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Thread: '92 735iL Serp belt snapped - Coolant everywhere. Head gasket blown?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15
    My Cars
    1992 BMW 735iL

    '92 735iL Serp belt snapped - Coolant everywhere. Head gasket blown?

    So I was driving along and stopped at a red light when I noticed that my temp needle was slightly over the midway mark... Hmm. 100 meters later it started to quickly go further to the right, then the coolant and battery warning light came on.
    I panicked slightly and continued to coast about another 50 meters to a safe stop. Needle just hit the red then backed off a bit.

    A few rubber sprocket bits here and there but the belt wasn't completely gone, it was off the fan but otherwise was still intact.
    Coolant was spilling out of the tank, but the fan and radiator were not damaged. Nothing was really too hot or smelly or violent...

    Anyways is it likely my head gasket is blown? What other damage may have been done to the engine?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
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    54,654
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    If it just hit red, you might have no further damage http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/tempgage.htm
    I would install a new belt and then drive and test. Also check the water pump bearing, there must be a reason why the belt snapped, something blocked?
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15
    My Cars
    1992 BMW 735iL
    Great link thanks a lot for that.

    I took the car to 6000rpm in Sport (just one time) shortly before it happened, oh how the M30 sounded sweet and full of life. So I think the belt was just worn out or I'm an idiot for pushing it that much or both. I went for a safety inspection two days ago and the mechanic didn't mention anything to me. Needs a good investigation.

    I heard a faint sound like as if a piece of gravel hit my bonnet or something similar while I was on the highway, I assume that's when the belt failed. The belt didn't actually snap (my bad for the thread title), it came off the gear that drives the fan and was sitting on the shaft between the fan and the engine block.

    I will call a mechanic tomorrow and will keep thread updated.
    Last edited by YogiYogi; 06-13-2017 at 09:50 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15
    My Cars
    1992 BMW 735iL
    What sort of tools would I need to DIY this? Would I have to raise the car? Seems like nobody wants to make money so I may have to replace the belt myself. Thanks.

    Edit: What brand of belt is best?
    Last edited by YogiYogi; 06-14-2017 at 12:51 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,654
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    the part numbers + sizes you find with your VIN on www.realoem.com
    Probably your belt has a different length from the standard size, in case the car was built for Australia = hot country version, but that is all in realoem when you search with the VIN. Hot country version means a different size of pulley and belt for higher speed of the visco clutch.
    how to change see here https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/481en/index.htm
    http://www.exx.se/maintenance/v_belt/index.shtml
    http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Mainte...ce/V-belts.htm
    Get a Bentley Repair Manual for the E32
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15
    My Cars
    1992 BMW 735iL
    Australia version = Euro version.
    13x1055mm (realoem = 12.5x1055mm) is what I was looking at for alternator/water pump belt. How about 13x840mm (realoem = 12.5x835mm) for power steering and A/C?
    So what I plan to do is buy all three belts and replace them, as I would be taking all of them off anyways. I downloaded the Bentley Manual from a bimmerforum (extremely helpful) member before I purchased the car, have yet to fully familiarise myself with it.
    Hope to get the repair done tomorrow evening after work, great to have a light inside the bonnet!

    Thank you shogun for your help.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Do not know if a slight difference in belt size will fit. Try to get the identical/original sizes
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

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