Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Yes since BMW started to use these plastic pulleys and tensioner wheels I have decided to always change them out once my vehicle hits 100K. Luckily for you it wasnt anything catastrophic like clutch fans that lock up and then explode with shrapnel everywhere. I once saw an fellow E39 owner continue to drive his lovely E39 540i after the fan clutch locked up(it gave him plenty of warning that something was wrong,sounded like a school bus fan). After a few more drives neglecting this condition it blew up took out his radiator, damaged the hood to where it had to be replaced and painted, cracked the front timing cover, destroyed water pump, etc.. After all was fixed his damage exceeded $2800.