What would you do?

[z31maniac]

I'm fairly certain the timing chain in my newly aquired 318is is none to pleased with the new timing tensioner we installed. IE, it's making a horrible racket from the timing chain cover, so I'm guessing for whatever reason the new tensioner has officially pwnt the timing chain.

Since my garage is currently filled up with a non-running E30, I don't really have a space to work on the car (not doing it in the street in near freezing temps). However, the motor does seem to be in great shape, so do I:

a) Cough up the $850ish or so to have someone else do the work for me.
b) Buy another good running M42 on the cheap and drive the current one until the chain breaks and swap motors. (I should have the other E30 running by then and would thus have a garage to do the work in.)

[FredK]

S52 swap

[xwill112x]

metric mechanic m42 swap

[FredK]

But seriously, that sucks. I know someone local who has my old engine with 109K miles on it, but I'm not sure if he'd be willing to ship (or if it's even economical to do so?).

The chain probably isn't messed up. I bet a chunk of the rail let go because of the increased tension on the chain from the new tensioner. I'd drain the oil and drop the lower pan to check for pieces of timing chain rail.

[z31maniac]

^Hmmm, if that is the case, is it possible to just replace the rail without doing everything else?

I'm still not completely up to speed on all the inner workings of the M42 yet.

metric mechanic m42 swap

If I had $8k laying around for a Metric Mechanic engine, I would not have started this thread.

[Hick]

they are easy to work on

replace the chain, gears, and rails. Shouldnt cost more than $200 in parts, takes an afternoon [with the right tools]

[xwill112x]

they are easy to work on

replace the chain, gears, and rails. Shouldnt cost more than $200 in parts, takes an afternoon [with the right tools]

ive been needing to do this, where do you get your parts for that cheap??

[ThaiRacer]

Just dont sell it to get a E36. hahaha

[FredK]

Yes, it's definitely possible to replace just the worn items. However, it's one of those "while you're in there" dilemmas. Opening the timing case on an M42 is not the easiest of tasks, nor is it that difficult. There's a lot more room to work on it in comparison to a 6 cylinder, for sure.

In terms of gauging overall timing system health, open up the valve cover and look at the cam gears. If they're really sharp, you'll probably have to suck it up and change all of the timing crap.

Or, you could get another lowish mileage M42 for around the same price, from an E36, and swap everything over.

This sucks, man. :(

[pbr87]

S52 swap

this

[FredK]

this

[Mike]

don't those hydraulic tensioners need to be submerged in oil, and pumped by hand before installing into the car?

[Hick]

ive been needing to do this, where do you get your parts for that cheap??

shopping around and having friends.

pelicanparts.com
autohausaz.com
bmaparts.com

[xwill112x]

don't those hydraulic tensioners need to be submerged in oil, and pumped by hand before installing into the car?

no, you can just cram them in already extended so you wont have any chain slapping.

[z31maniac]

Yes, it's definitely possible to replace just the worn items. However, it's one of those "while you're in there" dilemmas. Opening the timing case on an M42 is not the easiest of tasks, nor is it that difficult. There's a lot more room to work on it in comparison to a 6 cylinder, for sure.

In terms of gauging overall timing system health, open up the valve cover and look at the cam gears. If they're really sharp, you'll probably have to suck it up and change all of the timing crap.

Or, you could get another lowish mileage M42 for around the same price, from an E36, and swap everything over.

This sucks, man. :(

That's what I figured, I just don't feel like doing this stuff out in the cold/wind so I'll most likely suck it up and let my buddies shop do it. They charge a reasonable amount per hour.

I get a bonus at the end of the month and an extra paycheck next month, so it's not like it will be a big hit to the finances or anything. Just sucks because that extra paycheck was going to buy some fun stuff for the M42 car instead of more maintenance. But at least when this is done, basically everything on the car will be new!

I'm beginning to suspect the universe doesn't want me to drive old BMW's.