JUST got $3,300 estimate from an Indy!!!

[GamecocksE53]

As for the tensioners and pulleys - I was lucky enough to get 85% of the servce records from the guy that owned the car before me (one owner) I say 85% bc he told me when he bought it that he did some things at 120K that cost him a couple grand. He could not remember what they were and cannot find the receipt. He got everything done at BMW of Raleigh until 100K and took it to an Indy after 100K. I called that indy and of course they got a new POS system and deleted all customers that were not there in 2 years, so we have no idea what that 120K mile service was for.

With all that being said, I do see he got both belts replaced at 34k and 97k. Nothing about the pulleys

I think the main things that are needing to be done within the next couple months are:
1. CCV - Est - $300-$400 with parts and labor
2. Belts/Pulleys - Est - $400-$500 " "
3. PS system - Est - $400-$500 " "

Keep in mind, those are just estimates. If my estimates are +/- 20%. That is easily do-able/expected for a car this age. Also, If all of these estimates are in fact within those ranges, I will just get them done all together with the hope of saving an hour or 2 of labor. My wallet can handle that...

[jdstrickland]

One of the upsides of the hydraulic tensioner is that the pulley can be replaced more cheaply than the entire tensioner, which has to be replaced if you have the mechanical one.

[GamecocksE53]

Originally Posted by trader4

Let me backtrack here a bit. The pulley on the mechanical/spring
type tensioner does come off, it's just one bolt holding it onto
the assembly. I think I only replaced the pulleys
when I did mine. But looking at RealOem refreshed my memory.
There isn't a part # for the pulley only. And I'm not sure what I did.
I think I might have found a thread where the pulley was identified
and I found a part number. It's not some special pulley, it's
very similar to the idler pulley. It might be the same as one of the
idler pulleys? Or maybe I found the part # on the pulley itself?

In any case, for the OP, the complete mechanical tensioner is
only ~$20 more than just the pulley. So, to save any drama,
easiest thing is to just buy the whole thing. Or go with the
hydraulic ones for some more $$.

Yeah I was looking at all of those docs, etc and Im sure I'm smart enough to order the right parts but for a savings of $30 or so, I will probably just order that's whole kit. I found the continetial one for $130 with free shipping. I think it has all that I need, or am I still missing something? I think it is the mechanical one though.

Do they make an all in one kit or the hydraulic?

[jdstrickland]

The pulley on the mechanical tensioner does come off, but matching it up is difficult. RealOEM nor PenskeParts gives a part number for the pulley. One of the things that happens with the mechanical pulley is that the spring itself squeaks as the belt goes around. You can put a new pulley on, but the spring still squeaks and you can go nuts chasing it.

The hydraulic tensioner gives a separate part number to the pulley, and this pulley does not fit the mechanical tensioner.

The pulley is $45, but the entire assembly is $60, so I suppose the point is moot. And, those are prices on RealOEM.

[GamecocksE53]

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

The pulley on the mechanical tensioner does come off, but matching it up is difficult. RealOEM nor PenskeParts gives a part number for the pulley. One of the things that happens with the mechanical pulley is that the spring itself squeaks as the belt goes around. You can put a new pulley on, but the spring still squeaks and you can go nuts chasing it.

The hydraulic tensioner gives a separate part number to the pulley, and this pulley does not fit the mechanical tensioner.

The pulley is $45, but the entire assembly is $60, so I suppose the point is moot. And, those are prices on RealOEM.

Just to make sure I am right. What part number are you seeing for the entire assembly?

[jdstrickland]

In PenskeParts.com, Engine>Belt Drive, there are two pictures of the belt system. The first (Diagram #11_2190) shows the hydraulic parts, Item 21 is the complete unit,Item 6 is the pulley, and is all you need to replace if the car already has the hydraulic tensioner -- which it should have.

It is confusing because they show the mechanical tensioner as a part used in production, but the Item # is flagged as Not Available (N/A). To add to the confusion, RealOem also shows a diagram of the mechanical unit, but lists the description as hydraulic and gives the same part number as the hydraulic unit. The mechanical tensioner has been used in this location on several different inline sixes, and is discontinued before production of the E53 (X5) began, so I am confused as to why they reference the discontinued part. The X5 is built for other markets, and they might not have power steering in those markets so the parts diagrams that show "without power steering" would be valid, even though there are no cars in North America that appears as the diagram is drawn.

[crystalworks]

Just go outside to your engine and see if you have the mechanical or the hydraulic. The mechanical one (11281433571 or 11287512758 depending on year) on the A/C belt should be changed as well if you are doing a complete belt system refresh.

Put your last 7 (or entire) VIN into RealOEM and it should spit out what you need.

[bestvaluestore]

Originally Posted by GamecocksE53

I knew it was going to be expensive, but I did not see this coming. I had a small oil leak and I occasionally have some power steering fluid on my garage. Took it in and I now need to replace:
1. PS reservoir, return hose, suction hose

2. Oil pan gasket (already replace the oil filter gasket and valve cover gasket)

3. Replace crank case ventilation valve with breather hoses

4. accessory drive belt.

$3,300!!!!!!

I need to break this up into 3 installs. What do you think is needed first....Im honestly shock and at a loss. Considering selling the car instead. Oh it is an 04 with 160K

Yes,try to sell it and get another one.Does not worth the fix ,I think.

[bestvaluestore]

Yes,if he can fix it by himself or to get better price on it otherwise do not think it worth it.He will decide for himself anyways.

[Riggodeaux]

I'm getting confused by this thread. Is the answer to the hydraulic vis. mechanical tensioner that all USA X5s [with all having power steering?] need the hydraulic tensioner? That's how I read JDStrickland's post. I just changed my alternator a couple weeks ago, using the ebay available fan tool, and my belts and tension were good - I didn't even notice whether mine had the hydraulic. Am I right that the USA versions, with PS, all have hydraulic? BTW, changing the PS reservoir and two hoses running from its bottom, it that is the leak source, is a relatively easy shade-tree job; the other hoses [including the cooling lines] may be more complicated.