sqeaky engine - BMW Forum

yammahamma · 11-25-2005, 07:33 PM

My 89 325i convertable, being a 16 year old car, has allways sounded a little old as far as engine sqeaks and sounds go. My mechaninc said it's just the way older cars sound.....but I went and bought some belt conditioner and sprayed it on the belts and the car sounded brand new for a few weeks unitll the squeaking would return and I would just re-condition them. This worked fine through the summer but now that winter is comming (where I live it's about 15 degrees in the day and who know who's how cold at night) the car sounds like a old rusted tank. The belt conditioner fixes the sound but after a night of the freezing cold the sound comes back.

Any recomendations for getting rid of the sqeaking? As soon as summer rolls around I'd like to replace the belts, it's just too darned cold right now.

thanks!

WardJ · 11-25-2005, 08:28 PM

i had a problem like that on my '92 accord. could be the timing belt? did you get it replaced? i also had that problem when i would turn the car on/ turn on ac during the summer and the heat during the winter. i know where you're coming from with the winter (i live in southern NH) try replacing your timing belt

Slow325i · 11-25-2005, 11:32 PM

Check Alternator,power strearing and A/C adjusting brackets or whatever they call them, meybe one of those 3 sits tilted,i had same problem on my 87 back in Bosnia/Europe
Make sure all 3 bealts are not lose

yammahamma · 11-26-2005, 03:55 PM

I realised last night that's it's been about 50,000 miles since my timing belt was changed -- around 7-8 years ago.....so I'm up for a change anyways. I called the only BMW shop in my little town and they want around $350 to change the timing belt and the water pump-- and $400 for all the belts.

That sounds like an awful lot to me, so I was wondering if I HAVE to take it to a BMW shop to get this done. I have an uncle that could change them for free, but mine is the only BMW he's ever worked on. He mainly does American muscle cars, and he's restored a few of those and he runs a mechanic shop.

Can I trust him changing the belts and water pump? It's not brain surgery is it?

sorry if this is a dumb question....

thanks for your help!

Slow325i · 11-26-2005, 05:12 PM

Eeveryone sez its easy, i gonna do it by my self, if you buy part from locars auto store (around $20 for timing belt, $50 water pumop,$30 timing belt tensioner,al;ternator,power stearing and a/c belts are $15-20 each)

Kowalski · 11-26-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yammahamma

I realised last night that's it's been about 50,000 miles since my timing belt was changed -- around 7-8 years ago.....so I'm up for a change anyways. I called the only BMW shop in my little town and they want around $350 to change the timing belt and the water pump-- and $400 for all the belts.

That sounds like an awful lot to me, so I was wondering if I HAVE to take it to a BMW shop to get this done. I have an uncle that could change them for free, but mine is the only BMW he's ever worked on. He mainly does American muscle cars, and he's restored a few of those and he runs a mechanic shop.

Can I trust him changing the belts and water pump? It's not brain surgery is it?

sorry if this is a dumb question....

thanks for your help!

7-8 years

:

yammahamma · 11-26-2005, 11:48 PM

7-8 years yes...but only 45,000 miles....

Bmw1990 · 11-27-2005, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yammahamma

I realised last night that's it's been about 50,000 miles since my timing belt was changed -- around 7-8 years ago.....so I'm up for a change anyways. I called the only BMW shop in my little town and they want around $350 to change the timing belt and the water pump-- and $400 for all the belts.

That sounds like an awful lot to me, so I was wondering if I HAVE to take it to a BMW shop to get this done. I have an uncle that could change them for free, but mine is the only BMW he's ever worked on. He mainly does American muscle cars, and he's restored a few of those and he runs a mechanic shop.

Can I trust him changing the belts and water pump? It's not brain surgery is it?

sorry if this is a dumb question....

thanks for your help!

That actually isn't a lot of money for that job. Mine was like 500 something, and that was just with the timing belt, water pump and the tensioner. I think thats a good price for all that work, plus the belts. Its not a hard job, it just takes patience.

yammahamma · 11-27-2005, 03:58 PM

yea but free is better then $400...and if it's no different on a BMW then it is on any other car then should I go for free?

Bmw1990 · 11-27-2005, 05:14 PM

If have the time to do it, go ahead. Just make sure you align the pistons in the correct order, I am not really sure what it's called. Someone else here should know

Slow325i · 11-27-2005, 05:50 PM

Its called TDC (top dead center)

Haynes Manual have all infos you need, they sale this book in Auto Zone or Advance Auto Parts for $15 part # 18020 - 3/5 Series not including diesel or all-wheel drive models '82 thru '92

WardJ · 11-27-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow325i

Its called TDC (top dead center)

Haynes Manual have all infos you need, they sale this book in Auto Zone or Advance Auto Parts for $15 part # 18020 - 3/5 Series not including diesel or all-wheel drive models '82 thru '92

haynes is a great manual but Bentley manuals are better for work especially if you haven't done work before. haynes is more for the medium to experienced mechanic versus bentley will walk you through with more detail than the haynes manual. it costs more but it's worth it, I started out with the Bentley manual until i was more familiar with my car, and the only reason i use the haynes is because i lost my bentley manual (damn it..

: )

325eXTATIC · 11-28-2005, 10:31 AM

If your Uncle has done timing chains/belts on muscle cars, he can do the belt for your Bimmer no problem. The only issue is the fact that the radiator needs to be removed on our cars to get access to the timing belt and tensioner and stuff. If you want the most complete replacement of all necessary parts plus preventative stuff, check out http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...FILTER_TOOL=ON
This isn't too cheap, but it covers EVERY thing you could come up against with the change! That will be my next purchase since I need to do this to my ride soon as well!

And I agree on the Bently Manual. I used a Bently for my old VW Bug (the REAL bug, not one of these stupid wind up cars they have now!) and it was a TOTAL life saver!!

Hope this helps!

Josh W.

Red_Rocket · 11-28-2005, 10:47 AM

Its really not that hard of a job, if your uncle has experience doing it on other cars, he will surely have no problem with the bimmer

I did the job a couple summers ago, and the only problem i had was rigging a tool to get the fan off

Dont spent over 700 to get it done

Slow325i · 11-28-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WardJ

haynes is a great manual but Bentley manuals are better for work especially if you haven't done work before. haynes is more for the medium to experienced mechanic versus bentley will walk you through with more detail than the haynes manual. it costs more but it's worth it, I started out with the Bentley manual until i was more familiar with my car, and the only reason i use the haynes is because i lost my bentley manual (damn it..

: )

Well i got Haynes because i needed right away