M62 timing chain guide lifespan

[RocketSurgeon]

I've been reading a lot of threads about changing out timing chain guides on m62 engines. Are there really that many problems with them? I would rather not get into that with my car if I can avoid it, retiming and all. I was wondering how long the guides really last if you keep after the tensioners and avoid chain slap. I'm at 158k now with no noises, and good tensioners.

[Cereal]

I had 172k. Maybe 1/8" of wear and probably another 250k before problems with the rail. I had bad leaks which is why I tackled the problem. Replace your tensioner on passenger side below valve cover and you're good to go.

[larrym3711]

I can't imagine a cheaper or easier maintenance item than to replace the timing chain tensioner! It is super easy, takes slack out if the chain (now no noise at all on startup) and extend the life of the chain and guides, which is very expensive to replace. Incidentally the NEW tensioner is far superior to the original "weak" design. If you haven't done this super easy maintenance item, you are running the risk of chain slop and wear for no reason! This is a must do item!

larrym3711
2001 540iA Sport

[mifesto]

i think there's alot of fear mongering going on around the forums. i'm starting to see if the car used high quality oil at good intervals, the plastic guides will last 200k miles easily.

[kimokk]

My e38 lasted to 193,625 miles before the main guide rail shattered. I installed the new tensioner a couple of years ago too and changed oil every 5000 miles. I just did the timing guides last month and have 1000 miles on the new rails and chains now. I'm helping another member install his guides this week.

[Justin517]

I originally was going to do them at 150k... I think I will probably wait until 175-200k unless it starts making noise or something else hints to it needing them.

As mentioned, there is a bit of fear mongering on the boards and people are more likely to make a thread about failed guides than one about how theirs are still fine at XXX,XXX mileage.

[RocketSurgeon]

Replace your tensioner on passenger side below valve cover and you're good to go.

I'm about to do my valve cover gaskets, so I'll take care of this too. What is that tensioner called? I have a guy who gets me OEM parts at incredible prices.

[kimokk]

I originally was going to do them at 150k... I think I will probably wait until 175-200k unless it starts making noise or something else hints to it needing them.

As mentioned, there is a bit of fear mongering on the boards and people are more likely to make a thread about failed guides than one about how theirs are still fine at XXX,XXX mileage.

I ran an unscientific poll on the e38 site and it seems the m62TU motors ('99-01 VANOS) suffer this type failure at a higher rate then the pre-vanos ones. I think somoene had around 225,000 miles on an m62 TU motor without changing guides. Here's the link: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...+timing+guides

However, there lots of pre-vanos motors in the 275k mile range that are running guide failure-free!

[mxracer41]

My non-vanos 540i has 191k on it and still haven't heard any guide noise at all. Also dropped the oil pan not too long ago and didn't see a hint any plastic bits or anything of the sort. Still haven't done the tensioner either but from everything I'm reading about them I think that's gonna be next on the to-do list..

[kimokk]

My non-vanos 540i has 191k on it and still haven't heard any guide noise at all. Also dropped the oil pan not too long ago and didn't see a hint any plastic bits or anything of the sort. Still haven't done the tensioner either but from everything I'm reading about them I think that's gonna be next on the to-do list..

Great! Let us know if you get the warning. There are a few of us in the local area that have done this job and can lend a hand. But with your pre-vanos, you should be good to go for a while.

[Only1Balto]

I can't imagine a cheaper or easier maintenance item than to replace the timing chain tensioner! It is super easy, takes slack out if the chain (now no noise at all on startup) and extend the life of the chain and guides, which is very expensive to replace. Incidentally the NEW tensioner is far superior to the original "weak" design. If you haven't done this super easy maintenance item, you are running the risk of chain slop and wear for no reason! This is a must do item!

larrym3711
2001 540iA Sport

Will do. Thanks

[mxracer41]

Great! Let us know if you get the warning. There are a few of us in the local area that have done this job and can lend a hand. But with your pre-vanos, you should be good to go for a while.

Will do, thanks! Hopefully I won't have to do them anytime soon

[Justin517]

I ran an unscientific poll on the e38 site and it seems the m62TU motors ('99-01 VANOS) suffer this type failure at a higher rate then the pre-vanos ones. I think somoene had around 225,000 miles on an m62 TU motor without changing guides. Here's the link: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...+timing+guides

However, there lots of pre-vanos motors in the 275k mile range that are running guide failure-free!

The TU seems to fail slightly more but I think the failure rate for both is more similar than many seem to think... some are of the mind set that pre-vanos will never fail, but it comes down to the fact that the guides are almost exactly the same... aluminum covered in plastic.

There was a poll thread here on the E39 forum and it was almost an even split of TU vs non-TU failures... then take into consideration that the non-TU was only 2 model years and TU was 5 model years the non-TU failure frequency per year is higher... but if you re-adjust for age and miles it kind of evens back out again.

So... IMO the TU vs non-TU guide failure rate is pretty similar and there are too many individual variables for each case to really accurately compare the two.

I'll take a newer face lifted E39 with 30 more wtq between 2-3k rpm over a 97-98 any day... doing the guides at 220k or doing them at 250k isnt that big of a difference IMO.

[123quattro]

98 with 170k. Original guides and no noise.

[kimokk]

I had no noise until 193,625 miles when I got the noise, SEL light and associated vanos camshaft control code. Dropped the oil pan and found the plastic bits in there.

[marinjudge]

'99 540i... 170k... vanos noise is annoying. Did the tensioner at 125k. Has start-up rattle maybe 1 out 10 starts. I check the pan every other oil change. Very clean pan so far. No codes. Car runs like a champ!!! Hoping for 200k before any major work. Keep your car well-maintained with quality oil!!!!! My indy and others in my area have seen very few guide failures...( affluent area in N Cal ... lots of proper maintenance being done!!).

[Cereal]

I'm about to do my valve cover gaskets, so I'll take care of this too. What is that tensioner called? I have a guy who gets me OEM parts at incredible prices.

I believe the correct name is simply, timing chain tensioner. If you tell that to you indy, he will find it

[Cyrix2k]

Another data point - 6/96 build pre-vanos @ 206k on original guides & tensioner. Despite claims to the contrary, it certainly seems vanos motors experience a higher rate of failure. Pre-vanos motors are all older and most are higher mileage, yet the vanos motors are what alerted us to this problem area in the first place!

[kimokk]

'99 540i... 170k... vanos noise is annoying. Did the tensioner at 125k. Has start-up rattle maybe 1 out 10 starts. I check the pan every other oil change. Very clean pan so far. No codes. Car runs like a champ!!! Hoping for 200k before any major work. Keep your car well-maintained with quality oil!!!!! My indy and others in my area have seen very few guide failures...( affluent area in N Cal ... lots of proper maintenance being done!!).

They haven't seen it because the "affluent" probably just dispose of the car and buy a new one.

[GCR]

Did a 2001 740i last week with 117k on it. Lost the plastic on the center guide. Realtor's car, so engine hours may have been higher than normal for the miles.

[Only1Balto]

Did a 2001 740i last week with 117k on it. Lost the plastic on the center guide. Realtor's car, so engine hours may have been higher than normal for the miles.

I didn't know this was a possibility. So you went to remove the old Tensioner and the guide from the inside fell?

[GCR]

I didn't know this was a possibility. So you went to remove the old Tensioner and the guide from the inside fell?

No. The car was brought in with excessive chain noise. The rail slider had come apart and was laying in the oil pan.

[strayv]

129k on my beloved 2000 540 M62TU, and it needs the chain rail replacement. My indie mechanic said "the book" quoted it as an 18 hour job. Yikes!

Anyone have any recommendations for a shop in Minneapolis/St Paul?

I swear, I'm mourning the sick car just as much as my 14 year old Labrador that just died.

[Mels5406]

129k on my beloved 2000 540 M62TU, and it needs the chain rail replacement. My indie mechanic said "the book" quoted it as an 18 hour job. Yikes! Anyone have any recommendations for a shop in Minneapolis/St Paul? I swear, I'm mourning the sick car just as much as my 14 year old Labrador that just died.

You could go for a second opinion, depending on how much you trust your indie.

[cwise12]

129k on my beloved 2000 540 M62TU, and it needs the chain rail replacement. My indie mechanic said "the book" quoted it as an 18 hour job. Yikes!

Anyone have any recommendations for a shop in Minneapolis/St Paul?

I swear, I'm mourning the sick car just as much as my 14 year old Labrador that just died.

Drive it up to MA and I'll throw a new timing system in there for ya!