M30 oil pan... what is this???

[azzkikr]

I opend up the bottom of the M30 that I am rebuilding and I was nicely surprised. In the bottom of the oil pan is a busted up piece of plastic. It looks like it was part of the timing chain guide. It is chopped into tiny pieces of plastic. What all is on the bottom side of that engine and is made of plastic? I have a pic of the parts but you can not tell much from it. It seems to be mostly a straight ribbed piece of plastic but it has rounded corner pieces too. I wonder if the original owner dropped something down in there and just left it or if something broke and was eaten alive by the engine. Anyone know what it is? The pic is at http://www.nodusinc.net/temp/100_0744.JPG


Also on a side note I got the gasket for the oilpan and it is cork. What?? I have only heard bad things about cork gaskets never sealing and always leaking. What do you M30 guys out there use or do you have any problems on your engines?

[uflnuceng]

My M30 gaskets were cork and they were fine. Didn't put many miles on them, but some silicon gasket seal or hi-lo mar kept things fine.

The plastic definitely looks timing chain related... what the fenuck is that doing in there? Got me.

[rs4pro3]

Part of either the Timing chain tensioner, or the Oil pump chain tensioner(if equiped). Or maybe the Timing chain Guide.

[Operator62]

Actually, after looking at the picture again it is definitely the guide for the timing chain. Pretty cheap to replace, but a good amount of work to do so. Also, good idea to go ahead and replace other things while you're in there. I replaced chains, tensioners, gears, and guides all while I was in there myself.

[azzkikr]

Well I cleaned up all the oil soaked parts and it indeed is a timing chain guide. The first one must have broken because there is one on there right now and it looks like it is pretty new. So on the note of replacing the chains and gear are those worth replacing? They dont seem like they take a lot of abuse. I will replace the tensioner. Just out of curiosity what is the expected life of the chain/gear? Do these fail very often?

[rs4pro3]

I'd replaced the chain for sure, if you have it opened up I'd do it all, as that bolt is a pain.

[uflnuceng]

Just replace it all now and then you'll never have to worry about it again. They do last a long while, well over 100,000 miles, but if there has been this "issue" I would recommend doing it all for your peace of mind.

[Operator62]

Just replace it all now and then you'll never have to worry about it again. They do last a long while, well over 100,000 miles, but if there has been this "issue" I would recommend doing it all for your peace of mind.

Exactly why I did all of mine. Well said.

By the way...Let's get some more M30 pictures and videos on here. I want to see more M30 powered e30 stuff!

[JPbmw]

azzkikr, what are you exactly doing to the engine? what are you replacing? im interested since i'm about to start with mine

[azzkikr]

I got the M30 out of a junk yard 535i so I just opened everything up to see how it is. I had no idea the condition of the motor so I figured at least taking a peak was worth it. I check the bottom end bearings and they were recently replaced I think because they looked very good. Everything on the bottom end looked good so I just sent the head in to the shop. It came back perfect so I think the motor overall is in good shape. You never know when you get a junk yard piece. The only things I really replaced were the consumable parts. I did replace the front end timing chain parts and the chains themselves. There was the whole issue of broken guide pieces in the oil pan. Otherwise just run of the mill stuff. I have a ton of pics if you are interested and I will throw them on a site shortly. Sorry about the long delay but I was not around a computer in a long time

[JPbmw]

Sure let me know whenever you have them online thanks.
i also got my m30 from a junk yard but i didnt do a compression test before taking the head off, so i think im gonna send the head to a shop to have it rebuild and then put it on the block and do the compression test.

[Hick]

hahah, i did that! as a matter of fact, my m30 right now has a few good sized chunks for the timin chain tensioner rail in the pan, a few bolts i dropped [oops] and not only that, but it does not even have a tensioner rail on there!

Runs great! ahahahaha

[E30/M30]

I had to change my guide as well