Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-11-2021, 09:00 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 33
kablammo is on a distinguished road
Chain guides failure | Possible Mad Max fix ?s

Quick question - has anybody successfully driven or attempted a "Mad Max style" fix with broken timing chain guides?
  • Pull Valve Covers and Lower Oil pan - fetch out as much of the plastic bits
  • Install new tensioner
  • Send it

I'm considering this style of a "Mad Max" to my wife's x5 as it suffered chain guide failure this morning at first start-up. Unit has 197K miles and is simply not worth a full repair - multiple systems are beginning to fail. I'm wondering if I would always have a VANOS timing code

Anybody attempt this style of a fix?

Thank in advance,


P.S. I have my flame suit on for those that

Now my username is finally appropriate
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 05-12-2021, 01:34 AM
Hoopie's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Itlay
Posts: 191
Hoopie is on a distinguished road
Wow, I have never heard of this fix. PLEASE DO NOT do this fix. Because if the main plastic guide failed the metal chain will rub on the U shaped metal guide under the plastic. Lots of metal shavings and carnage will ensue. This will also come with a loud tractor motor metal on metal sound. If there is just a rattle when you start the engine it could be the tensioner and VANOS seal system failing. The problem running the engine with this failure is the chain slaps on the plastic guides on every start and will shred the plastic and cause the first problem I mentioned.

I have replaced all of these problems on my X5 4.4i and she is good to go for another 200K miles.

Good luck
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-12-2021, 01:55 AM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,818
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Actually I've done two M62tu chain guides jobs and only the one that actually derailed and broke the chain really had any significant metal wear.

The bigger problem is that the chain is immediately too long once the plastic is gone and can no longer be tensioned so it snowballs very quickly. In addition since that slack is mostly from the u shaped middle guide, that means bank two will advance relative to bank one.

There is a lot of no good going on.

In a deserted island, modifying the tensioner to take out the slack and re-time the engine with the "longer" chain, it would probably run 20-30,000 miles. Steel to aluminum is not a terrible bearing surface with pressurized oil film. Consider the millions of miles the chain goes over that PLASTIC guide!

Steel > aluminum > wood > plastic > bone > skin.

Aluminum is plenty strong enough but the combination of the loose slapping chain that prevents the oil film from lubrication. It won't last long at all.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-12-2021, 01:58 AM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,818
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Update: it is only 6/10 difficulty job to do chain guides. Takes me about a week working 5-6 hrs a day. Slow and steady pace. It is a very rewarding thing to bring a beautiful engine back from then grave.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-12-2021, 05:49 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 33
kablammo is on a distinguished road
Thank you all for your responses. I'm most likely going to sell the unit to a local salvage yard. Steering rack is on it's way out as well and the sunroof is kaput.

I already have an e38 in the garage with chain guides being addressed at about 65% completion so I know the scope of work. I work two jobs that are extremely time intensive, kids, yadda, yadda, etc. Really it comes down to time. I'm afraid I'll be chasing my tail for the remainder of ownership.

-k
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-12-2021, 06:18 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: reno nv
Posts: 679
x5Alpine is on a distinguished road
why don't you sell it to someone who will fix it and not just scrap it?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-12-2021, 08:31 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 33
kablammo is on a distinguished road
Chain guides failure | Possible Mad Max fix ?s

Quote:
Originally Posted by x5Alpine View Post
why don't you sell it to someone who will fix it and not just scrap it?


I’d be happy to sell it locally to somebody. Anybody in Denver area is welcome to pm me.


Couple pics just for grins.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-12-2021, 09:40 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 1,109
Bdc101 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by x5Alpine View Post
why don't you sell it to someone who will fix it and not just scrap it?

Right? There are literally dozens of us
__________________
2003 3.0 5MT Topasblau
Purchased in 2016 and surprisingly still running
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-12-2021, 11:17 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 33
kablammo is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bdc101 View Post
Right? There are literally dozens of us


PM me if interested.

FYI The current high bid is the salvage yard. Due to this inflation mess ......they are willing to pick it up for 750.00.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-13-2021, 08:37 AM
upallnight's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cook County
Posts: 7,280
upallnight is on a distinguished road
Just swap in an LS1 and be done with it.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-x5-4-8is.html

The third comment in my link said it all.
__________________
2006 Infiniti G35
2001 BMW 3.0I E53 X5 Build date 08/2000 SOLD
Lotus Europa 1970 Destroyed by fire
Lotus Europa 1970 S2 Renault Powered
Lotus Type 52 1970 Twincam Webers Powered
PORSCHE 911 Targa 1982 The Garage Queen
Audi Avant donated to Kars for Kids
BMW 525IT Sold
Audi 4000CS Quattro Sold
Jensen Healey Lotus Powered Sold
Opel 1900 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1971 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1968 Sold
Plymouth "Cuda" 340 Six pack SOLD
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:03 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.