Replacing A/C belt?
 

Hi all! Just wonder if it is easy to replace A/C belt of my 2001 made X5 4.4I ? Do I have to take off the fan? Thanks!

Can anyone help me? According to TIS, it does not mention taking off the fan before replace the A/C belt.

I forgot if the 4.4 has one or two belts. if you only have one belt then you'll need to remove the fan. the lower shield should be removed too so you can help align it from below.

there are two belts, one for alternator and one for a/c compressor, according to realoem.com and TIS. So do I have to remove the fan before replacing the a/c belt? Thanks!

Removing the AC belt is easy. No fan removal necessary. Look underneath the X5. The AC belt has its own separate pulley system that is in front of the alternator belts. Move the tensioner and the belt comes off.

yes.


you can do it from under the car.

thanks!

Today, I got undeneath the car and tried to replace the A/C belt. However, I did not found anything. Do I have to take off any cover to reach the A/C belt?

I think you better let a mechanic handle it. :-)

bjo, are you sure that I do not need to remove the fan and engine belt before replacing A/C belt? Sorry to ask this question, just want to re-confirm it. I read BMW TIS for repaire instruction for replacing A/C belt, it shows 'remove alternator drive belt' which refers to 'remove fan clutch with impeller' before replacing drive belt for A/C compressor. Thanks for help!

Today, I removed the splash guard underneath of the engine to replace the a/c belt. I found that the a/c belt was installed behind the engine belt on one pulley, that means engine belt must be removed before removing a/c belt, that requires lots of job to do to remove engine belt. So I gave up and left it to the stealer.

AC Belt instructions for 2003 3.0i
 

I recently replaced the AC Belt on my 2003 3.0i after price quoting the job first from a BMW dealer in Houston ($250) and a former BMW mechanic ($90) once employed by the BMW Dealer that quoted me the price. I purchased the belt from the BMW Dealer for $15 dollars wholesale and replaced it within 15 minutes. I created a document in PDF on how to perform the belt replacement.

Enjoy :thumbup:

Very useful information! Thanks a lot! However, the v8 engine is different with the L6 engine.

I suggested that you need to make a tool to remove the A/C fan. If you can remove the A/C, then the rest will be easy. I removed and replaced both belts from my 4.4i last year. I even removed the drain plug on the side of the engine to release all old radiator fluid and replace with new one.

That PDF for the belt replacement on the 3.0 is really good!!

Is there anyone who has done theirs on the 4.4 / 4.6is? (I am guessing that they are the same. Correct??)

I was quoted $100 for labor and thought it would be fun to do it myself! Just need a bit of advice from experience before I do it!!

I did a search but did not find much info.....

resurrecting an old thread here....My AC stopped working and when I looked in the engine bay I found my ac belt shredded into pieces. I'm wondering whether I should just get the belt replaced or has the belt busted due to other issues? faulty compressor etc.?

cheers