DRIVE BELT Recommendation for E39 540i

[300kplus]

Any belt manufacturers to stay away from, or any you can recommend--I need to purchase a drive belt for my E39 540i...

Thanks in advance.

[jicaino]

Get the OE Genuine. It's a couple of bucks more expensive than OEM (Contitech) but's still made in Germany instead of Romania or India, lasts longer and doesn't squeal when hot like the cheaper versions.

FCP Euro has it very reasonably priced and they offer lifetime guarantee.

[300kplus]

Thanks!

(your caption describes my car... (98 540i-350k and counting... :-)

[jicaino]

Thanks!

(your caption describes my car... (98 540i-350k and counting... :-)

mine does too, I'm just halfaway that mileage but I'm piling up on the odometer, trying to reach you!

[300kplus]

mine does too, I'm just halfaway that mileage but I'm piling up on the odometer, trying to reach you!

Drive on my friend! Drive on!
;-)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[XAlt]

Thanks!

(your caption describes my car... (98 540i-350k and counting... :-)

I forgot if you did the guides, since I think the record on BF.C was like 325k on the original set?

[Corellian Corve]

You can get Contitech from RockAuto, too. Just put in the OE PN and it should show up.

And man those belts are MUCH better than the parts store versions. They look different, too. Put a set of Contitechs on my 740i last month. I had a light ticking sound like a bad lifter and it turned out to be the belt.

[jicaino]

You can get Contitech from RockAuto, too. Just put in the OE PN and it should show up.

And man those belts are MUCH better than the parts store versions. They look different, too. Put a set of Contitechs on my 740i last month. I had a light ticking sound like a bad lifter and it turned out to be the belt.

I had the same thing, replaced belt for the correct Contitech, lasted less than 2 years. It was made in Romania. Went OE Genuine, it's a german made Contitech...
Roma

[JimLev]

I put Dayco Poly Cog belts on my 540 about 90K miles ago, they still look very good. Not replacing them anytime soon.

[XAlt]

You can get Contitech from RockAuto, too. Just put in the OE PN and it should show up.

And man those belts are MUCH better than the parts store versions. They look different, too. Put a set of Contitechs on my 740i last month. I had a light ticking sound like a bad lifter and it turned out to be the belt.

My contis started to do that as well.

Don't know if OE BMW or OEM.

[edjack]

Replace BOTH belts!

[300kplus]

Rock Auto rocks! Got a Contitech as a spare just in case. (That's one of those parts that will leave you on the side of the road) My belts are fine but I'd rather be safe than sorry and I like the convenience of having something and not needing it rather than needing it and not having it. Especially for a bargain ;-)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[jicaino]

I put Dayco Poly Cog belts on my 540 about 90K miles ago, they still look very good. Not replacing them anytime soon.

Jim, would you recall P/N or something? I want to buy one and try it.

[JimLev]

Juan, my A/C belt is Dayco Poly Rib 5050395.
I have underdrive pulleys on the water pump and power steering pump so that belt is longer than a standard belt.
You should be able to get the correct Dayco p/n for the standard belt from the Dayco website.
Another good belt is Goodyear Gatorback.

[jicaino]

Juan, my A/C belt is Dayco Poly Rib 5050395.
I have underdrive pulleys on the water pump and power steering pump so that belt is longer than a standard belt.
You should be able to get the correct Dayco p/n for the standard belt from the Dayco website.
Another good belt is Goodyear Gatorback.

Thanks Jim.

Would you say they're better than OE? I know gatorbacks, I used them on other app and they're really good, I don't have one in hand now to compare it with the german contitech, but I kind of think the gatorback is better now that you reminded me of them.

[JimLev]

I'd say they both are better than the OE belts. My OE belts had lots of cracks on the inside surface, think they had 70K on them. These belts now have 82K on them and still look almost new, no cracks.

[jicaino]

I'd say they both are better than the OE belts. My OE belts had lots of cracks on the inside surface, think they had 70K on them. These belts now have 82K on them and still look almost new, no cracks.

Thanks!