BMW CAM BELT 318

need more info - year model 16v or 8v cam chain or belt

this engine should not have a timing belt, the m 40 engine had, this should have a chain which is for lifetime in the car. no replacement necessary

Not sure of the motor. Assume you are talking about a BMW E36 (325, 358, 318 etc.) What you are probably describing is a valve tap. Sort of a ticking sound not a bang bang bang right? If this is the case you need to have your valves adjusted. Not really a job for a weekend warrior but a search on the car forums may let you decide if this is a job you want to tackle.

all bm's from around 95 on are timing chain yours is definately, twin cam 140bhp !

i show this engine uses a belt so it is very unlikely the belt is the noise u hear, think that the tech u talked to doesn't know Beemers

BMW 318/325/M3/525/535/M5 1989-1993 Repair Information



Fig. 1: Setting the engine to tdc for cylinder 1 engine



Fig. 2: Releasing the tension on the spring for the timing belt roller engine



Fig. 3: Checking the alignment of the timing marks before installing the timing belt engine




Fig. 4: Timing belt arrangement engine

BMW recommends that the timing belt be changed every second Inspection ii, or every 4 years on cars that have low mileage. Most of the rest of the industry has timing belt changing intervals ranging from 40,000 miles to 60,000 miles. It is better to change the belt at a lower mileage than at a higher number.
The timing belt must be replaced every time the belt tensioner is loosened. Do not reinstall a used belt. Reusing a timing belt, even one with low mileage, is not worth the chance of having a belt break and damaging the engine.

Good luck.

80-100K miles

Remove the cam cover, remove the spark plugs, turn the engine to number 1 TDC, put a pencil in spark plug hole number one and twist the crank back and forth and make doubly sure you are at TDC. Now loosen the four bolts at the front of each cam sprocket, check TDC again with the pencil and rocking the crank, now take the pencil and lay it across the flats at the back of each cam. Twist the cams very carefully so that the pencil sits flat on each cam square. Snug up the sprocket bolts and use the pencil to check TDC again! Now check the cams again. Repeat the procedure until you have the cams flat and the engine at TDC.

Hi johnsmith992 this engine has a timing chain and has coilpacks and you need not do anything to service these items. regards mark

Call the RAC, if you want to do it yourself you can smash one of the rear fog/reverse lights, pull out the bulb holder and fish the keys out, a second hand light unit is around £20