MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Hi all, I bought an E36 yesterday. I feel in love with the car when I drove it and it was a bit of an impulse buy. So its a 1993 318i with the M40 engine and not the M43. Now this didn't bother me to be honest because a quick glance at the internet showed me they were very very similar. Except for one MAJOR difference. The M40 has a timing belt and I have just found this out. The car is at 98000kms and according to service manuals and the internet this needs to be changed every 26000 miles. So that means that the car has done twice the distance and I am a little apprehensive to drive it now in case it snaps. I am wanting to get a rough labor time in order to budget this repair? Any ideas? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1533 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done? No idea on the labor costs sorry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done? No idea on the labor costs sorry As far as the service manuals that I have are concerned I cant see that it has been done. There are several stickers under the bonnet though so will look into it. Fairly certain that they don't say it has been done. Looks like I am in for $500 - $600 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done? No idea on the labor costs sorry As far as the service manuals that I have are concerned I cant see that it has been done. There are several stickers under the bonnet though so will look into it. Fairly certain that they don't say it has been done. Looks like I am in for $500 - $600 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done? No idea on the labor costs sorry BMW belts need replacing at 60k for the M20 and 40k for the M40 or 5 years, whichever occurs first Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 BMW belts need replacing at 60k for the M20 and 40k for the M40 or 5 years, whichever occurs first Well it has done 98000 and I am scared to drive it because I don't want the belt to snap The guy at Eurocare here in Christchurch who only does BMW said every 80,000kms for the timing belt. I didn't ask about accessory belts though. I guess its a case of do it one and do it right. But if it costs 500 - 600 every 40000kms I may as well change the engine to an m44. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MD13 459 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Why is the lifespan on BMW timing belts shorter that for JDM? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 130 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Why is the lifespan on BMW timing belts shorter that for JDM? I'd love to know that too. Factors I can think of would be: -Temperature of timing belt area -Torque on camshaft from belt -RPM -Stress on belt from tensioner How different can such factors be from another car, and this is a SOHC with more freely running camshaft I would expect. My first car was an E30 316i and I remember getting it done at 150km. About $400 incl water pump at a BMW agent.... A long time ago! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Not sure how they determine the life span My Ducati was every 20k and they don't have valve springs to load up the camshafts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1052 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 I think they started at 100K, then revised it when they had breakages - same on my Holden Astra - it broke the cambelt under warranty at 62,000, Holden revised the changes to 60K after that Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1533 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 Probably just BMW being conservative\covering their ass, Germans are more pedantic than Japs after all. Most sources ive seen for the M20 state 60,000 miles or 4\5 years, i personally think 80,000 is a good medium baring age or if its being used in extreme conditions. The M40 is a lump of sh*t to start with so probably better to drive it till it fails, celebrate, and then put in a M44 like you said. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 (edited) Probably just BMW being conservative\covering their ass, Germans are more pedantic than Japs after all. Most sources ive seen for the M20 state 60,000 miles or 4\5 years, i personally think 80,000 is a good medium baring age or if its being used in extreme conditions. The M40 is a lump of sh*t to start with so probably better to drive it till it fails, celebrate, and then put in a M44 like you said. Yeah everyone seems to say that. After a couple of days driving it though I have to say it sounds great, drives smooth and really is a pleasure to drive. Is it unreliable or just under powered? What makes it a bad engine? Edit: What sort of labor cost would I be looking at to drop in an M44? Edited July 22, 2013 by MilesP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RustyItalian 11 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 Probably just BMW being conservative\covering their ass, Germans are more pedantic than Japs after all. Alfa's also have a short change interval. And you are in trouble if you ignore it. I wouldn't say they are more pedantic, probably just they engineer their cars a bit different. There is a different culture towards maintenance in Germany (ie. they do it) compared to Japan/NZ (we don't). Perfect example is who has replaced oxygen sensors per the OEM (Bosch) recommendation? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2122 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 nothing wrong with an M40 engine, underpowered yes, especially compared to a japanese 1.8L from the same age, but you dont buy a 318i for that reason and i learnt to do an M20 timing belt when i was 15 years old, with pretty much no mechanical experience. I couldnt afford to maintain my car at a garage so an internet connection solved that. M40 is even easier I have done a few of my M40s now. easiest part is that there is so much room in the engine bay. I dont remember requiring any special tools except to get fan clutch off, and radiator removal is recommended in some write ups but definately not essential, just remove the shroud off it. Really a piece of cake on the M40. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2312 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 Germans are more pedantic than Japs after all. Debatable. If anything, they are on par. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 Hey guys I found this picture in the engine bay >>> Is this cam belt evidence? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 15 years ago Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 15 years ago Am I in danger of the belt snapping in the next 100km? The car is at 98000kms and need to drive it to work until friday when it is booked in to have belt change. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Matt_ 42 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 It was due 17000km ago, it could snap tomorrow or in two years time. Entirely up to you if you want to drive it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2122 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 Am I in danger of the belt snapping in the next 100km? The car is at 98000kms and need to drive it to work until friday when it is booked in to have belt change. bus fares for the week $50 new engine installed $2000 in saying that, i would probably drive it anyways. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1533 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 ^Pretty much but i would drive it anyway as well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OP6 27 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 I would be driving it, gently, not sure why though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 (edited) It was due 17000km ago, it could snap tomorrow or in two years time. Entirely up to you if you want to drive it. It was probably also due 10 years ago. I can't remember what the time interval on those are, but for M20's it's like xxxkm/6years whatever comes first. I would be driving it, gently, not sure why though. What else can an M40 do? Edited July 23, 2013 by antil33t Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
