BMW 325 E30 Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement

Categorized | BMW 3 Series

BMW 325 E30 Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement

Posted on 21 July 2009

BMW 325 E30 Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement

This is a handy guide to get you through the process of changing the Timing Belt on the E30 3-Series BMW. Doing this repair yourself will save you 300.00 to 500.00 dollars. This job can take 6-8 hours, be patient….

Remember when changing the timing belt, you will want to replace the timing belt tensioner, the water pump, belts and the ignition cap and rotor at the same time. It is our experience that any or all of these items will fail shortly of not replaced.

One very important note: Do not use any cheap aftermarket parts! Use only OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) BMW parts. These include Conti, Graf, Bosch etc. We have gone to the task and fount these parts at a number of online parts sources that will do the trick. In addition use only Phosphate Free Coolant that is OEM approved or your water pump and radiator will be short lived.

We use the Bentley Repair manual and suggest you do the same… Follow it as we did, you will get through this with ease.

It is always a good idea to take your time and mark all of the components very carefully that you are removing. A digital camera comes in handy as well, so you can remember where things are located before they are removed.

Step 1…..
Drain the coolant from the radiator into a leak proof container. (Coolant is considered hazardous waste. Do not pour down the storm drains. Most cities have a waste facility for coolant and oil). Make sure you also drain the engine block by removing the 19mm drain plug by the exhaust manifold. If no coolant comes out of the hole in the block, take a screw driver and poke it into the hole… There is usually build up behind the drain hole that will keep the coolant from draining.

Step 2….
Remove the radiator by unhooking the shroud, hanging it on the fan, disconnect the top hoses and the bottom hose, and undo the two bolts and remove it

Step 3….
Remove the Fan and fan clutch assembly. This can be tricky.. The gland nut on the fan clutch is 32mm. If you do not have a 32mm wrench, you can use channel locks.. The gland nut is removed going a clockwise direction, as if you were trying to tighten the bolt. You may need a strap wrench to hold the pulley from turning as well.

Step 4….
Remove the fan belts by loosening the star adjusters, slackening the alternator and steering pumps off, and removing the belts.

Step 5….
Remove the spark plugs and rotate the engine using the large nut on the crankshaft to top dead center. You may want to mark the crank TDC groove with paint so you can easily see the mark.

Step 6….
Remove the distributor cap and rotor, pushing the cap aside, for now leave the ignition wires connected..

Step 7….
Now you are ready to remove the timing belt covers, the tensioner, the belt and the water pump. Remove the two upper bolts from the top timing belt cover, the alternator bracket, the top cover and lower cover bolt and cover.

Step 8….
Remove the 6 Allen bolts from the crankshaft pulley, and remove it and the large vibration damper behind it from the car. Do not worry, the vibration damper is indexed and can only be reassembled one way. Now loosen the top bolt on the tensioner, push it left, re tighten. You can now remove the belt. Now remove the water pump, the tensioner (making sure that the spring and adjustment pin don’t fly out)

Step 9….
Now be sure to clean the water pump gasket material from the engine block including any oil and residue. Be sure to remove any old gasket material silicone etc, from withing the engine block after you have finished cleaning the area. You may also want to use a wire brush to clean the timing gears from any corrosion or debris at this time..

REASSEMBLY!

Step 1….
Install the new water pump. Make sure there is absolutely no old gasket material or adhesive left on the engine block. We do use an adhesive on both sides of the new water pump gasket for reassembly. (this will help to keep the gasket lined up, and leak proof. Install the new water pump using a NEW gasket, smeared lightly on both sides with Permatex adhesive. Mount with the 3 water pump retaining bolts.. (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN)

Step 2….
Install the belt tensioner, making sure the adjustment pin seats in the receptacle on the water pump and the pin is through the tensioner bracket. Push it ALL the way to the left and tighten down.

Step 3….
Install the belt on the crankshaft gear. Start at the bottom, around the Crank gear, around the tensioner and STOP!!!! Do not install on top gear yet!

Step 4….
Install the lower timing cover and the crankshaft dampener and pulley. Be sure not to over tighten the cover bolts, as they will easily break.

Step 5….
Locate the lower crankshaft timing mark and be sure to line it up with the lower cover TDC Mark. Look at the cam belt gear and make sure it is lined up with the mark on the cylinder head. Now you can install the timing belt on the top gear. It may be a bit of a tight fit and you may have to gently ease the belt on. Now loosen the bolt holding the tensioner, and let the spring take up the slack in the belt. I also like to put a 22 mm wrench on the crank and give it a pull clockwise to take any slack out of the backside of the belt. Now re-tighten the tensioner bolts.

Step 6….
Now, with a 22mm ratchet on the main crankshaft bolt, rotate the engine clockwise 3 or 4 complete revolutions and check to see that your timing marks still line up. If not, go back and reset the belt on the correct tooth. If the belt is one notch off, you could damage your engine bending the valves in the cylinder head.

Step 7….
Install the upper timing bolt cover, the black plastic protector strip, the timing sensor and alternator bracket.

Step 8…
Install the water pump pulley and all of the drive belts.

Step 9…
Install the distributor dust shield, and the new rotor and cap. Install the spark plugs and attach the wires. At this time removing one at a time install the plug wires to the new cap.

Step 10…
Reattach the fan & clutch. Remember the threads are backwards.. To install the fan clutch spin the fan counter clockwise and tighten.

Step 10…
Replace the 19mm coolant drain plug under the exhaust manifold, Replace the shroud then the radiator. Reconnect all electrical connections to the right top side of the radiator. Make sure aLL hoses are reattached properly, then refill the system phosphate free antifreeze 50/50 mix with water.

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