timing belt rumor

[Big Daddy]

my m42 is a belt
and i have a 91 318is

They did NOT make an M42 motor with a timing belt! Why do you think yours is a belt? Try looking in any BMW parts manual for a timing belt for an M42, the only listing is for a chain. Maybe this article will help. Pay close attention to the third paragraph:

M42

Here is the "timimg chain" listing from Pelican parts: "Timing Chain, 318i/is/iC (1991)
BW-11-31-1-247-160 $36.25" including part number.

 

[e30fr3@k]

brutal, big daddy doesn't take 5h!t from anyone it's good to see someone who backs his arguments with facts, not insults.

 

[Big Daddy]

I am not trying to insult anyone or be mean, it is just a simple fact that the 318is M42 motor had a timing chain, not a belt. I am the 2nd owner of mine, my brother bought it new in Germany. In fact the timing chain is a drouble row type and actually begins to show some wear and could need replacing at 100k. Here is another link to an e30 site dedicated to the 91 318is model. There is some good information here:

91 318is

 

[bichmgnt]

The manual says to remove the radiator to replace the timing belt so you have to drain it. Now to replace the thermostat you really don't have to do anything since it is at the top of the engine. You'll lose a little fluid if you just remove it without doing anything but it is easily replaced. But if you're going to do the timing belt for the first time you might as well drain and pull the radiator. It really isn't hard. My mechanic never does it but he really knows what he's doing. It's a bit harder but it saves him time overall. But you do need the tensioner. I don't know what happens, it might be that they break in together, but the book says to replace them together so I do.

If you have the manual and you have a good day to do it you should go for it. It's a very straightforward procedure that does not require a lot of skill or tools. It's really just a remove and replace with no seals and measuring of tolerances. The one thing you might consider is replacing the water pump at the same time. They don't last forever and you don't want it to fail right after you do this maintenance because you have to do all the associated work again.

Why are you changing the thermostat? Not sure what the most common failure mode for the pump is but could that be your problem?

Steve

 

[e30fr3@k]

Why are you changing the thermostat? Not sure what the most common failure mode for the pump is but could that be your problem?

Steve

well my engine is running cold (below the 1/4 mark) and the consensus that we came to was that the thermostat was stuck open. for a 10 dollar fix, i'm willing to try it.

 

[Rukus]

At Canadian tire, my thermostat is $60cnd!!!!! what a rip off!!

Pelicanparts has it for $13usd!!!!!

 

[e30fr3@k]

At Canadian tire, my thermostat is $60cnd!!!!! what a rip off!!

Pelicanparts has it for $13usd!!!!!

well...what can i say. blame canada

 

[nadroj]

because i cant see any chain coming from the crank

 

[Kirby]

In general, engine timing chains need lubrication, so they are "inside" the engine and you won't be able to see it. I assume the BMW is like other engines I have worked on. The timing chain is at the front of the engine behind the front cover. Looking at the front of the engine, it would be basically behind where the water pump mounts to the engine.

 

[nadroj]

that would explain it

 

[ldzpstnr]

Hey guys and gals!

I think there were two motors for the E30 318is. I think there was a M40 and a M42. Now I am back at the older E30's with the m10's and m20's so I may be wrong. But might be worth checking out.

Aaron

 

[Big Daddy]

In general, engine timing chains need lubrication, so they are "inside" the engine and you won't be able to see it. I assume the BMW is like other engines I have worked on. The timing chain is at the front of the engine behind the front cover. Looking at the front of the engine, it would be basically behind where the water pump mounts to the engine.

Exactly!

ldzpstnr, I do not know about your information, but I do know that both myself and nadroj said ours were 91 318is models and these all had the M42 motor.

 

[ldzpstnr]

Whats the production date on the cars? And I from what I read one engine had a timing belt and the other a chain correct? Want to make sure I am not just being stupid and can still read . I will try to find the info about the two different engines... I could have swore I read it somewhere so dont quote me until I get proof. Later.

Aaron

 

[ldzpstnr]

Here is a link that shows at the bottom of the page a list of the M40/M42 engines and what cars they were in, short of. They could have organized it better, its hard to tell what engine is where and some cars are not listed.
http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/4cyl.htm

Anyone got a bentley manual? That might say. I need to buy one still... later

 

[Big Daddy]

Notice though that as with most sites the 91 318is is not listed? It is an e30 with the M42 that was is in the 92 e36 318is, same motor. Look at the 91's copied from your link, they do not list the "is" model. The 91 318is has the M42B18 motor that is in the e36.

M40B18 Kat 1796 113@5500 162@4250 Bosch M1.7 1991 E36/318i, E34/518i
M42B18 1796 140@6000 175@4500 Bosch M1.7 1992 E36/318iS, 318ti"

 

[Big Daddy]

Go to this site, dedicated to the 91 318is only. Look under 318is then engine and you will see that what I am saying about the 91 318is, all of them regardless of build date are the same.

91 318is

 

[Project Bratwurst]

no US production 318 ever had a belt, they all had chains. The S14 e30 M3 motor also has a chain. The only engines BMW produced with a belt for the US market are in the 325e 325i 528e and early e34 525i (with M20 engine)
Currently BMW sells no Timing belt cars in the US. All modern 6 cyl have chains and variable timing control making the SO much fin to put back together! ( sarcasm of course)

 

[Kether]

The S14 motor... does it have 2 chains, or just a double-row chain that looks like two?

 

[BMW Punk]

ok Guys I just got back from a BMW dealer, they replaced my timing belt, tensioner and water pump for $250. That was very cheap insurance. The belt needs to be changed along with the tensiner every 50k, BMW recommened service. They also gave me a list of other items that need attention. I think the 250 was money well spent. Plus I got to drive a new loaner car for the day

 

[chucko]

what i've heard is that if the timing belt breaks, you have to have your engine rebuilt. or the engine breaks and can no longer function. this sounds a bit extreme to me, and i would think that BMW would have found a way around that.

Fraid so, this happened to me last april and a few months later I was donating my car to habitat for humanity The crappy thing about it was that the timing belt only had 40K miles on it.