Timing Belt On Bmw 518i Se

[allanmartin]

[font=Arial][size=7][color=blue]
Hello,

Firstly I know VERY little about cars. I have just bought the mentioned BMW and am concerned that the timing belt might go. It was serviced in August this year - but there is no mention of that belt being changed or being checked.

Any advice? I don't want to drive it until I am sure that it won't pop. I have it booked into my local BMW garage, but they can only look late next week.

Thanks in advance,

Allan Martin

[Torque]

every 50k-60k miles.

[CosmosBlack]

Wow...I've never heard of a 518i
You might also want to check if it does have a timing belt instead of a chain. Some engines like mine use the chain which you don't need to replace.

[allanmartin]

Originally posted by CosmosBlack@Dec 9 2004, 09:10 AM
Wow...I've never heard of a 518i
You might also want to check if it does have a timing belt instead of a chain. Some engines like mine use the chain which you don't need to replace.

[snapback]246343[/snapback]

Yeah - it is a 518i SE.
I am told by my local BMW garage that it is a chain and i should not worry. Agree?

Thanks a lot for your reply.

[Torque]

Originally posted by allanmartin+Dec 9 2004, 10:01 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(allanmartin @ Dec 9 2004, 10:01 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-CosmosBlack@Dec 9 2004, 09:10 AM
Wow...I've never heard of a 518i
You might also want to check if it does have a timing belt instead of a chain. Some engines like mine use the chain which you don't need to replace.

[snapback]246343[/snapback]

Yeah - it is a 518i SE.
I am told by my local BMW garage that it is a chain and i should not worry. Agree?

Thanks a lot for your reply.

[snapback]246387[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]
timing chain does not need to be replaced.

[billB]

Allen

Is this 518I in European specs? They did come in with 4 cylinders 8 valves pulling short of 120HP.

I was told BMW Timing chains do outlast the engine itself.

[Torque]

Originally posted by billB@Dec 9 2004, 10:15 PM
Allen

Is this 518I in European specs? They did come in with 4 cylinders 8 valves pulling short of 120HP.

I was told BMW Timing chains do outlast the engine itself.

[snapback]246774[/snapback]

there is no us spec 518

[BeelZibub]

518 is a european car - the 1.8ltr engine is deemed too small for the american market (as is the 2.0ltr and the 2.5ltr in the 5 series - ever seen an american 523???)and was not carried on after the E34 here even, due to the fact it is a false economy - the 4 cyl 8 valve 1.8ltr is too small an engine to pull all that weight and therefore they are usually thrashed everywhere (but still get nowhere quick). In fact even the 2.0 ltr in the 96-2000 520i was replaced with a 170bhp 2.2ltr unit in the 2000 - 2003 models, so BMW have realised at last that the smallest engine you should run in a car this size is 2.2ltr min.

I agree that timing chains often outlast the car BUT it's certainly not impossible for them to stretch or break - they still need checking frequently just like any other part of the engine, although regular service intervals should suffice.

[billB]

Originally posted by Torque+Dec 10 2004, 05:03 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Torque @ Dec 10 2004, 05:03 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-billB@Dec 9 2004, 10:15 PM
Allen

Is this 518I in European specs? They did come in with 4 cylinders 8 valves pulling short of 120HP.

I was told BMW Timing chains do outlast the engine itself.

[snapback]246774[/snapback]

there is no us spec 518

[snapback]246851[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

Yes and hence my question above!

[Johnathan_Hess]

Anything smaller than V8 is too tiny to push the land yacht of a 5-series around.

[billB]

Originally posted by Johnathan_Hess@Dec 10 2004, 07:36 PM
Anything smaller than V8 is too tiny to push the land yacht of a 5-series around.

[snapback]247360[/snapback]

Jonathan

Does this include the i6?

[BeelZibub]

Originally posted by Johnathan_Hess@Dec 10 2004, 07:36 PM
Anything smaller than V8 is too tiny to push the land yacht of a 5-series around.

[snapback]247360[/snapback]

Yeah that's why my 523 (2.5ltr 170bhp )pulls 8.2 secs 0-60, eh - not the quickest car in the world but not the slowest by a lllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggg shot. Bear in mind that the extra 1.9ltr and v8 config of a 540 ONLY MAKE less than 2 SECS 0-60 difference is your argument really valid??????????? - oh and a 530 i6 is less than a second slower 0-60 than a 540i.