Author Topic: should my timing chain be done? (Read 16181 times)

1991 318is · « **on:** February 23, 2008, 03:41:02 PM »

When i start it i can hear the chain it sounds like its slapping. rev it up and as the rpm's come down it goes slap slap slap slap. not sure what was done to it before so i'm going to assume nothing was done. so should i do the tensioner that pushes on the guide, or get a new chain and do it all? and its just over 160***miles

tjts1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:47:10 PM »

Its hard to tell by sound along. Remove the valve cover and inspect the chain and sprockets.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showpost.php?p=41153&postcount=4

1991 318is · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2008, 04:37:40 PM »

Quote from: tjts1;43415

Its hard to tell by sound along. Remove the valve cover and inspect the chain and sprockets.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showpost.php?p=41153&postcount=4

so if they look ok then what do i do?

tjts1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2008, 05:19:45 PM »

Change the tensioner.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2925

You should also drop the lower oil pan and check for loose bolts or pieces broken off from the guide rail.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=594

1991 318is · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:16:06 PM »

Wow some good stuff to know there. ill be taking off the valve cover and lower oil pan tomorrow or the next day, and ill go from there. hope theres not bolts laying in there. if i need to do the chain and all the stuff i'm not sure if i want to do it myself or get a shop to do it. if a shop does the timing chain and sprockets and all that stuff how long do you think it would take them? probably wont be cheep

tjts1 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2008, 10:41:20 PM »

The parts alone are a few hundred dollars. If you have a shop do the work, all together it'll probably end up costing more than the car is worth.

Edit: another good read
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318ismaintenance.html#timingchain

1991 318is · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2008, 07:24:37 AM »

ya its not cheep hope i just need the tensioner.

sheepdog · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2008, 12:57:32 PM »

You can almost count on finding bolts in your pan.

1991 318is · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:03:43 PM »

ya there was shit in the pan. some pics of what i found 3 bolts i can see where they go. and a little chunk of aluminum, not idea what its from. what loctite do i use on the bolts? and how much torque? sprockets are not to bad i don't think. so i'm not changing the chain or sprockets for sure. going to take out the tensioner prob change that and what about the plastic guide at the top? how much should the chain move up and down in it? might put a new one on it.

going to go take off the tensioner now ill post more pics soon. thanks for the help guys.

tjts1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:09:49 PM »

The cam sprockets alone look pretty much shot. I'm not sure where that big chunk of aluminum came from but that can't be good.
good luck

1991 318is · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:39:03 PM »

Quote from: tjts1;43475

The cam sprockets alone look pretty much shot. I'm not sure where that big chunk of aluminum came from but that can't be good.
good luck

ya i don't know but now that i see the pics they make the sprockets look worse.
but the $ it cost to change that stuff is crazy so probably not going to do it.

1991 318is · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:43:22 PM »

more pics

Wise Old Dog · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:48:57 PM »

Now is the time for you to pause and decide if this particular engine is worth putting the money into it. You should do a compression test and see where the rest of the engine is at. A poor test would make it hard to justify the expense of the timing parts unless you went all the way with an engine rebuild.

tjts1 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2008, 07:17:49 PM »

On the bright side, you have an M44 tensioner so it was replaced at least once. How many miles on the engine?

1991 318is · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2008, 07:23:51 PM »

it is a m44? 160somtin on the car