Minor Emergency: Belt Tensioner Retrofit?

[CarbonZHP]

Was driving down Beach Blvd today. Ive had a whine up front near the pulleys and hadnt diagnosed it yet. It went away today and as Im driving down Beach I see a small piece of rubber fly behind me and me, being cautions, pulled over to see if it hurt my car. Turns my idler pulley had gone and taken the belt with it. Pulled over with no power steering, that was dangerous. By some miracle we got it on the tow truck (3.5 inch front splitter clearance to ground) and got it to the dealer. I just received my dealer report. Does this make any sense and is it something ever talked about here? The retrofit hydraulic belt tensioner? Whats your take on the $500 extra? Thanks guys, I know you're pretty fast on response, and I need it now.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t187/littletwerpy/ActionPlan-page-002_zpsf3d9b36d.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/littletwerpy/media/ActionPlan-page-002_zpsf3d9b36d.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t187/littletwerpy/ActionPlan-page-003_zps12cc3bd9.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/littletwerpy/media/ActionPlan-page-003_zps12cc3bd9.jpg.html)

[Newjack]

mfw $1461.69 to replace a belt and pulleys.

http://fat.gfycat.com/CalculatingGraveHairstreakbutterfly.gif


Overall the hydraulic tensioners are considered better because you don't have to replace them at the same you would replace a pulley. They last longer. With that being said it isn't all that difficult to swap them out with new units and add new pulleys too. Belts and pulleys are about like $100 all together. Replacing tensioners will jack up the price buy no where near $1500. I'm sorry this happened man, buy at least you now have the hydraulic tensioners.

What year is your car BTW?

[CarbonZHP]

To clarify, it looks like a normal fix will run me 450, while the updated fix is 950. They are not combined. Just 2 different options. And its 04

[danewilson77]

My god. That's outrageous!

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[az3579]

To clarify, it looks like a normal fix will run me 450, while the updated fix is 950. They are not combined. Just 2 different options. And its 04

Honestly, I'd just order the parts on my own, have them push the car out to the lot, and do it myself. There is no f@#$ing way that job is worth ANYWHERE NEAR what they're asking.

[CarbonZHP]

I do have a 20% off parts and labor at shelly right now...so 20% off 436 is 348. Hows that?

[Hornung418]

http://i.imgur.com/JeISumh.gif

Please tell me you haven't paid that...

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[Newjack]

To clarify, it looks like a normal fix will run me 450, while the updated fix is 950. They are not combined. Just 2 different options. And its 04
Oh if you haven't paid for this yet then please don't dude. Its so not worth the money if you can do it yourself.

[CarbonZHP]

I havent but Im currently out of a car and needing to get to a job. Also parts would take a week-ish

[az3579]

I do have a 20% off parts and labor at shelly right now...so 20% off 436 is 348. Hows that?

If you mean how's the discount, that's horrible. The tensioner on ECS Tuning is about $95...

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/Hydraulic_Tensioner/ES21655/

[ZHPRegistry.net]

to ease the pain...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNvr0dzqCNs/TWLwpffxVuI/AAAAAAAAADQ/_c7qoL9GhxY/s320/vaseline.jpg

[CarbonZHP]

With the price to get it back home and all the BS of that tow again, would it be worth it

[az3579]

With the price to get it back home and all the BS of that tow again, would it be worth it

Could just push it out to the customer lot and do it there...

Personally, I wouldn't pay that just out of principle, even if I had the cash. For them to price gouge that badly, it is mindblowing.

[Hornung418]

Oembimmerparts.com, select an overnight delivery and you will have them on Saturday or you can go to Advance Auto and buy the Dayco equivalent. They are offering 15% off of orders $50 or more when you buy online.

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[CarbonZHP]

Ive already saved thousands on my own maintenance. Including a softtop fix i was quoted a grand a half for. My question wasnt really if it was a good price. Its a stealership for a reason. Youre suppose to take it in the ass. The only real question was if the hydraulic tensioner was worth it at all, and since the mechanical has lasted 120k, Im going to say no. Questions answered. Im not a dealership kind of person, never will be. Im a DIYer. But I cant handle this. If I didnt have work, sure

[Hornung418]

Pay for a cab ride. Seriously. A $20 ride fare is still cheaper than having some on work on your car for fifteen hundred fucking dollars...

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[CarbonZHP]

Pay for a cab ride. Seriously. A $20 ride fare is still cheaper than having some on work on your car for fifteen hundred fucking dollars...

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No. $380.

[Hornung418]

No. $380.

For what? At least buy the parts from them and do the labor yourself. Save the $120/hour dealership labor costs...

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[CarbonZHP]

It would be 380 for a tensioner pulley and some belts. Wouldve been 440ish but theres a coupon for some reason. So 380 and yes Im loosing money. But at this stage Im going to let them do it until I can learn more about this job and do my own belt job next time. I always do my own work but this caught me off gaurd. And Im simply not prepared to do it in the parking lot.

[ryankokesh]

I'd prolly just pay the $380 unless you can get the parts from autozone. It's seriously like a half hour easy-peasy job. As I'm sure you're aware, you're paying for the convenience. Depending on how much your time & stress level is worth to you, it could make sense.

But no, not worth the extra for the hydraulic. Like I said, paying for the convenience so no reason to pay for an upgrade.

Sucks. :/


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[CarbonZHP]

I'd prolly just pay the $380 unless you can get the parts from autozone. It's seriously like a half hour easy-peasy job. As I'm sure you're aware, you're paying for the convenience.

But no, not worth the extra for the hydraulic. Like I said, paying for the convenience so no reason to pay for an upgrade.

Sucks. :/


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Perfect response. Thank you man. It does suck, and Im glad it went when I was way ahead of traffic and only doing 65. Steering went completely dead. Ultra Gauge helped me not overhead though. In my mind this couldve been so much worse in every way. Glad it was just a pulley and a belt. Couldve taken out my fan or many other things. Im thankful. No longer neglecting an engine whine.

[ryankokesh]

Perfect response. Thank you man. It does suck, and Im glad it went when I was way ahead of traffic and only doing 65. Steering went completely dead. Ultra Gauge helped me not overhead though. In my mind this couldve been so much worse in every way. Glad it was just a pulley and a belt. Couldve taken out my fan or many other things. Im thankful. No longer neglecting an engine whine.

Yup, coulda been much, much... much much much worse!


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[Hornung418]

Whatever works for you, the pulleys are a super easy maintenance item. Just today I replaced my belts. Fifteen minutes total time. Doing the pulleys adds another 15 minutes. The idler pulley is a 13mm bolt. The tensioner is either a T50 or 8mm allen key. Not really sure on the allen size. But seriously, dont be deterred by this simple belt drive system.

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[ryankokesh]

Whatever works for you, the pulleys are a super easy maintenance item. Just today I replaced my belts. Fifteen minutes total time. Doing the pulleys adds another 15 minutes. The idler pulley is a 13mm bolt. The tensioner is either a T50 or 8mm allen key. Not really sure on the allen size. But seriously, dont be deterred by this simple belt drive system.

Sent from my GS3.

Maybe check out a YouTube video of it and see if you'd be comfortable doing it in the parking lot. If you think you might be, cab it to work and give it a shot. Think of all the beer you could buy... :)

In the grand scheme of things, though, 200 some dollars isn't too much to pay every once in a while for your sanity if you can foot it. Maybe you could even get them to come down on the labor. I would be amazed if it took those guys even half an hour.


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[SoDelBMW]

Whatever works for you, the pulleys are a super easy maintenance item. Just today I replaced my belts. Fifteen minutes total time. Doing the pulleys adds another 15 minutes. The idler pulley is a 13mm bolt. The tensioner is either a T50 or 8mm allen key. Not really sure on the allen size. But seriously, dont be deterred by this simple belt drive system.

Sent from my GS3.

I'm about to do my belts tomorrow how did you do then so fast,I've read they take like an hour????

[Hornung418]

I'm about to do my belts tomorrow how did you do then so fast,I've read they take like an hour????

Practice. You just relieve the tension on the A/C pulley and pop the belt off. Then the tensioner pulley on the the alternator belt. Pop it off and replace, and install the A/C belt.

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[SoDelBMW]

Practice. You just relieve the tension on the A/C pulley and pop the belt off. Then the tensioner pulley on the the alternator belt. Pop it off and replace, and install the A/C belt.

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So the A/C belt first then the drive belt of does it matter?

[CarbonZHP]

Im not deterred. Looks like I could do this job but I dont have the T50 or the proper tool to remove the fan. If I had those I drive it around front and do it

[NoVAphotog]

I'm about to do my belts tomorrow how did you do then so fast,I've read they take like an hour????


Practice. You just relieve the tension on the A/C pulley and pop the belt off. Then the tensioner pulley on the the alternator belt. Pop it off and replace, and install the A/C belt.

Sent from my GS3.


So the A/C belt first then the drive belt of does it matter?

Mason...Hornung...would you guys want to do this next weekend together? I mean...on cold starts I get a slight whine under the hood, but it's only when the cars sat for a couple days and only on the first cold start of the day.

[Hornung418]

Im not deterred. Looks like I could do this job but I dont have the T50 or the proper tool to remove the fan. If I had those I drive it around front and do it

Torx set from advance is $20 and be valuable to many forms of maintenance and modifying in the future.

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[Hornung418]

Mason...Hornung...would you guys want to do this next weekend together? I mean...on cold starts I get a slight whine under the hood, but it's only when the cars sat for a couple days and only on the first cold start of the day.

Sure. We can do it at my house no problem.

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[ryankokesh]

Practice. You just relieve the tension on the A/C pulley and pop the belt off. Then the tensioner pulley on the the alternator belt. Pop it off and replace, and install the A/C belt.

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Should have a race.


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[NoVAphotog]

Sure. We can do it at my house no problem.

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Is the kit from ECS a good option? Err...are these components where sticking with Genuine BMW is not really worth it given the price premium?

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Engine/Drive_Belts/ES2598809/

[ELCID86]

Is the kit from ECS a good option? Err...are these components where sticking with Genuine BMW is not really worth it given the price premium?

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Engine/Drive_Belts/ES2598809/

:threadjack :dunno ;)

[Hornung418]

You shouldn't need a new hydraulic tensioner. And I would use Dayco brand over Meyle in a heart beat. ULO is an OEM manufacturer, so no worries with their parts.

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[NoVAphotog]

:threadjack

Sorry Carbon...hope you can get everything squared away. The symptoms you heard were similar, hence my inquiries in the thread...I only get a slight squeal on cold starts here and there though, so I think I've got some time...knock on wood.


You shouldn't need a new hydraulic tensioner. And I would use Dayco brand over Meyle in a heart beat. ULO is an OEM manufacturer, so no worries with their parts.


Gotcha, and after looking/thinking about it, I think I'll wait on it for now. Budgeting to hit F5 on the cooling system come the Fall, and I'll be in there removing some of these items, might as well kill two birds with one idler pulley...still might stop by and observe you guys though depending on scheduling after the show.

[Hornung418]

Sure I don't know whose doing it, but my house is available for that afternoon if anyone wants to hang out.

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[Oli77]

And I would use Dayco brand over Meyle in a heart beat.

I wish I knew that, just put a Meyle idler pulley.

[CarbonZHP]

:threadjack :dunno ;)

Seriously.

[Hornung418]

Seriously.

So your dealer is doing this one for ya?

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[CarbonZHP]

So your dealer is doing this one for ya?

Sent from my GS3.

Theyre taking it. So first thing I havent DIYed on the car. Wouldnt be able to get the fan clutch off with current tools

[az3579]

Budgeting to hit F5 on the cooling system come the Fall


:rofl
I actually got something.

[NoVAphotog]

:rofl
I actually got something.

;)

[danewilson77]

Theyre taking it. So first thing I havent DIYed on the car. Wouldnt be able to get the fan clutch off with current tools
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/26/vaqypy3a.jpg

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[Sockethead]

Looks like a standard issue BFH right there...

[Newjack]

Looks like a standard issue BFH right there...
I think its the same one that killed his radiator.

[Hornung418]

I think its the same one that killed his radiator.

That was a pickle fork. Before the advent of using the bolts to properly remove the WP.

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[johnrando]

Hope it all works out for you.

[sillieidiot]

Im not deterred. Looks like I could do this job but I dont have the T50 or the proper tool to remove the fan. If I had those I drive it around front and do it


Theyre taking it. So first thing I havent DIYed on the car. Wouldnt be able to get the fan clutch off with current tools

i have those tools if you want to borrow the next time around. i'm surprised you don't already have the hydraulic tensioner.