PSA: Replace Your Timing Chain Tensioner

[M5XTu]

Replaced mine on my 01 540i/6 because occasionally, I would hear a cold start rattle. It only has 119k on the clock and I thought this would be a good start before I replace the guides and vanos rebuild in the future.

Easy enough job.


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[WBAD530i]

Nice, but I would be wary that the extra tensioning powa would put more strain on the already aged guides. Hopefully you do not find that this speeds up the guide failure process.

[XAlt]

Nice, but I would be wary that the extra tensioning powa would put more strain on the already aged guides. Hopefully you do not find that this speeds up the guide failure process.

Tensioners do basically nothing after oil pressure is up. Here you basically have an extra buffer zone, and that helps when dealing with the VANOS drain valve.

The guides are going to fail regardless, so let's hope he gets another 100k out of them.

[theshadow92]

Nice! Looks like you had the older version with the shorter spring so well worth it to upgrade.


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[nikh23]

I did mine on my i6 but only replaced the spring. Is there any additional benefit to replacing the piston as well?

[dannyzabolotny]

The extra spring length is to lessen the chain slack upon cold startup. Cold startups do the most damage to the guides so the updated tensioner design should theoretically help to preserve the guides. However, my experience shows that it's mostly a crapshoot. My 2003 540i/6 had the guides go out at 194k with the original chain tensioner, and I'm working on a 2001 740i where the guides went out at 160k miles with the updated tensioner design.

[M5XTu]

The extra spring length is to lessen the chain slack upon cold startup. Cold startups do the most damage to the guides so the updated tensioner design should theoretically help to preserve the guides. However, my experience shows that it's mostly a crapshoot. My 2003 540i/6 had the guides go out at 194k with the original chain tensioner, and I'm working on a 2001 740i where the guides went out at 160k miles with the updated tensioner design.

It's just good insurance. That's all.


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[LASwede]

Replaced mine on my 01 540i/6 because occasionally, I would hear a cold start rattle. It only has 119k on the clock and I thought this would be a good start before I replace the guides and vanos rebuild in the future.

Easy enough job.


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Do you have the part number, and where did you order it?

Many thanks

[dannyzabolotny]

It's just good insurance. That's all.

Yep, and it's pretty cheap too— $40-50 for the INA-branded OEM tensioner.

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Do you have the part number, and where did you order it?

Many thanks

It's 11317531813 and you can buy it from any BMW parts store— FCP Euro, ECS Tuning, AutohausAZ, etc. Shop around and see who has the best price.

[Plattus1000]

Don't forget to order the new o-ring and keep the crush washer on the new part when installing the new tentioner.

[jicaino]

I replaced mine and it was the exact same as the one I took out.

[XAlt]

I replaced mine and it was the exact same as the one I took out.

That's what I feared, so I got the febi.

[wagons ho]

I cleaned and polished up my 160,000 mile tensioner and reused it when I did the guides. Totally silent all the time, even on cold fire up

[jicaino]

That's what I feared, so I got the febi.

I got the Febi too. I keep forgetting that back in 2008/7 when the engine was replaced the car got a ton of new parts.

FWIW the Febi I took out was really snug and tight after almost 10 years and 80k miles after it was replaced. The compression and lenght of the spring was exactly the same as the new one. I measured them with a spring gage averaging readings in extension/compression and they were 1 gram appart.

[lamaker]

Don't forget to order the new o-ring and keep the crush washer on the new part when installing the new tentioner.

Shit,I replaced mine a couple of weekend ago's and I did not see, nor replace the o-ring...do you think it may have been "stuck" inside the engine?

[dannyzabolotny]

Shit,I replaced mine a couple of weekend ago's and I did not see, nor replace the o-ring...do you think it may have been "stuck" inside the engine?

There's no o-ring in the chain tensioner assembly— there is an o-ring in the place that supplies oil to the chain tensioner but that can only be accessed with the upper timing cover removed. As long as you replaced the crush washer on the chain tensioner you have nothing to worry about.

[lamaker]

There's no o-ring in the chain tensioner assembly— there is an o-ring in the place that supplies oil to the chain tensioner but that can only be accessed with the upper timing cover removed. As long as you replaced the crush washer on the chain tensioner you have nothing to worry about.

I didn't replace any crush washer...I did not see one when I removed the old tensioner and did not see one come with the new tensioner...I just ordered the correct washer and will add it in...

[jicaino]

I don't recall the tensioner having a crush washer. I think it's a tapered seal plug.

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I mean, not tapered threads, but the shoulder of the plug has a tapered seat that seals against the timing cover.

[dannyzabolotny]

The plug that screws in with the chain tensioner always has a crush washer...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_2264

It's #20 in that diagram.

[jicaino]

The plug that screws in with the chain tensioner always has a crush washer...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_2264

It's #20 in that diagram.

shoot... I didn't replace it.

[sealbeach740]

shoot... I didn't replace it.

If it's not leaking where the tensioner meets the side of the engine, I wouldn't worry to much about it.
Just replace it when it's convenient for you.
My $.02.

[jicaino]

If it's not leaking where the tensioner meets the side of the engine, I wouldn't worry to much about it.
Just replace it when it's convenient for you.
My $.02.

I *think* it's not leaking... of course now I will dream of major oil leaks from that spot.

[XAlt]

E39s can read your mind and are more intelligent than 95% of the drivers on the road.

Stop worrying and they won't break.

[M5XTu]

Mine was stuck to the head and pried it off. Cleaned the surface and put new tensioner and washer.


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