M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Swaps, Turbos, Buildups => Topic started by: tim_s on July 30, 2007, 05:46:24 AM

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: tim_s on July 30, 2007, 05:46:24 AM

anyone on here done this? started doing mine to m44 spec yesterday, trying to work out what to do with the dipstick so suggestions appreciated!

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: nuvolarossa on July 30, 2007, 08:36:38 AM

can I ask why you're doing it? supercharger? thanks

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: gearheadE30 on July 30, 2007, 10:58:22 AM

Put a thick piece of wire in the dipstick and then bend it out of the way. This way it won't fold in on itself.

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: tim_s on July 31, 2007, 01:37:44 AM

I'm doing it for a whole host of reasons really, mainly because I've got a whirring noise coming from one of the ancilliairies and i only replaced the PAS pump (for one out of a 94 touring) 5 months ago or so. I figured it made more sense to upgrade to newer components - I now have an 1998 80a alternator and a 1999 PAS pump. I also was aware that the crank pulley is a nicer item, although I've not been worried anout the disintegration rumours at high rpm, I nevertheless never liked the part that much.

I'm not sure how I'm going to make room for the dipstick though! It's very tight in there!

oh and if anyone else is thinking of doing this, don't bother unless you want a load of ballache, there are a load of problems to overcome.

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: nickmpower on August 10, 2007, 01:14:28 PM

did you ever figure out the dipstick tim?

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: tim_s on August 11, 2007, 04:02:50 PM

yeah, all sorted now! e36 PAS pump in particular is better than e30 one; i'm really happy with the conversion now. dipstick was ok, it passes pretty close to the belt though and is a bit tougher to get in and out where it's been bent. I'll get some pics up when I have chance.

have another noise now that's got terrible, looks like clutch release bearing. got bearing noise even if turning the engine by hand on the crank pulley; noise seems to vary depending on if the clutch is pressed (is worse with clutch down, but there when clutch up too at low rpm), and goes away at higher rpm, so i think clutch release bearing is most likely candidate at the moment. hope I'm right! more work needed, gearbox or engine out time :(

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: gearheadE30 on August 12, 2007, 11:51:13 AM

Did you run into any other problems in the conversion?

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: Vladi on August 12, 2007, 04:18:47 PM

Quote from: tim_s;31452

yeah, all sorted now! e36 PAS pump in particular is better than e30 one

If you like the e36 PS pump wait until you get the e36 steering rack. Now i'm turning 16' wheels like they're 14's. :)

Title: serpentine belt
Post by: tim_s on August 13, 2007, 06:56:18 AM

couple of other issues, custom pipework for the PAS mainly.
main benefit of the e36 PAS pump is it doesn't seem to affect rpm and you can't feel it on the steering unlike the e30 one!
The car is going in for new spigot bearing, clutch, release bearing, release fork, spring, g/b input seal, g/b mounts etc tmrw. hope it fixes the noise; this is an expensive problem :(
Have my super new head on the way soon too.