TIMING CHAIN NIGHTMARE - Page 2

JAX01X5 · #11 07-05-2015, 08:45 PM

Just checked their site and the only have 2004 and after N62 tools. Thanks "upallnight" for the lead tho. that is an impressive list of cars you have owned. which one did you like the best?

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upallnight · #12 07-05-2015, 11:11 PM

My Lotus was the first exotic car that I brought when I got out of college. That's why I kept my two Lotus all these years. I love the G35 that I picked up earlier this year. Handle almost as nice as the Lotus, but a lot more power and comfort. Has almost the same engine and suspension setup like a 350z or GTR.

The Porsche is a nice car for the Spring and Fall with the Targa top removed. The BMW is just a Sport Activity vehicle for hauling our sport equipments around from the jetski, jet boat, kayak, bikes, and ski and snowboard equipment.

BimmerM3inGA · #13 07-06-2015, 10:39 PM

Having done this job on an E38 740i, which has the same engine, I can offer you some advice: The job is totally doable if you have the tools and patience. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN SETTING THE TIMING UPON REASSEMBLY. If you haven't already, go to this site and read the tutorial for performing the VANOS repair.

Beisan Systems - Procedures - M62TU Vanos Procedure

You may not need to actually perform the VANOS repair, but the instructions for setting the timing are very detailed and accurate. Much better than I could find anywhere else. My only problem is that the layout is a little hard to follow. So I copied/pasted it all into a PDF that's easier to follow. Hit me up on PM and I can email a copy to you.

If you're comfortable taking apart a very complex engine and can follow the instructions, there no reason you can't do this job.

JAX01X5 · #14 07-07-2015, 07:32 AM

Thanks "BimmerM3inGA" I was beginning to think that nobody on this site had the balls to tackle this job. I had found and printed the link you forwarded me when I first started researching how to do the timing, it has good info and great pics. This a little intimidating to do but that's mostly because I have spent most of my life working on domestic vehicles and this is my first BMW. I am 46 and have never had to take any of my vehicles to the mech shop and this will not be the first! Looking forward to the challenge!! If I have any questions maybe I can PM you?

stackz · #15 07-07-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAX01X5

I did a compression test and cyl #4 was low but the cam position is so far off that it would hard to say whether it is the valve or the cam position. I found another motor with 150k for $600 but what's to say the guides are good on that motor. I have the parts for the repair I think I'll take a gamble and hope for the best.

cant be worse than the ones in this engine. I'd almost go ahead and buy that engine to be honest. at the least, you could frankenstein one good engine from the two and then sell the extra parts on ebay or craigslist.

get that engine over and open it up, if it looks good, close it back up and toss it in and then part out the original one. then flip the car.

BimmerM3inGA · #16 07-07-2015, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAX01X5

Thanks "BimmerM3inGA" I was beginning to think that nobody on this site had the balls to tackle this job. I had found and printed the link you forwarded me when I first started researching how to do the timing, it has good info and great pics. This a little intimidating to do but that's mostly because I have spent most of my life working on domestic vehicles and this is my first BMW. I am 46 and have never had to take any of my vehicles to the mech shop and this will not be the first! Looking forward to the challenge!! If I have any questions maybe I can PM you?

Well, this isn't what I would categorize as a typical DIY job. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. Modern BMW engines are complex, but not anything exotic. I was intimidated by the job at first, too. I have torn down plenty of BMW I6 engines, but had never done any major work on a V8. And it has very little in common with the 6's.
But if you have experience with mechanical work, which it sounds like you do, then you should be able to handle it.

You said you already have the parts. But you may want to take a look at ecstuning.com because they have a comprehensive kit (item #ES2526337) which includes all the parts you'll need including all the little gaskets and seals. The only thing not included in the kit that I'd recommend you also replace are the camshaft sealing rings. You need 6 of them - 3 for each cam. They are part #11311705512 and the instructions on the Beisan site mention replacing them, but they are not in the kit.

If you're thinking about buying a Bentley manual to help with the job, I can save you 100 bucks. This procedure isn't covered in the manual. Why, Bentley?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. It's been a few months since I did the job, but it's still pretty fresh. Plus, I think I might be about to do it again with my 2002 X5 4.6is.

LeiZ · #17 07-07-2015, 11:56 AM

Why don't you guys meet?! It's only 3.5 hr drive

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

Well, this isn't what I would categorize as a typical DIY job. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. Modern BMW engines are complex, but not anything exotic. I was intimidated by the job at first, too. I have torn down plenty of BMW I6 engines, but had never done any major work on a V8. And it has very little in common with the 6's.
But if you have experience with mechanical work, which it sounds like you do, then you should be able to handle it.

You said you already have the parts. But you may want to take a look at ecstuning.com because they have a comprehensive kit (item #ES2526337) which includes all the parts you'll need including all the little gaskets and seals. The only thing not included in the kit that I'd recommend you also replace are the camshaft sealing rings. You need 6 of them - 3 for each cam. They are part #11311705512 and the instructions on the Beisan site mention replacing them, but they are not in the kit.

If you're thinking about buying a Bentley manual to help with the job, I can save you 100 bucks. This procedure isn't covered in the manual. Why, Bentley?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. It's been a few months since I did the job, but it's still pretty fresh. Plus, I think I might be about to do it again with my 2002 X5 4.6is.

bcredliner · #18 07-07-2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

Well, this isn't what I would categorize as a typical DIY job. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. Modern BMW engines are complex, but not anything exotic. I was intimidated by the job at first, too. I have torn down plenty of BMW I6 engines, but had never done any major work on a V8. And it has very little in common with the 6's.
But if you have experience with mechanical work, which it sounds like you do, then you should be able to handle it.

You said you already have the parts. But you may want to take a look at ecstuning.com because they have a comprehensive kit (item #ES2526337) which includes all the parts you'll need including all the little gaskets and seals. The only thing not included in the kit that I'd recommend you also replace are the camshaft sealing rings. You need 6 of them - 3 for each cam. They are part #11311705512 and the instructions on the Beisan site mention replacing them, but they are not in the kit.

If you're thinking about buying a Bentley manual to help with the job, I can save you 100 bucks. This procedure isn't covered in the manual. Why, Bentley?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. It's been a few months since I did the job, but it's still pretty fresh. Plus, I think I might be about to do it again with my 2002 X5 4.6is.

I am in the same boat with my 4.6. No symptoms yet but I don't want to wait until there are. I would have already tackled the job but my concern is based on how critical it is to get the timing right---will I have any doubt that it is spot on before I button it up and start it up?

BimmerM3inGA · #19 07-07-2015, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I am in the same boat with my 4.6. No symptoms yet but I don't want to wait until there are. I would have already tackled the job but my concern is based on how critical it is to get the timing right---will I have any doubt that it is spot on before I button it up and start it up?

It has to be exactly spot-on. The engine will run without damage if it's off a bit, but you'll have a rough idle and it will throw codes to activate the Check Engine light. So you'll have to open it back up and redo the timing.

If you follow the Beisan instructions to the letter and pay very close attention to the final cam timing, it will be correct. It's kind of hard to describe out of context, but there is a way to verify that the timing is correct prior to buttoning it up. With all the fixtures still in place, you rotate the intake cam counterclockwise manually to the fully retarded position and measure how much the rear cam locking block lifts off the head. Anything more than 1mm is too much. Again, it doesn't make much sense out of context, but it's pretty clear when you're actually looking at it. As long as you have that measurement within spec, you'll have no doubt that the timing is spot on. But of course, you want to rotate the engine by hand through several revolutions - just to make sure!

FWIW, unless you know for sure that the chain guides are broken you don't HAVE to do this job. What I plan to do on my 4.6is is to monitor them and only open up the engine if I see evidence of the guides failing. The Bank 1 valve cover gasket is leaking pretty badly, and it's also due for an oil change. So, my plan is to remove the lower oil pan when I change the oil. If there are bits of plastic in the pan, I'll know it needs new guides. I'll also visually inspect the guides when I change the valve and timing cover gaskets. And then I'll remove the oil pan every time I change the oil. If/when I start seeing pieces of the guides in the pan I'll replace them.