Timing belt on 1994 E36 320i 6cyl UK. When to change?

My brothers cambelt just went on his old Sierra and it got me a little
scared. I've got 144K on the clock of my 320i and had the car from 79K. No
belt changes AFAIK. Should I get one done or am I worrying too much.

Cant work out if this uses a belt or chain.

I had the drive belts changed last month due to squealing - but not sure
if that was helped along by a messy oil change.

Lordy

"Lordy" > wrote
> My brothers cambelt just went on his old Sierra and it got me a little
> scared. I've got 144K on the clock of my 320i and had the car from 79K. No
> belt changes AFAIK. Should I get one done or am I worrying too much.
>
> Cant work out if this uses a belt or chain.

It's a chain, and they don't need changing. The older M20 engines
had belts and had to be replace religiously (at 60-75K miles).

FloydR

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:36:06 -0700, Floyd Rogers wrote:

> "Lordy" > wrote

>> Cant work out if this uses a belt or chain.
>
> It's a chain, and they don't need changing.

> FloydR

Cheers, I can relax now. !

Your E36 uses the M50 motor, this engine has a timing chain, not a belt. In
a perfect world, it's a life item. In a not so perfect world, it'll let you
know when it wants to be changed.

Sorry, I'm in the States, and we don't have the 320, so I am not sure which
motor you have. We get the 325 and the 318 (6- and 4-cylinder,
respectively).





"Lordy" > wrote in message
news
> My brothers cambelt just went on his old Sierra and it got me a little
> scared. I've got 144K on the clock of my 320i and had the car from 79K. No
> belt changes AFAIK. Should I get one done or am I worrying too much.
>
> Cant work out if this uses a belt or chain.
>
> I had the drive belts changed last month due to squealing - but not sure
> if that was helped along by a messy oil change.
>
> Lordy

In article >,
Lordy > wrote:
> My brothers cambelt just went on his old Sierra and it got me a little
> scared. I've got 144K on the clock of my 320i and had the car from 79K.
> No belt changes AFAIK. Should I get one done or am I worrying too much.

> Cant work out if this uses a belt or chain.

It should be a 24 valve and therefore a chain. The easy clue is that it's
a twin cam - earlier belt driven 12 valve engines were single OHC.

--
*We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart?

Dave Plowman London SW
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