Timing chain phaser replacement on an E90

**Ajcoco12** · 02-05-2020, 05:14 PM

So I sent my car into the shop on the 24th of January for a serpentine belt replacement. It took them until Tuesday the next week to complete the job and they realized the timing chain intake and exhaust phaser needed to be replaced. That was a WEEK ago. They finally got the parts Monday and aren’t going to work on it until Thursday which is tomorrow. Generally how long does replacing the phasers and timing the car take? I’m going insane not having my car and just want some straight forward answers. I was told probably late tomorrow but I’ve been told multiple days that haven’t worked out. Anybody with experience replacing these components want to add insight on how long it took once the mechanic started working on them? Thanks

**MauiM3Mania** · 02-06-2020, 03:51 PM

Moved to this discussion area.... good luck with your repair.

**White94RX** · 02-07-2020, 06:59 AM

What the hell is a phaser? And what does that have to do with the drive belt?

**jclausen** · 02-07-2020, 09:03 AM

You need another shop they definitely don't have a sense of urgency

**bmwdirtracer** · 02-07-2020, 11:05 AM

I also want to know what a "phaser" is. Is that like a Taser? Or a laser?

You should identify the car when posting. Year/model/engine/mileage is a good start.

You need a different shop - a BMW specialist. Timing chain phasers don't exist; I think you're being had. Can you tell us what your estimate says, exactly, and how much labor, parts, and cost?

**shadowpuck** · 02-07-2020, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer

I also want to know what a "phaser" is. Is that like a Taser? Or a laser?

it's like a laser or a taser, but ph balanced....

i'll see myself out....haha.

**328 Power 04** · 02-07-2020, 02:06 PM

LOL.

I wonder if they mean VANOS solenoids?

**Ajcoco12** · 02-07-2020, 08:51 PM

Hey guys, I’m back with another problem. Seems like I’m trying harder to solve my problems than the actual mechanic is. So I sent my car in about two weeks ago now for a serpentine belt replacement because mine broke and shredded. Long story short it got into the engine and the mechanic said he did his best to clean it all and mentioned that my car started a metallic sounding ticking after the repair. He found that it was the variable valve timing actuators that needed to be replaced. Sorry if that’s not the correct terminology. I’m not really a car guy by any means but can do the simple things. So he replaces those and I give him a call today and he tells me my car is now sputtering. It’s been sitting for awhile at the shop, hasn’t been started in about a week and a half because of the repair that was going on. Now he tells me he thinks I need a new engine put into my car. Now that’s something I’m not doing. If it needs a new engine then screw it. I’ll sell it for parts and just buy a new BMW. Has anybody come up on this before? My dad has a friend who is a BMW technician and from my explaining he tells me I don’t need a new engine and he thinks he knows what it is. (My ssd was contacting him so I didn’t get what he was referring to when he said he believed he knew what it was). Thanks for the help guys

**shogun** · 02-07-2020, 10:18 PM

This info is not enough to help you, unless we start guessing. As your dad's friend is a BMW technician, let him check the car and repair it.

**MauiM3Mania** · 02-08-2020, 01:33 PM

Threads phase-merged.

**White94RX** · 02-09-2020, 09:46 AM

Ah, now we have the real story.

But I bet the original poster never comes back and updates this. Even after starting two threads.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

**MauiM3Mania** · 02-09-2020, 01:16 PM

Belt was swallowed at the front seal, which gets trashed, the belt is shredded and gets into the sump... who knows what else was damaged. Timing?

**Critter7r** · 02-10-2020, 12:45 PM

it happens entirely too often. The shredded belt gets sucked up into the oil pump and can starve the engine of oil. Bam, new engine time.

**bmwdirtracer** · 02-10-2020, 03:06 PM

It also usually unbolts the crank bolt, which releases the timing. Personally, I'd remove the oil pan and clean out the belt mess, then reset the timing.

**Critter7r** · 02-11-2020, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer

It also usually unbolts the crank bolt, which releases the timing. Personally, I'd remove the oil pan and clean out the belt mess, then reset the timing.

If the belt shards clog up the oil pump screen, the engine seizes up from oil starvation. At that point, no amount of cleaning out the mess will help.

**jclausen** · 02-12-2020, 09:02 AM

It starts with the oil leaks that are not attended to and really should never happen if the shop your taking it to are keeping you updated on areas or concern and even the owner if they ever opened the hook to just look would see the oil sparying on the air filter housing let's say. Preventive maintance that's what it's called.