Torque wrench opinions.

[BevMW]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some opinions on torque wrenches, I have a few options, it just comes down to which one would give the best coverage for these cars. If there isn't anything that requires over 108nm, I'll get the 3/8, otherwise I will get the 1/2" and then the 1/4 when I need it. All three are the same price. Or if anyone has other suggestions.
Thanks!

If it helps, currently I have a 2009 X5 35d
Also sorry if this is in the wrong place, didn't find anything relating to tools.

1/2"
min: 13nm
Max: 203nm

3/8"
Min: 6nm
Max: 108nm

1/4"
Min: 2nm
Max: 24nm





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[Price]

Strictly personal opinion, but other than an engine rebuild, a simple guttentight works just fine.

[robnitro]

I have a click type 3/8 and an old dial type 1/2. The 1/2 is good for torquing wheels and any other specific things that are critical like the harmonic balancer.

I rarely use the 3/8 one because of lack of room, as price said, guttentight. But some people are not good at feel and snap bolts...

[AlphaBetaX5]

I purchased the 1/4" and 1/2" from Amazon a couple of months ago.

They were the top selling torque wrenches on Amazon with loads of good reviews.

Surprisingly both failed me! None of them clicked.

I didn't have much experience at guttentight ( still don't), and I was changing my head cover gasket. So it was a serious job.

I tried both on a piano desk bolt first with the lowest setting and no click was heard or felt.
So I returned them later. I had to head to Autozone and barrow their loaner torque wrench.

So, regardless of the brand you are going to purchase, try them first on some unimportant bolts with the wrench set on the lowest setting.


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[ard]

I bought used snapon digitals, 3/8 and 1/2. Sweet. Used to have clicks. Actually still do.

[BevMW]

Thanks heaps for the input guys, I think I'm leaning towards the 1/2" if I get one. That should cover all the big ticket items. And wing it for the smaller bolts, it has worked for me so far, and if I really need one, I'll get the 1/4". I would really like to get a reversible one, but for the most part they are all above my current budget, from what i've seen anyway.


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[d21spike]

I purchased this CDI 3/8" when I was rebuilding my N54. This allowed me to torque everything including the VANOS and crank hub bolt with the exception of some smaller bolts that were below 10 fb-lb. But in my opinion on at torque that small, I believe "guttentight" works just fine. Basically, with a lot of the critical bolts ending up torque to yeild, most of your torque ends up coming from the degree measurement after your initial torque. In this case you either buy a fairly expensive one that does degrees for your or like I did, buy a decent wrench and do the degrees yourself.

http://a.co/4mdiyoJ

[Skyline]

I have 4 torque wrenches, 1/4" and 1/2" Snap-on digital, a 3/8" Snap-on Digital Tech Angle and an inch pound dial type Snap-on with follow up needle (for Pinion Bearing pre-loads). I highly recommend the Snap-on digital torque wrenches, but they don't come cheap at all. I use them all frequently, (except the one for differentials). BMW does use a good amount of torque-to-yield bolts, (where the torque spec is a certain amount plus certain degrees of rotation.) But I think a 3/8" digital Torque Angle wrench will cover almost all of those. I also have an adapter dial for measuring precise torque angle that can be used for the 1/2" wrench, but so far I've made do with my 3/8" Tech Angle. FYI, CDI makes many torque wrenches for Snap-on, so that may be a less expensive route to get a really good torque wrench.

FYI; having a good torque wrench is NOT the only issue. You must rotate them smoothly and not too quickly when approaching the proper torque, (waiting for the beep or click); or you could overshoot as much as 20%. Some things really can not tolerate that much extra torque. I just recently had a tire shop change the tires on my wife's 325xi, and insisted on the tire jockey using a torque wrench. He did comply, but gave each bolt an extra push after his torque wrench clicked, (what an idiot!) So I had to teach him how to use a torque wrench. The first few he put on, I retorqed at home and found them over 160Nm; spec is 120Nm. Even after I showed him, the rest were off by 10-15% in varying directions. (Just a crappy wrench I guess). With the digital wrenches, you can easily measure breakaway torque as well. Thankfully BMW lug bolts are very strong; 20% overtorque will easily snap a stud on most Japanese cars.

If you do get a digital torque wrench, unless you use it constantly, leave the batteries out. You do not want a battery leakage in a $600 torque wrench. It's interesting that the Snap-on digital wrenches remember your last setting indefinitely even with no batteries.

And if you decide to buy a used one, unless you really know it was never dropped, have it recalibrated. If you do critical stuff like engine building or differentials, have it calibrated regularly.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by d21spike

Basically, with a lot of the critical bolts ending up torque to yeild, most of your torque ends up coming from the degree measurement after your initial torque. In this case you either buy a fairly expensive one that does degrees for your or like I did, buy a decent wrench and do the degrees yourself.

http://a.co/4mdiyoJ

They DO make a tool for more precise torque angle (other than the costly electronic wrenches):

https://store.snapon.com/Product-Det...e-P634907.aspx

I'd also question your logic that the 1/4" drive bolts with low torque don't need to be precise. For example, valve cover gasket bolts really need precise torque...hell they'll probably leak eventually even if you torque them right; not torqueing them correctly will just make the valve cover leak sooner. If any sort of seal is involved, proper torque is a must.

Also, your 3/8" torque wrench will not be very accurate at the extremes of its adjustability...that's just the way all torque wrenches are.

[BevMW]

Thanks for the replies! I think based on skylines advice, I will just get the 1/4" aswell as a 1/2", the jobs I have coming up are glow plugs, transmission service and possibly oil pan, I think these are all fairly low torque bolts like less than 20nm.
I would love to get a good snap on digital, but they seem to behard to come by in Aus, especially for a decent price. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. It's not that much more for peace of mind.


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