What be this?

[E30SPDFRK]

I was doing a head gasket on my 318is a few weeks ago when I found that the head was cracked. I bought a new head off my friend and put it on when I found this little guy sitting next to the upper timing chain guide rail.





I searched on realoem for a few hours trying to find what it could be but I found nothing. I was told that it might be piece of the timing chain idler pulley, but there were no other pieces around or in the oil pan and the chain is still tight.

It looks like some kind of spring retainer or something to me, but I really have no idea. I've stopped putting the engine together for the time being until I find what it is, so any help is appreciated.

[Danny]

Looks to be the canooter valve.

[E30SPDFRK]

oh shit.

[gearheadE30]

its the retainer cap for one end of the timing chain rail. I forget which rail it's on, though. that means you lost the bolt that holds it in, too, so the guide can flop around a bit. iirc it's not the tensioner rail; it's the other one.

[E30SPDFRK]

#10? I know I have that bolt

[FredK]

upon further inspection, it doesn't look like a broken piece of anything. I wish I could remember where in the timing case it came from, but I can't!

[16v of E30]

it MUST be an exhaust bearing...most definately one of those.