Squealing Pulleys/Rollers?

[HokieZHP]

I've had a squealing or screeching coming from my pulley's and rollers for a while now. I'm not sure which is it cause I haven't gone in to try and pinpoint it but it makes noise at idle, always. I hear it when I'm next to a wall like at a drive-through etc.

I'm about to place an order at ECS for some things and was wondering if I should go ahead and replace the rollers and tensioners or try to figure out which it is and just do that one? The belts were done in the past year if I remember correctly but I don' think the pulleys, etc were because they're making noise.

Thanks!

[Newjack]

Take you belts off, spin the pulleys by hand. If they spin freely then they are worn. If they spin really easily and sound like a roller skate, replace them, they are bad.

If you have hydraulic tensioners then I think you are ok with just replacing the pulleys.

[HokieZHP]

Never done belts before. Is it just a matter of loosening up the tensioners and pulling them off?

Does anything else need to be removed?

[Newjack]

Never done belts before. Is it just a matter of loosening up the tensioners and pulling them off?

Does anything else need to be removed?

Yes. This is a very simple DIY. You need to remove the intake snorkel along with the radiator fan to give yourself room. Both of which are easy to take off.

You need a T25 for the passenger side radiator fan, and a T50 for the tensioner pulleys.

DIY is found here (http://www.bmw330ci.net/maintenance/belts.php)

[danewilson77]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jJgZgCJhvQ

[HokieZHP]

Ok so I just took the belts off. Both the tensioner wheels could definitely be replaced and I'm hoping that will get rid of the squealing. Can I buy just the wheels? I only see the entire tensioner assembly on ecs.


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[HokieZHP]

Are these them? Can I just use 2 of them? My car is a 2003 so I don't think I have hydraulic tensioners

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/Ignitor/ES172725/ES21817/

[krodak2]

Hey Chris, not sure if you already bought the parts but I actually just recently had the same issue on my car so I thought I would chime in. The part you linked to is the idler pulley, which you only have one of (right by the water pump). If both your tensioners are mechanical, you'll need to buy the entire assemblies as far as I could tell. My car is a 2004 and the tensioner by the a/c was mechanical, and the one on the alternator/water pump belt was hydraulic (in which case you can replace just the pulley itself-- see the description for this (http://www.oembimmerparts.com/product_p/11281748131e46.htm) part).

Hope that helps!

[MrMaico]

The a/c tensioner is always the mechanical style. BMW doesn't sell a separate pulley for it but you can find a Dayco 89133 pulley at a local auto parts store and use that on the a/c tensioner. The local Napa cross-referenced the Dayco to a Gates 38018. I haven't tried installing it yet but comparing specs between the two showed that the only difference is that the Gates is just a hair wider, shouldn't be a problem I don't think.

[HokieZHP]

I just ended up buying 2 OEM tensioners. One mechanical, one hydraulic

[Newjack]

I just ended up buying 2 OEM tensioners. One mechanical, one hydraulic

Did your squeaking noise go away?

Revo + TT

[HokieZHP]

I haven't gotten my package from ECS yet. Should get it monday.