Dropped small bolt for lower chain tensioner into sump

[sharadn]

HELP! I think I dropped the small bolt for the lower chain tensioner into the sump. I know I dropped it and thought I saw it go down the floor but cannot find it anywhere. I know all the videos say to put rags in there to prevent this. Well I just forgot to do it. I know that you need to drop the entire front suspension to drop the sump. What a huge PIA. Anyone have any other ideas? If I finish putting the vanos together and then rotate the engine by hand I guess I would know if the bolt got caught in the timing chain. If not I guess it is sitting in the bottom of the sump. I can't really see down in there to tell if it is actually there. Anyone find an easy way out of this kind of situation?

[XnWarden]

Is there oil in the sump? You could try pulling the dipstick or drain plug and going fishing with a magnet

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[sharadn]

Anybody ever use one of those boroscopes that you can put on your phone. If I could look down in there and know it was there it might make sense for me to drop the suspension and oil pan. Anyone ever try this?

[MParallel]

Anybody ever use one of those boroscopes that you can put on your phone. If I could look down in there and know it was there it might make sense for me to drop the suspension and oil pan. Anyone ever try this?

I have one, but haven't used it for sump inspection.

I would try with one of those telescopic magnet pick-up tools. Has saved my life a few times.

[sharadn]

I bought one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It came today and is a bit difficult to actual know what you are looking at but I don't see anything down in there that looks like it has threads. Maybe it disappeared into a garage cranny and will come out in six months after I drop the subframe and pan.

[sharadn]

Sold the E36 as a project and bought an E46 M3. Too much work in too small of a garage.

[MParallel]

Sold the E36 as a project and bought an E46 M3. Too much work in too small of a garage.

Like that. Drop bolt in sump, buy new car.

[jc43089]

What about when you drop a bolt in the S54? If an e36 is too much work you may be in for a ride with an S54.

If the bolt dropped down the front timing case then a magnet should easily pull it back up, also if it totally made it to the sump it is way to big to go through the pump pick up screen and not nearly enough to block flow to the pump, the only risk is to make sure it isn't in your timing chain or guides and then get a new bolt and forget about it All you would need to do is look down the front timing case. Too late now, I suspect there is more to the story.

[jmo69]

What about when you drop a bolt in the S54? If an e36 is too much work you may be in for a ride with an S54.

If the bolt dropped down the front timing case then a magnet should easily pull it back up, also if it totally made it to the sump it is way to big to go through the pump pick up screen and not nearly enough to block flow to the pump, the only risk is to make sure it isn't in your timing chain or guides and then get a new bolt and forget about it All you would need to do is look down the front timing case. Too late now, I suspect there is more to the story.

If you drop a bolt in the pan of the S54 you can retrieve it when you put new rod bearing in as PM.

[jc43089]

If you drop a bolt in the pan of the S54 you can retrieve it when you put new rod bearing in as PM.

Exactly my point lol.

[sharadn]

Not much more to the story than I wanted a M3 and I bought one. I guess going from an e36 328i to e46 M3 is the right direction. I am not twenty anymore and I have to decide where is the best place for me to use my energy. I would much rather spend my time and work on the M3 than the 328. Working on one or the other is OK but not both. I do have a life and wife outside of the garage.
You know what JC43089: you are exactly correct: I am sure that the S54 will be quite a ride! And thanks for your great input!