Really weird, has this happened to you?

[christophbmw]

So yesterday i went down the hill to go to "Trader Joes" (a really cool grocery outlet), anyway i started to drive home and i had the A/C on for about 2 miles when i heard a POP noise, it sounded like something hit the bottom of my hood, then all the lights on the dash came on, and i lost power steering..........first thing that came to mind: belts must have came off, hmm.

Car started to overheat (duh) my buddy lives about 1 mile away from where i was so i just drove to his house (temp was just kissing the red but the head gasket only has 30k on it so i wasnt to worried). My buddy ended up driving me to autozone (3mi away) and i bought a belt for $4.33, just a temp untill i put some new conti belts on.......anyway, the A/C belt was still on (turned backwards.....as in the inner part of the belt was on the outside!), P/S belt was sitting on the splash tray, and the ALT-Water pump belt was on the splash tray as well torn to shreds. t took me maybe five minutes to change the ALT belt (love the tools in the trunk ) and what the heck....i put the P/S belt back on too.

Heres the weird part, everything is aligned properly, all the bearings from all the accesories are working fine, HOW THE HELL DID THEY JUST POP OFF:mad:, the belts where in good condition also. My geuss (highly unlikly) is that something, like a rock, bounced up and went inbetween the belt and the pulley, what are your guys thoughts?

[gearheadE30]

I've heard of the rock thing happening, but never on one of our engines. The belts are really too narrow to do that. When that water pump belt broke it probably whipped into the PS belt, breaking that one too.

[christophbmw]

I've heard of the rock thing happening, but never on one of our engines. The belts are really too narrow to do that. When that water pump belt broke it probably whipped into the PS belt, breaking that one too.

the ps belt was fine, it just got knocked off..... but the ac belt was still on. im still confused.

[FL318i]

this cars are known for having a problem with the alternator bracket or support, however the hole on the braket gets bigger to the point where the pulley its not lining up with the reas so makes the belt snap, this is just an opinion , happend to me before, hope this helps!!!!

[e9nine]

One of my 325iS's did this twice in a short period. PS belt just came off on it's own. Components were relatively visually intact. It cured itself though. :confused:

[christophbmw]

this cars are known for having a problem with the alternator bracket or support, however the hole on the braket gets bigger to the point where the pulley its not lining up with the reas so makes the belt snap, this is just an opinion , happend to me before, hope this helps!!!!

at first i thought the alternator was off-center, or crooked. but it looks straight with my naked eye. the hole on the bracket seems ok. i am going to start carrying an extra belt, its cake to change on the side of the road.....i love the M42:).

[gearheadE30]

Well, I took a look at mine, and it turns out that the bracket bushings are shot. This causes the pully to be at a slight angle, and it is barely visible to the naked eye. You might want to check that.

[christophbmw]

Well, I took a look at mine, and it turns out that the bracket bushings are shot. This causes the pully to be at a slight angle, and it is barely visible to the naked eye. You might want to check that.

they have never been replaced ever since i got the car, your probabally right.....but im gunna carry an extra belt from now on.