timing chain tensioner spring

pedro20001 · Post by **pedro20001** » Fri 21 Jun, 2013 15:04

Hi all just changed above spring and washer, took all of ten minutes, thanks for the advice zedbedee! well worth the cost of £3.54 including delivery from sytners sutton-coldfield which included postage and packing! very helpful as it would have cost more in petrol! my new spring was 3-4 mm longer than the one removed and has quietened down the chain area a bit - bonus!!

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Fri 21 Jun, 2013 15:45

Did you do any pics of the procedure?

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 16:55

Southernboy wrote:Did you do any pics of the procedure?

Yeah, top tips would be good. I've done the job, but the radiator and fan had been removed, so access was easy.

Pierrick · Post by **Pierrick** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 17:40

What engine do you have? Does this need to be done on all engines?? and how often?

Never heard of it before...

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 17:59

.....seems "Pedro" is staying very "dom" about his doings....

pedro20001 · Post by **pedro20001** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 18:43

ha ha ! sorry guys, been on nightshift! My engine is a 2.2 6cyl. no air pump, took 5 mins tops, 32mm ring spanner. sorry i haven't posted any pics ( one day i will learn how to!) literally undo, piston and spring come out, lost about a teaspoon of oil. swap spring, fit new washer and screw back in, dead easy ( although i did have a little help from zedbedee

)

Pierrick · Post by **Pierrick** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 18:51

Does it need to be done on a 1.9L as well??

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 22:22

Sorry, I'm being thick. For some reason, I thought it was the auxillary belt tensioner spring you were talking about

Del · Post by **Del** » Sun 23 Jun, 2013 08:28

Pierrick wrote:Does it need to be done on a 1.9L as well??

From what I have read about the M44 engine (and its predecessor the M42) they are tough and reliable. I haven’t seen any posts on this forum (or read elsewhere) about specific timing chain issues. Certain makes/models of car suffer from timing chain & tensioner issues e.g. smaller Vauxhall (aka Opel) engines where it is as common as the seat bush issue on our Z3s.

I’m not aware of any timing chain noise on my own M44. My tick-over is no noisier when the engine is hot (a possible sign of a loose/stretched chain) and so I have assumed this is generally a trouble-free area for the M44.

Whether it is an issue on certain 6 cylinder engines - I do not know.

Pierrick · Post by **Pierrick** » Sun 23 Jun, 2013 10:48

Thanks del. So, you are telling me this is not an issue but the point is, why wait until there is an issue to fix the problem!

I just didn't know it was possible to change the tentionner and spring that quickly and for so cheap. So if I can do it I'd like to know if it possible to do it the same way on the M44.

And even if I don't change anything, I'll know how to do it just in case. I'll have a look at the Sercive book, see if there is anything about it.

Del · Post by **Del** » Sun 23 Jun, 2013 15:23

The Haynes manual suggests that unlike the M42 engine, the M44 engine has an improved oil-fed, (no spring) hydraulic tensioner. The spring-based M42 tensioner (in M42 engines) was often upgraded to the M44 one. There appears to be no set servicing/replacement interval.

Useful links below about the M42 engine tensioner and upgrade to the M44 one.

http://e30world.com/engine/BMW-E30-M42- ... eplacement

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/101-proj ... blems.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ5MQQpUf9g

Pictures below of mine on the engine i.e. just below the coil and washer fluid bottle

Pierrick · Post by **Pierrick** » Sun 23 Jun, 2013 22:48

Thanks! Nothing to worry about then!

zroadster.net

timing chain tensioner spring

timing chain tensioner spring

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Re: timing chain tensioner spring