Throw them numbers at me R3V!

[duleymane///iS]

Guten Morgen America! Its almost goodnight for me over here in German land. I would like to know how much of a PITA/ how much money will it cost me to do a Timing job.. New Cam gears, New chain, New guides, not new tensioner as i have one. just ball park it at me, im getting tired of putting around town under 3K for the fear my engine might explode from a slipped chain.. the noise is nasty! just let me know, and if this question has already been asked maybe point me in the right direction, google/ search is working to well right now :hitler: THanks!!! Stay Classy!

[broach328]

well if damage hasnt been done by now, just replace the tensioner for 40 bucks. takes 10 minutes and noise will be gone your good to go unless you wanna do a full rebuild.

[bmwm42]

500 us

[irish44j]

Cost me far less than $500 for mine.

You can find used sprockets that are still in good shape for $50 or so.
Buy a new tensioner and chain guide (maybe $150)
Buy a new chain
New profile gasket and other gaskets.

I'd say more like $250-300 if you look for used parts too. Plus IDK if parts in Germany are cheaper or more expensive than here.

Might want to touch base with my buddies at the RG318is Cup....it's a German spec series for M42-powered 318 rally cars, so they might have some good places to get the stuff since they run hard and fast :) Google that name for their site and contact info.

[AndrewBird]

If you are rebuilding the timing components, use all new parts. Don't waste your time on used parts that will need to be replaced much sooner then new parts.

Do it once, do it right.

[bmwm42]

Cost me far less than $500 for mine.

You can find used sprockets that are still in good shape for $50 or so.
Buy a new tensioner and chain guide (maybe $150)
Buy a new chain
New profile gasket and other gaskets.

I'd say more like $250-300 if you look for used parts too. Plus IDK if parts in Germany are cheaper or more expensive than here.

Might want to touch base with my buddies at the RG318is Cup....it's a spec series for M42-powered 318 rally cars, so they might have some good places to get the stuff since they run hard and fast :) Google that name for their site and contact info.

Lol there are four guides the slide rail is 100 alone the bottom one 40 the other side another 100 and the top one 20 the chain 50 the tensioner 50 crank sprocket 50 used but great condition cam gears 50.........I understand your engine was just a get my by fix.....not the way it should be done

[duleymane///iS]

Yeah thanks for the responses! I replaced the tensioner with no luck, the engine honestly doesnt sound that bad during the winter its only the summer months when it sounds bad (i use 20W50 oil). I know the cam sprokets are worn so a complete overhaul is necessary. Parts here in germany are more expensive and harder to find at the local parts stores since they are ridiculous with there car laws. I couldnt even get an intake manifold gasket local. 500 US seems fair, I am going to tackle all the suspension bushings first with my tax returns, and then worry about the timing :)

[irish44j]

Lol there are four guides the slide rail is 100 alone the bottom one 40 ($10 at Pelican) the other side another 100 ($62 at Pelican) and the top one 20 the chain 50 the tensioner 50 (Can be found under $40) crank sprocket 50 used but great condition cam gears 50.........I understand your engine was just a get my by fix.....not the way it should be done

how was mine a "get me by fix" exactly? Mine will be run harder than 99% of the people on this board run theirs, I can promise you that.....I just don't see the point of replacing things that don't need replacing, just for the sake of replacing them. Yeah, if the OP wants to drive the car for another decade daily...the might as well get all new stuff. But who wants to DD a 30-year old car? You'll be spending thousands more replacing everything else in addition to the timing stuff :)

Some of the parts you mention do not need to be replaced if they're not damaged. I did suggest to replace the key parts (chain/tensioner/long guide/good cam gears). I just don't think it would cost $500+, that was my point.

The bottom "guide" isn't even really a guide - it's just a "shield" of sorts. If the chain is correctly tensioned, it should never touch the lower plastic "guide" you reference. No reason to replace it at all unless it's cracked, IMO. Moot point though, it's like a $6 part (not $40)

The upper guide hardly wears at all - there is no reason to replace it unless it's damaged. It's like $15 though if you need peace of mind.

I hardly think most people doing a timing job on an M42 replace EVERY SINGLE component in the timing system.......but there are certainly many components that should be bought new (including, of course, all gaskets and seals and other parts mentioned above).

It's all academic though.......my cost estimate was probably a bit low. Yours was high....new and like-new condition parts can be found for less than "full price" if one looks around enough....That was really my point.

Sure, all this stuff costs a hell of a lot more if you go buy it at the dealer....

Plus, your whole list only added up to $460, and he said he already has a new tensioner, so make it $400 ;)

[irish44j]

Here's the price list from IMBMParts, btw, if you do want everything new and with OEM BMW parts. Better prices on most things than Pelican or Blunt or wherever.

camshaft gear: $38.15 x 2
tensioner rail: $77.07 (it's cheaper on Pelican, IIRC)
slide rail: $41.00
chain: $43.01
chain guide lower: $6.32
intermediate gear: $110.37 (find it used for cheap)
tensioner: $31.42
crankshaft gear: $44.00

so you're looking at $425 + gaskets/seals ($50ish) for EVERYTHING brand-new OEM.

But knock $100 or so off that if you find good used cam and crank gears...

https://www.imbmparts.com

[bmwman91]

$500 in parts is about what I paid when I have overhauled the timing case on each of my M42's. That was for all timing parts, a thermostat and related gaskets. Parts were purchased from Pelican.

[bmwm42]

Who in their right mind wouldn't replace brittle 22+ year old plastic while they are there price is insignificant

[duleymane///iS]

Who in their right mind wouldn't replace brittle 22+ year old plastic while they are there price is insignificant

HAHAHA! :up:

[bmwman91]

Honestly, I would do an M44 timing case swap. One of the few major mechanical flaws with the M42 is the original design that uses that stupid idler sprocket. It WILL snap off of the timing case sooner or later. If you are going to go to the trouble of rebuildint the timing case, you might as well swap in an M44 timing case. Make sure that you also use M44 oil pump gears since they are a bit bigger (higher oil flow) and replace the oil pressure bypass valve stuff too (it was actually updated, your M42 probably has the old design that is prone to failure).

The only tricky part with the M44 timing case is mounting the crank angle sensor. You could probably call up Metric Mechanic to see if they will sell you the little adapter bracket to make it work. It is worth it. The M44 has a small plastic guide in place of the stupif idler sprocket and it is way more reliable.

[Dj Buttchug]

if you want to save money, run no chain guides. all the cool kids do it.
















































but really, just sack up and buy the updated guides and hardware. also, the lower chain guide is not needed. Both my turbo engine and daily engine do not have this part. If you want to pinch pennies it saves you $10 bucks.

[irish44j]

. also, the lower chain guide is not needed. Both my turbo engine and daily engine do not have this part. If you want to pinch pennies it saves you $10 bucks.

ditto. mine had a crack in it, so I just took it off and didn't put a new on one.