I'm thinking I need to get on the timing chain work......

[tfrain]

https://picasaweb.google.com/thetomfrain/1991318isM42?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Ignore the compression numbers.  That was on a cold engine.  I was just wanting to get a comparison across all 4 cylinders.  I shoulda warmed it up first, but was in the middle of oil change, cam cover gasket change, etc and didn't want to put it all back together and redo it.

Those teeth are looking sharp!

I've looked on the forum here some re: cost.  I'm expecting to spend around $400 or so on parts, and probably 8 hrs total doing the work.

What else should I do at the same time?  Planning on water pump, thermostat, mess under the intake, rubber fuel lines, the plastic coolant pipe at the same time.  

should I do the mustang (or 4 pintel or whatever) injectors at the same time?  

If I wanted to do all the "usual" stuff, how much would that cost me!

Thanks - loving me car.  Fun to work on (since I have another vehicle in case this one doesn't get put back together Sunday night).

Tom

[deansweet]

yeah, my timing chain was much more taught than your?
Wondering how it does that? Do you think the chain stretched?
Or maybe one(or both?) of the cam gears slipped?

Your top end looks a bit different than mine? More color to it?
How many miles on it? What kind of oil are you using?

https://picasaweb.google.com/100761544388013696333/1991BMW318is

Pictures 76-79, mine has 350k on the odometer.

[tfrain]

your cam sprockets look pretty sharp too!
I'm guessing stretch.  Mine has approx. 140K (documented via autocheck).
I noticed that the chain became more and more loose as time went on with me pushing on it.  I'm guessing as oil in the tensioner seeped out.  It def. needs to be gone over in the timing case.
Oil that was in it, I dunno.  It was quite thin.  I'm guessing like 0w-20 or something.  My first change I put in 10w-40 mobil1 high mileage.  It already leaks a few places so not worried about additional leaking if prev. owner was using dino oil, but I'm thinking it was synthetic.  I took these pictures with my phone.  LED flash I think made it look more brown than it was.