifter tick noise that increases speed with rpm but doesn't increase in volume. i'm guessing it's because i need a valve adjustment.
how often does this need done on the m20? what do i need to do it? some special shims like on the e46 m3? those are expensive

[5Toes]

Its very easy, just need a set of feeler gauges. Pull the valve cover and stick the gauge (.012 inches is what I like) between the cam lobe and the rocker.

You can also place it between the rocker and the top of the valve, but on the cam I find way easier.

good article over on e30.de how to do it

[noid]

I recently did a valve adjustment on mine and put this together:

http://www.rtsauto.com/m20b25-valve-adjustment-e30-325i-325is-325ix/

Its cheap, you just need a new valve cover gasket, and rubber shaft plugs (very cheap). Only "special" tool you need is a .010" = .254mm feeler gauge.

[peytonracer4]

Ah ok cool. I have a feeler gauge thing so that should work. Just very recently put a valve cover on so I should be good on reusing it yes? Less than 500 miles ago or so.
Also still wondering about my original question, how often does it actually need done? Just checked every time I do a timing belt?

[smooth]

Ah ok cool. I have a feeler gauge thing so that should work. Just very recently put a valve cover on so I should be good on reusing it yes? Less than 500 miles ago or so.
Also still wondering about my original question, how often does it actually need done? Just checked every time I do a timing belt?

your valve cover gasket should be good on reusing but waiting until you change your timing belt is way too long on an m20.

you do your timing belt every 60,000 or four years, whichever comes first.

I believe the interval for valve adjustments is 15,000 but even that is kind of long. I did mine every 10,000 (every other oil change makes it easy to remember).

[jeffnhiscars]

Timing belt is 4 yrs\60k and I believe the recommended valve adjustment interval is 15k\1 yr. Many prefer to do it at 10k..and an M20 doesnt have lifters :-)


LOL..I hear an echo in here

[DooDanE30]

super easy to do a moron could do it. there is also a video on youtube of a guy adjusting his m20 and he takes you pretty much step by step.

[E30nub1]

did mine yesterday :) yeah that vid taught me a cool trick about adjusting them from the rear of the valve as opposed to the front..

[CabbE30]

I prefer to adjust my valves between the rocker and the valve itself. Different strokes...

[E30nub1]

i prefer that was as well but on the rears its saves time..and as i have done both ways.. i can't tell a difference in either way..but i agree...eventually ill just get the tool and won't deal with it..lol

[dnguyen1963]

Bavauto sells a whistle that you can plug into the sparkplug hole to find TDC (it stops whistling the the piston is all the way to the top). It makes adjusting the valves easy.

[u3b3rg33k]

I prefer to adjust my valves between the rocker and the valve itself. Different strokes...

Its very easy, just need a set of feeler gauges. Pull the valve cover and stick the gauge (.012 inches is what I like) between the cam lobe and the rocker.

You can also place it between the rocker and the top of the valve, but on the cam I find way easier.

good article over on e30.de how to do it

Pretty sure if you use a .012" gauge between the cam and follower, you're setting the clearance too wide. that's the size for doing it between the eccentric and the valve stem.

[paperplane94]

Nope^

The gap between the rocker eccentric and the valve stem is .010 thousandths of an inch.


The question now: What is the gap supposed to be between the cam and the rocker????

Bigger? Smaller? The same?

[jeffnhiscars]

Nope^

The gap between the rocker eccentric and the valve stem is .010 thousandths of an inch.


The question now: What is the gap supposed to be between the cam and the rocker????

Bigger? Smaller? The same?

[5Toes]

The space between the cam and the rocker is the same as between the cam rocker and the valve is the same... thats why you can wiggle a rocker back and forth against the cam and the valve.. then when the cam lobe rotates around it takes up the slack and opens the valve.

From e30.de

"On M20 (320i, 323i, 325e, 325i), it has the valve clearance proved contrary to BMW specifications (0.25 mm) to adjust a little looser. i.e. 0.30 mm inlet and outlet side. This provides a more stable idle (especially when 320i) and some fuel zigere performance. The clickers the valves becomes barely noticeable louder, the measure is worthwhile in any case."

The germans on their m20s know their shit hardcore and this is how they do it...