Hydraulic Tensioner Upgrade Layout doityourself

[danewilson77]

Guys....Put one of these in a while ago. Task worthy at trying to figure out where everything goes as everything is just kinda put in a box. Everything is laid out in accordance with the Realoem drawing and how it should be installed in your ride....

Link to where I bought it is here..

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/11287838797/ES517967/

Could take some guess work outta it for you.

Cheers...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/z/x/226.png

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/DSC02885sz1200.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/DSC02886sz1200.jpg

[zhp43867]

Hey- I saw this on tischer. What are the benefits of doing this, or potential problems if one doesn't do this?

[danewilson77]

I would have to do a bit of research.....but I know BMW moved to this tensioner on the later models for a reason. I can think of several advantages of using a hydraulic tesioner over mechanical.....but they are obvious.....

[Kudos]

Dane, do you know which year the change occured in?

[danewilson77]

I think it was 03/04. Can't be for certain. Might have been as early as 02. Look to see what you have. Pretty easy to identify the diff.

[JohnnyGraphic]

My March 2004 build came with the hydraulic tensioner. Oddly though, my A/C tensioner was/is the mechanical-spring loaded type.

When I did my cooling system upgrade (65k miles or so), I just replaced the pulley. I'm not sure if the tensioner itself would go bad. But, when I removed and replaced them, the pulley was definitely going bad. It had that rough, skate-board sound to it.

However, I forgot to buy the pulley for the A/C belt. So, I left that one on there. Then, this past winter, the pulley was making all sorts of bad noises. I just replaced the entire unit-mechanical tensioner too. It took all of 45 minutes to do and is terribly easy. The hardest part was getting those stinking plastic rivets out without launching them into the engine bay! LOL! The tensioner/pulley assembly was $75 at the local auto store.

Johnny

[djmajestik]

I think it was 03/04. Can't be for certain. Might have been as early as 02. Look to see what you have. Pretty easy to identify the diff.

How can I tell :scratchinghead

I have 04 330i 6spd

[danewilson77]

My March 2004 build came with the hydraulic tensioner. Oddly though, my A/C tensioner was/is the mechanical-spring loaded type.

When I did my cooling system upgrade (65k miles or so), I just replaced the pulley. I'm not sure if the tensioner itself would go bad. But, when I removed and replaced them, the pulley was definitely going bad. It had that rough, skate-board sound to it.

However, I forgot to buy the pulley for the A/C belt. So, I left that one on there. Then, this past winter, the pulley was making all sorts of bad noises. I just replaced the entire unit-mechanical tensioner too. It took all of 45 minutes to do and is terribly easy. The hardest part was getting those stinking plastic rivets out without launching them into the engine bay! LOL! The tensioner/pulley assembly was $75 at the local auto store.

Johnny

No such beast as a Hydraulic tensioner for AC side......so...your case is not odd. We all have mechanical tensioner over there.

[danewilson77]

How can I tell :scratchinghead

I have 04 330i 6spd

Look at your tensioner to see if you have the hydraulic piston or not?