30,000 mile service

[mjposner]

I am about to hit 30,000 miles. Should I have the valves adjusted?

[mjposner]

I will need a new timing belt on age next year, can the valve adjustment wait or should I just do everything early?

Belt and water pump were replaced 12/28/12 at 26,371 miles

[estoguy]

Honestly, if the TB was last done in 2012, I'd be replacing it. Technically, a valve adjustment wouldn't be a "while you're in there" job, but if you're already doing the belt, adding in that job isn't a big deal.

Service interval for valve clearance by the book is 15,000 miles.

[Das Delfin]

valves have a 10k mile adjustment interval. It is easy enough to learn to DIY and all you have to buy is a new valve cover gasket and rocker plugs (4 of them)

tb is 4 years/60k miles, whichever comes first. Definitely not something you want to risk on your numbers matching 30k mile car.

[mjposner]

Okay so timing belt to be done? What about water pump? Keep?

[dnguyen1963]

Okay so timing belt to be done? What about water pump? Keep?

If you are going to do the TB, replace the water pump too.

[digger]

OE waterpump will do two TB changes, aftermarket ones i would do at the same time

[jeffnhiscars]

While the TB is a mileage OR time swap, that doesn't apply to the water pump. Agreed it's every other belt ASSUMING you go full mileage or close to it on the TB (so 100k or so). If you've put only 4K on the car sincemit was replaced, its still virtually new and I'd leave it.

[Das Delfin]

^ unless it's a stock water pump with one of those plastic impellers

[mjposner]

Its states RFMD Water Pump FP Number 11 51 9 070 759 so it is an oem part (installed by a BMW Dealer)

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-Cabrio/USA/325i-M20/L-M/sep1989/browse/engine/cooling_system_water_pump/

I believe based on online searches it is a metal impeller.

[dnguyen1963]

The impeller is important, but more important is the bearing. The cost for a water pump is only about $40. Just replace the thing when you do the TB.

[mjposner]

I use or time the biggest issue with the water pump. It only has 4k miles

[digger]

use, they wont deteriorate with age like rubber or plastics. i always use metal impeller pumps

[nrubenstein]

I use or time the biggest issue with the water pump. It only has 4k miles

Water pump failure is highly variable. The big issue issue is that if it fails, you basically have to do another timing belt job. (It's possible but difficult to replace the water pump without replacing the TB, but it takes two people and is unpleasant.)

And since you have to remove the radiator to get enough clearance to do the TB job, there's very, very little added cost as you're already draining the coolant anyway. So do the pump. They are dirt cheap.

[zaq123]

Water pump failure is highly variable. The big issue issue is that if it fails, you basically have to do another timing belt job.

or redo the entire head. I had WP fail on my TDI (GRAFF unit, just seized up one day while on the road), shaved a few teeth on TB and pistons met valves. It sucked.