cam belt change

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BrianBZ1
Joined: Fri 21 Jun, 2013 22:26
Posts: 27

  Z1 roadster
Location: Kent

cam belt change

Post by BrianBZ1 »

Hey guys,
Have had my Z1 4 years in August.
I think BMW recommend changing your cam belt every 4 years what are your thoughts on this.
I do about 2,500 a year.
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Gazza
Joined: Tue 04 Oct, 2005 20:58
Posts: 9521

  M roadster S54
Location: Romford Essex

Re: cam belt change

Post by Gazza »

Age is a factor on cambelts, same goes for tyres :wink:
Gazza

"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"

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Green Genie
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Joined: Thu 01 May, 2008 17:29
Posts: 484

  Z1 roadster
Location: Hertfordshire

Re: cam belt change

Post by Green Genie »

BrianBZ1 wrote:Hey guys,
Have had my Z1 4 years in August.
I think BMW recommend changing your cam belt every 4 years what are your thoughts on this.
I do about 2,500 a year.
Hi Brian, I do about the same amount of miles (or less) as you do, but I have the cambelt changed every 4 years regardless as a precaution.

It's just not worth the risk! I'd be interested to see what others say...

It might be worth changing the water pump at this time as it's easily accessible at this point (lots of stuff already off) and therefore cheaper to have done if you don't DIY.

I've had it done on mine at the last belt change as there was nothing in the history of my car to show this had been done so peace of mind was important, bit like having the cambelt changed.

I probably won't need to change the water pump again.
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Pat Slade
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2004 17:12
Posts: 321

  Z1 roadster
Location: Barnet

Re: cam belt change

Post by Pat Slade »

As some of you may know treat my car gently. It's my age as well as the car's!
So I have been slightly naughty and in the habit of changing the belt every 5 years. Working on the principle that BMW must err on the cautious side when stating service replacement intervals! I always replace the idler at the same time. Also did the water pump last time (@20 years!) as a precaution really, as the bearing and seals must past their prime, and it is certainly convenient to replace it when doing the belt.

Pat
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: cam belt change

Post by pingu »

Pat Slade wrote:As some of you may know treat my car gently. It's my age as well as the car's!
So I have been slightly naughty and in the habit of changing the belt every 5 years. Working on the principle that BMW must err on the cautious side when stating service replacement intervals! I always replace the idler at the same time. Also did the water pump last time (@20 years!) as a precaution really, as the bearing and seals must past their prime, and it is certainly convenient to replace it when doing the belt.

Pat
No need to replace the idler and bearings if you are only changing the belt due to age.
Pingu
Cabrioot
Joined: Wed 23 Oct, 2013 21:31
Posts: 99

  Z1 roadster

Re: cam belt change

Post by Cabrioot »

Change every 4 years and cleand the front of the engine.
No need to do idler roller or watherpump evry time.
Good luck its a nice job to do.
Made mi some tools fore the fan and long stud to release mainbolt on crankshaft.
BrianBZ1
Joined: Fri 21 Jun, 2013 22:26
Posts: 27

  Z1 roadster
Location: Kent

Re: cam belt change

Post by BrianBZ1 »

Thanks for your comments guys best get it booked in to be on the safe side.
Will give Munich Legends a ring.
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

Did mine last winter BrianBZ1. Little bugger though the job is, I can't bring myself to stray past the 48 months, which seems to go by in a flash. I am trying to remember, but I think I've done mine 3 or 4 times now. I replaced the water pump this time, as a precaution, given that it is the original 1990 one. My car has around 50,000 miles on it. The old water pump looked and felt like new, by the way.

I'm well enough practiced now at this swine of a job to be able to do it without draining the coolant and disconnecting the hoses across the front of the engine, so I reckon with the new water pump I might switch over to Evans waterless coolant when I get the chance. I've done it for the 3.0csl and the only reason I held off with the Z was the tedious drain-down every 4 years for the belt.

If only there were some wonder material we could switch to that would render the cam belt a lifetime item :-(

My view on the hassle factor is that painful though the job undoubtedly is, it would be so sad to pop the engine if a 5 or 6-year old belt were to let go. When you change it yourself you're only talking about £25 for the belt and pulley and it's cheap insurance I reckon.

Good luck with it.
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: cam belt change

Post by pingu »

Why do you have to drain the coolant to change the belt?
Pingu
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

Following the manual involves removing the bottom hose, which comes across the front of the cam belt cover and does rather get in the way of the job. The Z1 has a metal pipe too that bolts to the front. Manual says remove both to make room, but if you are careful you can move them out of the way and avoid it. I always used it as an excuse to change the coolant at that time, but with the Evans tackle in there you really just want to leave well alone.
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
Pat Slade
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2004 17:12
Posts: 321

  Z1 roadster
Location: Barnet

Re: cam belt change

Post by Pat Slade »

Sam,

I am very impressed by your dexterity! I would never have thought of trying it without disconnecting the hoses. It must surely turn a straightforward Z1 job into a difficult one.
But I understand that it would be desirable if you had Evans waterless in the car.
I saw it listed on a Porsche specialists service list and decided that it was wayyy too expensive to consider. Over £500 on my 911.
Yikes. Better be good!

Pat
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

Hi Pat,

The Porker inevitably takes a bit more coolant, with its triple radiators and lots of water pipes from back to front layout (my 911 runs with no coolant and never gets hot :D ). I guess also that they are making a fair bit out of the job, which can't be easy, given the need to drain down completely to remove as much water as you can, followed by filling and running with the flushing liquid, before draining again and finally filling with the red blood that is the coolant.

For my CSL the flush and coolant came to £220 or so. I bought it at the NEC Classic Motor show and I think they did me a bit of a deal. I am guessing the 911 is half again as much liquid and a chunk of labour too. £500 comes up pretty quickly these days.

Looking forward to getting rid of the salt and crap from the roads and then I can enjoy one of the old bangers again. A very dirty Boxster is a willing every day companion, but I miss the older cars, till they go wrong of course.

Take care of yourself and see you soon.
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
TJS
Joined: Mon 12 Sep, 2005 19:05
Posts: 474

  Z1 roadster

Re: cam belt change

Post by TJS »

My Z1 is currently on its 5th cam belt from 1991 and 29k miles, it's simply changed on a time expired basis. The water pump was also changed at the last Inspection 2 cam belt service as the additional time and cost is minimal if changing the belt. The old pump had very slight felt friction when spun by hand but was perfectly serviceable as was the belt with 4 years and 4k miles. Can you push the service times with low annual mileage? , probably, however I see regular belt changes in the service history file as a positive should you ever consider selling plus the benefit of peace of mind.

Evans waterless coolant. I am not entirely convinced it is needed if your cooling system is in good shape. I do use it in an MGB GT, mainly out of frustration when it took me time to identify that a replacement pattern part radiator was the wrong spec which led to high speed overheating. A re-core of the original radiator solved the problem. Bear in mind the Evans fluid is much thicker than the conventional water / coolant mix which makes the water pump work harder and the MGB nows runs a consistent 5 c hotter at normal operating temperatures which means re-setting the cut in point for the fan and replacing the thermostat. The fluid / pre prep flushing itself isn't cheap and in reality you need to drain / flush the system 3 times and get it up to temperature which can be a labour intensive pain in a sealed pressurised system. I believe (but not certain) the Evans coolant is flammable if exposed to high temperatures, e.g. a split hose and hot manifold. I recently serviced my late mothers Mini Cooper Sport which was due a coolant change after 16 years and 1,500 miles. I didn't bother with Evans and simply reverse flushed the system with a hose pipe and refilled it with a 50/50 mix of good quality antifreeze and water from the garage dehumidifiers.

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TJS
Joined: Mon 12 Sep, 2005 19:05
Posts: 474

  Z1 roadster

Re: cam belt change

Post by TJS »

Time flies ... having checked the service book it is 7 years and 8k miles since the last cam belt and 2 years since the last BMW oil service. Time to get a quote.

After going through the ritual BMW main dealer requirement of handing over the ignition key and watching the service receptionist try, and fail, to get any sense out of her diagnostic key service indicator thingy I was asked to take a seat. After 45 minutes and much scowling and head scratching by various people, the last one wearing a suit, we had a result.

I now know why they asked me to take a seat .... £1,605.35. They will only change a cam belt as part of an "Inspection 2" service as per the BMW schedule.

Parts include; cam belt @ £41.26 + VAT, Oil 0w30 4.75 units £85.50, and 2 units of gearbox oil £98.00 all plus VAT.

Labour is 85 AW's (??) totalling £956 +VAT.

As a comparison the May 2013 "Inspection 2" invoice was £698 + VAT (£837) which did not include the gearbox and diff fluids, but did include a new water pump (£87.18) and Bosch battery (£50). Labour was £300.
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bluejay
Joined: Fri 16 Jan, 2004 13:40
Posts: 291

  Z1 roadster

Re: cam belt change

Post by bluejay »

After stopping using the BMW garage franchises, I have been looking for another, I am on number three now and still not satisified that the mechanics actually understand anything they do... :head:

Anybody have any good experiences with garages in the The Hague area? Please let me know!!
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

How far are you from Renee?
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

(RKV Trading)
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
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bluejay
Joined: Fri 16 Jan, 2004 13:40
Posts: 291

  Z1 roadster

Re: cam belt change

Post by bluejay »

About three hours drive...

Is he still in business, because he doesn't seem to respond to (my) messages?

Robert
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: cam belt change

Post by sfh3l »

Oh. I thought he was. May be not. That would be a shame.
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
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