valve adjustment tools

[StereoInstaller1]

Oh yeah, that same pushbutton makes a great reset tool for your oil and service lights.

Luke

[e304me]

any one know if its the same or similar on an m30?

[bddog]

You will spend more time trying to get the valves in the right position then it is worth.
Have you ever replaced a starter on these cars?
Follow the Bentley.

[StereoInstaller1]

You will spend more time trying to get the valves in the right position then it is worth.

Nah...takes seconds. Try it, you will never go back.

Have you ever replaced a starter on these cars?

Why yes, I have. Pain in the butt, but not much worse than my 350 powered Astro.

If a few bumps on your starter kills it or even shortens the lifespan significantly, you should plan on replacing it anyway.

It's not like you do your valves 12 times a year.

Luke

[matt]

Wow, all those ideas suck.

Put the car in gear and roll it. So much easier than any of your retarded ideas.

[nando]

ummm you guys are forgetting that you need a 30mm socket on the harmonic balancer to turn the cam. Another option is to bump the engine over with the starter i guess.

it's 22mm, not 30.

I used to do it that way, just turning the motor by hand.. but with the stroker, it's almost impossible. 10:1 compression vs. 8.8:1, I can barely even move the motor by hand now. it was easy on the stock motor though, and it's not bad at all without the clutch fan. I'll probably use the starter bump method from now on..

[Dave]

Wow, all those ideas suck.

Put the car in gear and roll it. So much easier than any of your retarded ideas.

[Jand3rson]

We put a ratchet on the alternator bolt and turned the engine that way. Worked perfectly. All of the methods you guys are talking about are way more effort than is required.

[808BMW]

I use my mechanics pushbutton that fits directly on the diagnostic cap, takes about 5 seconds to setup, and maybe a minute or 2 to adjust the valves.

[Adrian_Visser]

hmm i like that. i ended up putting it in fifth gear and using my girlfriend as a helper as i rocked the car back and forth with the clutch engaged going forward and disengaged going backwards (WITH THE SPARK PLUGS OUT), it worked but fuck that next time im doin it that way, does it make you overshoot at all or is it easy to control where you stop?

and all my valves were tighter than spec whats up with that? i woulda thought theyd get looser over time.

im kina dissapointed about the whole thing, there wasnt much noticeable change to anything, i mean the seafoam treatment made more difference than this.

i also still have the knocking sound i had before. sounds like a loose rocker or somethin but it didnt change at all with the adjustment. anybody know what piston slap sounds like?

[808BMW]

You just give the button a tap, if it doesn't go far enough to adjust, tap it again. Never over-rotated it or anything

[StereoInstaller1]

You just give the button a tap, if it doesn't go far enough to adjust, tap it again. Never over-rotated it or anything

That is what I am talking about, except ghetto style, with a $2.00 pushbutton.

You guys wanna do things the hard way, have at it!

Luke

[Rocla]

Some one asked if it was similiar procedure for m30 engine, and it's quite the same, as also for m10 engines.

I have the made a special tool for turning the eccentrics, a small screw driver with the end cut off, then twisted the rod 90 deg after heating it with a torch.

[Disaster Inc]

Valve adjusting made easy

Try this:

Go to Radio Shack, buy the cheapest momentary contact pushbutton they have, like $2.00. Solder on about 3 feet of speaker wire, like 18 guage. Strip the other end, and solder that so you have a "pin".

Open your diagnostic connector AFTER looking at the unoffical BMW guide...stuff that "pin" into the connectors labeled "starter" and 12 volts (AKA "Battery")

MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL!!!!

Tap that little button and your starter cranks over. Way easier than any other method.

Also, an 1/8" drillbit is the best tool to rotate that eccentric that I have found.

GL!

Luke

Hey, I know this is an OLD thread, but I found Luke's tip on making a cheap ass remote starter wire interesting... So today I made one out of a $2.87 radio shack switch and a piece of wire. Balls. Makes the valve adjustment tit. Highly recommended. Thought I'd throw it out there in case some of you haven't tried it...

Thanks, Chris

[DJB]

Valve cover clamping
11+-1 ftlb, 15+-1.5Nm, alternate tightening top and bottom moving from the center out.

Connect pins 11 and 14 in the diagnostic to bump the engine over. I use an unbent paper clip.

Or you can use a 22mm wrench or a metric adjustable wrench on the crank bolt.