drive belt? - BMW Forum

funtoos · 06-22-2006, 03:41 PM

i left my car with a mechanic for inspection and after some b.s regarding emissions and a $360 bill, he tells me that I need to replace my drive belt because it is cracked... he said it would be an additional $160 to do the job...

i was wondering if this can easily be done @ home? and if so if there was DIY for this?

thanx for your help

drz · 06-22-2006, 04:13 PM

Very easily done at home, and for a lot less than $160. It is very very easy. If you cannot find a DIY anywhere online, come back and let us know. I can probably type up a good step-by-step, but not right now -- I am at work.

Check our DIY section here, and also try www.bimmerdiy.com and www.pelicanparts.com, if necessary. Many say you need to remove the engine fan -- not true. Do not follow such procedures.

You will need a 17mm socket wrench (to release the tensioner on the belt), and -- I think -- a 10mm wrench (to remove the aribox, which will make it a lot easier to do). I believe those are the only tools you need.

Good luck. I;ll check back tonight

funtoos · 06-22-2006, 06:57 PM

on your advice, i brought my baby back... i found this article on pelicanparts... is this it?
thanx.. and what is a good place to get the belts from?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...eplacement.htm

bitcore · 06-24-2006, 12:39 AM

Thats the DIY you want. Go grab some mechanic gloves and don't do it when the egine is hot because A: it's tight in there and you'll get cut (I have about 10 cuts on my hand from doing a thermostat replacement and fiddling with the coolant system a couple of days ago. Mmmm, gycol poisening!) B: you'll get burned if it's hot.

Pelican parts will probably have the parts you need, bavauto probably will (I dislike them, OVERPRICED, about on-par with the dealer but you'd save only about 5$ a part)
My favorite: autohausaz.com if you can find the part there, it will be quite inexpensive, but don't cheap out and buy the cheaper brand if they offer multiples.

GET THE CORRECT TOOLS FOR THE JOB. Nothing sucks more than not having the right tool and having to ghetto-rig something else using channel locks or something useless.