Looking for mechanic for help with M42 Engine Chain Tension Guides in Socal area

[mmmusty]

Hi,

My name is Farid, I have a 91' 318is that had a very strong engine with high compression results. Gave it to my friend to work on a few minor things (like the gaskets). upon receiving the car back after a few months, i noticed a different sound from the engine, if i remember correctly, like rattling or light chain slipping sound.

Long story short, this guy left me hanging and told me not to start the car. I am looking for someone to help me with replacing the chain tension guides and then going from there (as I understand, a compression test can only be done AFTER this, unless I was to start the engine now, which could be bad?).

Ive contacted a couple of places but they are too expensive,....any local people that want some extra cash and feel comfortable with this job? Any shops or mechanics you recommend around SoCAL are appreciated. The cars current zip is 91364, I can tow it also.

Thank you

[mike.bmw]

Why do you think it's the guides?

It might just be the tensioner, which is a fairly easy and quick job (less than 5 minutes). To really know if the guides are falling apart, you'll need to drain the oil and drop the lower oil pan for pieces of guides or upper oil pan bolts. Not a hard job either, but you'll need to replace the lower oil pan gasket while you're there and hope none of the previous owners stripped the threads on the upper pan.

Basically what I'm saying is that unless you have specific evidence of the timing guides being bad/broken, don't just assume that's the case.

[KIRIEIW]

Yea I've seen it both ways, one with bad guides and another with a bad chain tensioner. If your guides are bad your going to be in for some hurting, these engines are not cheap when guides start failing.. In comparison to the 325i models/ M20. Also last I heard chain sprockets and at least one of the chain guides are NLA.

I hope in your case its the chain tensioner OP.

[MR 325]

The places you called may not actually be "too expensive". Doing a timing component replacement properly on the M42 engine is not a cheap endeavor. Parts costs are very high and it is labor intensive. I would highly recommend bringing the car to a professional to properly diagnose the issue. Look at the position you've been put in by the last friend who worked on the car...

[bmwman91]

I'd be a little surprised if you found many or any shops that were a) willing to do the job, and b) competent enough with these cars to do the job. I have had shops outright tell me to take a hike for stuff as simple as pressing E30 bushings and rear wheel bearings since none of them have the mandrels anymore. Ultimately I found a place owned by an older guy who was into Porshes of the same era who took pity on me and pressed stuff for a hefty price. With something critical and more complex like the timing system, it seems unlikely that you will find shops that employ anyone who has worked on an M42 in any real depth. I DIY all of my engine maintenance mainly because I do not trust any shops to do things properly (high performance engine builders excepted since their work is in a different category), and also because it is more cost effective to DIY.

So, as others have said try to figure out what the issue is. List EXACTLY what this friend replaced and/or "adjusted". We can roll from there. There is more than enough knowledge on here to get you going.

[MR 325]

I'd be a little surprised if you found many or any shops that were a) willing to do the job, and b) competent enough with these cars to do the job. I have had shops outright tell me to take a hike for stuff as simple as pressing E30 bushings and rear wheel bearings since none of them have the mandrels anymore. Ultimately I found a place owned by an older guy who was into Porshes of the same era who took pity on me and pressed stuff for a hefty price. With something critical and more complex like the timing system, it seems unlikely that you will find shops that employ anyone who has worked on an M42 in any real depth. I DIY all of my engine maintenance mainly because I do not trust any shops to do things properly (high performance engine builders excepted since their work is in a different category), and also because it is more cost effective to DIY.

So, as others have said try to figure out what the issue is. List EXACTLY what this friend replaced and/or "adjusted". We can roll from there. There is more than enough knowledge on here to get you going.

The OP happens to be about 30 miles away from us. We also have the experience to correctly perform the job.

We're still happy to take the car in and properly diagnose and repair the issue.

[bmwman91]

The OP happens to be about 30 miles away from us. We also have the experience to correctly perform the job.

We're still happy to take the car in and properly diagnose and repair the issue.

Nice. Yeah you guys are about the only people I can think of that I'd trust to work on these cars. I'm sure there are others out there, but at least up by me they are few and far between.