E46 drive belt replacement

[Riceboy]

My 99 328i belts are looking like they want out. The tensioner seems to have a place for something to pull it, and some holes to pin it out of the way. any advice?
I didn't even get to look at the ac belt tensioner, the bottom cover has to come off for it to go.
greg

[bmwerkes]

The belts can be changed easily. If you have a auto you will need

fan puller,
1 1/8 wrench and mallet. (to release fan nut)
1 set of torx bits
15m socket
3' extension
needle nose pliers
flathead screwdriver

disconnect the electrical connectors on the passenger side of the fan shroud, take off the plastic rivets from the air intake, take out the one torx screw on the passenger side of the fan shroud. Take the 1 1/8 wrench , and put the open end on the fan nut while hooking the fan puller around the nuts on the base of the fan. The fan should not be very tight once its off you have perfect access to the drive belts. The 15 m socket w/ 3 inch extension can be used to "de-tension the belt tensioner" its spring loaded so once you push against the spring you should be able to lift the old belt off the pulley. On an auto there is another belt for the atf cooler which also comes off in the exact same fashoin. When you re install hand tighten the fan and use the mallet and 1 1/8 wrench to snug it on. Just give it a little tap to snug it up, dont tighten too much or it will be impossible to get off at a later date. While your in there put on some "underdrive pullies" from UUC or Rogue engineering for a quick free 5-11hp

***note. on a manual the fan is electrically driven and is much easier to remove**

[Riceboy]

thank you,
I got all the way to the fan removal the other day and thought it was to hard to get it off. I will do it next week I may even get the pulleys.
I live in the oven of FLorida. Sould I do the pulleys, a lower thermostat?
Sometimes the car has to sit still and run with the air on in trhe sun for 30 minutes.
It is black /blackleather.
GReg