Glad I changed my timing belt

[65Matt]

Well, I recently bought a 1989 325i and went straight to work, changing the cooling system and timing belt. I'm glad I did: :shock:

[nando]

recently 2 years ago? :shock:

[65Matt]

Good catch - I really should set the date on my camera... My guess is that picture was taken 22 days after I put fresh batteries in it!!!

[RedBaron86325]

I removed this belt off of a friends car. This timing belt was still functioning on the car. I was completely surprised by what I saw when I pulled the timing cover off.

[LikeCDoos]

wow your lucky it didn't break on you

[bimmerphile]

holy shit you are a lucky mofo

[chesster6969]

My timing belt was a bit more than halfway cracked through when I got it changed. Dont trust what previous owners tell you!

[mgold]

I'm so glad that my car has a timing chain and not a belt. I've heard horror stories about timing belts breaking.

[BS87]

Yeah, i recently purchased my E30, and i never got around to asking the previous owner (who happened to be the origional owner) about the t-belt.

3 weeks ago, i asked and he said he never had it changed. Ever. Highly doubt that, since the car has 193k+ on it. So i'm babying it until i can change it in a few weeks.

[M3 Ryan]

just cause you baby it doesn't mean it will last... they break when you start the motor in the morning sometimes, you never can tell...
I am glad that both my cars are timing chains. Still not break-proof, but sure as hell last a lot longer...

[lowslowe30]

3 weeks ago, i asked and he said he never had it changed. Ever. Highly doubt that, since the car has 193k+

It's not like evry timing belt will break at 100k. I have heard of them lasting to 395k, and some lasting 20k. It's all subjective.

[nando]

395k? maybe if they lived in a stable climate and only revved to 3k.. I just find that hard to swallow!

I changed mine about a year ago. it had about 50k on it and looked brand new when I pulled it off. I have no idea how the previous owner drove it (it was his wifes car), but after a couple seasons of auto-x and maybe some driving schools I'm sure it'll be more worn next time I change it. :twisted:

and anyway it's not like it's a terribly difficult job. once you've had experience with it it could be done in an hour realistically, and you get to flush your radiator and change the waterpump at the same time. it's also a good time to do belts and hoses (something that was never done on my buddies 180k 318is, until his waterpump blew up at work and I helped him change it in the parking lot!).

[BS87]

Ryan, i know babying it wont help, but i think my chance of it lasting the few weeks until i can change it will improve if i dont go tear-assing around (though you can't really do that in an eta..)

[natorious]

3 weeks ago, i asked and he said he never had it changed. Ever. Highly doubt that, since the car has 193k+

It's not like evry timing belt will break at 100k. I have heard of them lasting to 395k, and some lasting 20k. It's all subjective.

yeah but i wouldnt risk it on an e30.... on my corrado tho... non-interference engine... 170,000 miles on the timing belt and it still looks new... and alot of those miles were with the car being thrashed like you wouldnt belive

[mgold]

So I'm curious, has anyone ever retrofitted a timing chain in place of the belt? I've seen on small block Chevy's where the chain was replaced with a set of gears. Talk about a trick setup!