Newbie 2001 740i timing chain guides failed

[Zoz740i]

Hello all. This is my 1st post so 1st let me start by saying, Thanks to everyone who post on here you inspire me to keep my 7 and handle all repairs myself whether the good bad or ugly stories all help very motivating. But here's my conundrum. I have a fair amount of mechanical experience So that being said about a week ago I start my car and wham clack clack clack..... Thought at fist it was the engine but thanks to this forum I quickly found great info to easy my worries. I took fist course of action Oil change as soon as I opened oil filter housing and found lots of plastic flakes covering filter. So now pretty certain the guides failed. Questions 1 I have confidence I can do the job but when it comes to the vanos system I have never worked on it before. Is it still do able? 2 TOOLS the most critical step I don't have Timing Kit or Crank holding tool nor do I have 300-500 to buy. Rental possibly? Or if any one that has done the job have for rent?
3. The job itself. It may come back and bite me later but I'm going to skip the intake gaakets and valley pan as I am lacking funds but won't skimp on the timing parts. Just trying to get back on the road only mode of transport.Good idea or Bad?

3. Crank Pulley Bolt
950 psi 450 psi 600psi I have heard different from multi sources. I have removed these bolt from other vehicles without much hassle no extended breaker bars or holding tool just large screw driver to hold crank. How difficult is it really. I have read most diys on this job just looking for that bimmerboard feed back thanks

[bmwdirtracer]

Welcome to the forum.

I'd like to mention that the E38 7-series forum is one of the very best, with extremely knowledgeable and helpful contributors, and this job is extensively outlined there.

Are you aware that this job pays a professional BMW technician 30+ hours? I mention this so that you're prepared for the extensive work involved. You will need not only the cam/crank timing tools, but also a fairly extensive array of hand and preferably also air tools......AND, the correct, specific instructions - no YouTube nonsense.

You'll be removing the intake manifold of a 17 year old car -- you just DON'T do that without replacing the gaskets. You need to replace every gasket you disturb. You need to replace all the timing rails, all the tensioners, and the chains. You need to replace the crankcase vent apparatus, PARTICULARLY the parts behind the timing chain, and the connector at the top of that, and the pipe that goes from front to back. You need to replace the 4 o-rings on the coolant pipes which go from front to rear.

If you do not replace these parts, you are begging for terrible and recurring issues....and having to open up the whole can of worms all over again, right after you put it back together!

The crankshaft bolt is extraordinarily tight. (I use my 3/4" drive impact gun, with 175 pounds of air pressure; of course, the radiator and condensor can't be there) The camshaft gear bolts are extremely tight. (I have broken camshafts trying to undo them)

In short, the job needs to be done correctly, because trying to bypass important steps just leads to expensive and time-consuming disaster.

[Zoz740i]

Thanks for the insight will bite the bullet on extra parts before the bullet bites me. Broken Cams!!!! That's sounds scrary!

[bmwdirtracer]

It was truly ugly.
Thanks for listening; I promise you'll be glad you did, when you're done.

Visit the E38 forum of Bimmerforums. There is a great deal of well-cataloged M62TU information there, and the people are very helpful (unlike another model specific forum for this engine, where the owners can be excruciatingly nasty, {like me, sometimes})
By all means, continue to visit this forum, we have many pro techs and extremely knowledgeable owners here, and we'll be there to help.

(Sorry, I can't lend the timing tools I use; they belong to the shop.)

Part number 1 in this diagram lives behind the timing chain; this is absolutely crucial to replace:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_2255

[MarcoZandrini]

Chris, you’re never nasty!

[bmwdirtracer]

I really wish that were true, my friend, but there are many people who will say otherwise. I'm as good of a mean SOB as anyone, and being a Tibetan Buddhist, that ain't good.

tsktsk.

(Luckily, as a Buddhist, I'm allowed to joke. But karma always bites anyway.)
Ow !!!

[MarcoZandrini]

You don’t mess with karma. In the end she always comes out on top.

[risktkr]

Chris: My 2001 740 140k threw up the chain guides on monday. Any chance you know anyone in the Philly area that can fix this? Would you be interested If I shipped it there? Thanks, Mike

[bmwdirtracer]

Well, of course I can do this job, Mike. I'm not sure that it's worth the extra expense to you of shipping it here, though. I do not do side-work, which means that you'd be paying full retail, pretty much, although I'd help where possible....but I do not own the shop, so that's pretty much limited to my leaving a few hours off the time card.

Sure, I know a DAMNED good BMW shop in Philly......but, well, the truth is, I no longer trust them . Two good friends have taken their BMWs to VAC Motorsports, and been robbed blind., and kept waiting for absurd amounts of time. I can no longer, in good conscience, recommend them, although they really know their sh!+.

The M62TU is a fairly straightforward motor, Mike. I like it a lot. But shipping your car to me might not be the best course for you, because of that expense. Your call....I have had friends ship their cars from as far as Washington DC, for me to work on....not that much closer than you. But still, those were E34 M5's, a specialist item.

I've bought many parts from VAC, by the way, they sell wonderful stuff.

[shadowpuck]

wow - chris - i'm sad to hear that about VAC. i've bought, and convinced another track buddy, to go with their header/exhaust kit for e46's and (as you say) its wonderful. i did have to wait a while for it to ship, but they warned me of that upfront and did keep in good contact through the whole process.

in fact, when i saw this thread the first thing i thought was VAC.

Mike - i'd check with your local BMW CCA chapter and find out where the good shops are.

[bmwdirtracer]

Yeah, my friend, that sucks very badly. They have great parts, absolutely. They know their stuff. But still,they've been absolutely awful to a couple of good friends with great cars, who have been happy to spend a bunch of money with them. One had a simple engine swap, exactly the same car, same engine, same year, no issues.....it took them 18 months. And even then, they demanded new clutch and flywheel (plus many more items) which were BRAND NEW already! I'll not even get into the second vehicle.

[MarcoZandrini]

Chris: My 2001 740 140k threw up the chain guides on monday. Any chance you know anyone in the Philly area that can fix this? Would you be interested If I shipped it there? Thanks, Mike

Try www.bimrs.org for shops. Also, check the website for the Delaware Valley chapter of the BMWCCA.