Abnormal wear AC drive belt -M54
 

I put new belts a little more than a year ago and have run about 15t miles on them.

Today I replaced the lower radiator hose sending unit O-ring and looking around the engine bay I noticed the AC belt is showing cracking at the grooves. The other drive belt is just fine.

Any reason why the AC belt would be wearing faster?

Both are Continental belts purchased new that were installed at the same time.

EDIT: pic -

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps5eddcef0.jpg

Oem belt or aftermarket?

Could have been an old belt in the parts warehouse. These serpentine belts crack fairly easily is my experience.

Upallnight, it's a Continental Contitech belt.

Adm, that I dont know. If that's the case, I wish belts had dates on them like tires so one can check!

welp at 10 bucks a belt it won't hurt to change it out. is the tensioner original?

I put on new tensioners, idler pulley and 2 continental belts a year ago and all seems fine. the contitech belt is the OE belt for Genuine BMW, just in a continental box instead of BMW box.

Original Equipment Manufacturer but if it doesn't say BMW on it it isn't an original belt.

Ricky, yeah the belt is cheap, no prob. I'm just concerned there maybe something I am missing that made it start wearing quicker. The other belt (alternator/water pump) looks to be in much better shape, no cracks at all, and they were both put in at the same time. I believe the tensioners for both belts are the originals, have not replaced either yet.

Upallnight, yes it's not an original BMW marked belt, just made by the OEM.

That belt looks older than a year to me. I would boil it Down to one of two possibilities; first, as mentioned, it may have been old stock. Secondly, did you use any solvent/degreaser in or around that area to which the rubber may have been exposed?

In either case I'd replace it!

^surprised the heck outta me too, it looked a few years old already!

Not that I remember, I have a leaking valve cover gasket as you can see in the pics but the oil doesnt reach to there. I've spilled coolant in that area working on the cooling system but I doubt it would cause that.

Oh well, guess I'll just replace and see how it goes.

^surprised the heck outta me too, it looked a few years old already!

Not that I remember, I have a leaking valve cover gasket as you can see in the pics but the oil doesnt reach to there. I've spilled coolant in that area working on the cooling system but I doubt it would cause that.

Oh well, guess I'll just replace and see how it goes.