Timing Belt Qeustion

[peerless]

I am preparing for a 2000 mile road trip and was going to do the timing belt. I have owned the car (85 325e) for about 4 months now and have 196,000 miles on it. There is a sticker that says the belt was done at 172,000 on 11/99.

Thats only 24,000 miles on the belt but 3 years ago. Am I good to go or should I change it???

Thanks,
Robert
85' 325e

[bmwguru007]

The sticker doesn't guarantee that the belt was done, someone could have easily bought it and stuck it on there. If you know for a fact that the belt was changed at that time it will be fine. The interval most people use is 4 years or 50k whichever comes first. Mileage is definently more of a factor on belt wear than time is. When I changed my belt it was 5 years old with 20k on it and it looked fine.

[peerless]

Thanks Brett,

I wasn't sure about the interval. My mind rests a little easier now. The car seemed well cared for, The engine is clean, everything works fine. I took out the air box assembly and looked in behind the T/B cover and saw the belt on the tensioner. It looks fine, feels fine, its dry with no oil contamination and no apparant cracks. Tension seems ok as well.

Robert
85 325e

[E30ownerwithanopinion]

there is a saying if the thought crosses your mind that it needs to be done... DO IT

[DaN]

It wouldn't hurt to do it, as long as whomever performs the work is qualified.

But I wouldn't worry about it, if it looks good and feels good, and only has 20K on it. It should be good. People neglect these and they still last a considerable amount of time. Yours should still have alot of life left in it.