Timing Belt ... How urgent?

[Danny51]

Hey Guys !

Im going to be picking up another E30 Project soon ! Its a clean well kept and completely stock MTECH 2 Appearance package 92 Convertible 325i.. very excited !

Now I have a concern regarding the timing belt ! I will be driving the car about 2000 KM / 18 hours, and was looking to take care of all the maintenance once I get home, in the comfort of my own garage. The issue is that the belt has not been changed since 2009, but the owner also claims he has only driven the car about 20k Miles since then. The owner also lives in a province with very cool weather.. So I feel like I should be fine for the ride home.. But Im wondering if anyone can confirm this for me?

Its also an automatic car owned by an elderly gentleman, so I'm guessing it most likely hasn't been abused.

Thanks

[rturbo 930]

I believe it's 5 years or 50k miles, whichever comes first. I'd change it. You might be able to risk it and make it, but I personally wouldn't want to chance it.

[SkiFree]

Well ..... here are two from just this month. No one can judge this better than you can though.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=355928

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=355222

[EatsHondas]

Caps because I'm advising my past self as well: DO NOT NEGLECT THE TIMING BELT. Unless you don't mind swapping cylinder heads.

[Danny51]

Well now you guys have made me nervous about it ! I've never changed a timing belt so I wouldn't want to have troubles and end up stranded in the middle of nowhere.. Also I've got work the day after so I don't reAlly have time. I really didn't want to get a mechanic to do it since that's around $400 that could be used on something much more useful but I guess I'll look into it ..
Thanks for the responses


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[dnguyen1963]

$400 vs. a lot more if the belt goes...are you a risk taker? But then again, a non competent mechanic can do serious damage to E30 if he has never worked on them before. Don't take my words, but I think you'll be fine if you don't rev the hell out of it driving back. It's an automatic anyway so I doubt the elderly owner abused the car at all.

[estoguy]

Because you really don't know, don't take the chance and change it.

And changing it isn't that bad. If you're doing it yourself, factor at least 6 hours, since you'll want to take your time, since you're new to it. There are great DIYs out there on how to do it.

I'd also recommend the water pump and V-belts be done at the same time.

With my E30, I went a little past the 5 year mark, BUT... big but... also the PO of mine was my best friend and I had proof that it had been done, was driven little, and it was kept in a garage almost half the year. So I had no real fears driving it a few months past five years until the better weather was with us. And the belt was fine.

[packratbimmer]

Yea - do it. Its not bad. One step at a time... I have found that Continental belts almost always look great after 5 years, but you just can't risk it. I had a no name belt from a discount supplier look freakin' scary after a couple of years. I pulled the cover to inspect it one day and ended up pushing it into the garage out of pure fear. Belt history is key on these cars!

[5Toes]

if you want to check the condition of the belt, it only takes about 10 minutes you need these tools:

10mm socket with 3 inch extension
13mm deep socket
8mm socket 1/4" drive
fan clutch wrench (slim 32mm)
3mm (maybe its 4mm) hex key

first remove the fan clutch using the fan clutch tools

next remove the distributor cap's 3 8mm bolts

remove the dizzy cap and then use the hex key on the rotor.

Remove the upper timing cover bolts near the dizzy, the 13mm on the lift hook and the 10mm.

Remove the 13mm bolt on the lower part of the cover where the two covers meet.

Slide cover up and off, inspect timing belt, re-install.

[AndrewBird]

^^^Do that and see. If there are any cracks in the teeth or cords showing, don't drive it, but if it looks new, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it.

2000 KM really isn't that far. If he says it's been done, I wouldn't worry. Does he have any paperwork showing it's been done?

[digger]

i would drive it if there is some proof that its been 6 years and 20k. otherwise the owner is telling porkies just to get rid of it

[goldenbb]

What is it about BMW timing belts? I have had all kinds of friends and associates run timing belts FAR beyond their maintenance schedules and I only know of one that snapped. I have always been paranoid about them due to all the Internet posts, but I have nearly zero real-world experience with the fatal snap but plenty of real world experience with "I drove it 200K miles and then finally got around to getting new timing belt." I feel like a dupe all these years for going through so much hell changing them on all the cars I have owned.

[dnguyen1963]

Yeah, I have never changed the timing belt on any of my other cars until they reached 100K. The problem with BMW or any sport car is that you rev the hell out of it and that put a lot of stress on the belt.

[packratbimmer]

+ BMW cars last for 30 years with good maintenance - timing belts don't.

[ForcedFirebird]

Last 2 e30's that came in my shop with broken timing belts were autos. One of them had a belt change 5yr prior, the other was unknown. Both belts looked new visually, both belts stripped a couple cogs off and destroyed the heads, both cars were traveling on the highway.

Once an eta came in for a noisy/failing fuel pump. Asked about the timing belt, said they would be taking care of it soon. The belt broke when trying to start the car to pull it in the shop. A valve head broke off and lodged sideways in the piston ruining the whole engine.

If you got a quote for $400, go for it. Cheap insurance for your road trip. Long distance towing is going to be far more than $400.