Drive belts replacement

[chubyball]

Anyone here know how to replace Alternate belt and AC belt? Delear told me the belts are cracking, the job to replace these belts include parts is $180. I'm looking for DIY, anyone here done this job before?

[Estroil 4.8is]

I replaced both belts when I replaced my radiator. It's a big job. Not really hard but you have to remove quite a bit to get to the belts. $180 is not a bad deal. The belts alone are $20-$30. It was simlpe for me since I had to remove everything to get the radiator out. If I remember correctly you have to remove the intake near the front of the engine, Remove fan, fan shroud, Under engine splash guard, and then you can get to them. If you have the time go for it and goodluck!

[fast4d]

it not a difficult job but it'll take an hour or two. I only took off the fan and under shield to do it.

[gregwx5]

The belt is actually very easy to replace...the hardest part is removing the fan and fan shroud. You need a 32mm wrench and a way to hold the fan blade from turning...there is a special tool that you could buy from BAVAUTO that hold the fan blade by the screws...I replaced the belt on a 330i and I just wedged a screwdriver in to hold it...that is why I am confindent to do the belt on the X myself...also pulling up the tensioners and locking them in place makes the belt install pretty smooth. My dealer wanted $185 to do the belts, I just bought the AC and drive belt for around $35 with my CCA discount.

[The Cleaner]

Fan is reverse threaded !!!! don’t forget that. As for holding it, you can make a tool for about 3 bucks. Go to lowes for something and get a thin FLAT metal rod, I used a aluminum flat bar 1inch by 3 feet I got at a hobby shop.

Anyway drill a hole large enough for the bolt of the water pump pulley to go through it. Do that about 1 inch from the one end of the rod. Put the rod over one bolt on the pulley and mark where the next bolt will need to have a hole drilled. Drill a hole for the second pulley bolt to go through. Be advised the bolts are not evenly spaced.

Tool finished. The fan clutch is not on very tight so you can almost always get away with the screwdriver or ugly stick jammed into the bolts to hold them.

Remember reverse threaded !

[gregwx5]

Totaly forgot about the reverse thread..good call!

[Estroil 4.8is]

I actually didn't even need the special tool. Just a few jabs with my hand and a 32mm wrench did the job.

[Bill K]

Easy to do. Remove the cowling over the engine, remove the fan (left hand threads as mentioned), It was last year that I did it so I dont recall exactly if it was an allen head or a regular bolt head that needed turning on the tensioner. Either way, not too difficult.

[chubyball]

Thanks for you all giving hand, I did not quiet understand what do you mean by reverse thread, does that mean counter clockwise is lock and clockwise is open? Anyone has pics? So to replace the belt, the fan must be removed?

[Estroil 4.8is]

Yes the fan is a must to remove. Reverse thread just means, if standing in front of the engine. Use a 32mm wrench and and try breaking the fan loose by turning it clock-wise. Normally clock-wise would tighten a bolt but these are reversed.