BMW E46 M54 Idler, Tensioner and Water Pump Pulley Replacement PICTORIAL & VIDEO DIY!
PROLOGUE:
If your Pulleys are squealing under the hood every time you start your car then DIY them out of there now or they will fail on you and leave you stranded road side!
Here is an older video from last November of what my pulleys sound like months before they inevitably and eventually failed. At the time I shot this video I didn't understand what these sounds were but now I do and I will never ever ever forget them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjiGl-dXX2E&feature=player_embedded
ABOUT THE DIY:
I did all my Pulleys in less than an hour. Parts all cost under $100 which was almost equal to what I paid just to tow my car off the highway when the pulleys finally gave way and excused themselves from my Belt Drive as I was cruising down the highway.
I also replaced my belts at the same time and now my engine bay is quiet, the car accelerates way better and my MPGs shot right back up to low 30s highway and mid 20s city.
Said and done the hardest part of the DIY was putting the fan back on the car.
The tools required are:
-Fan Clutch Tools if your car is an automatic/steptronic - costs about $30 and up on ebay
-Breaker bar/Ratchet Handle set about 8 inches and up (the bolts aren't super tight but the longer handle makes removal easier)
-5/8" or 13mm socket, 10mm socket and T50 Torx head-to de-tension the AC Belt Tension Pulley
Tools not required but you can use if you have them:
-Ratchet socket extension 3 or 5 inch to reach the Tension Pulley lower mount bolt in removal of the tensioner pulley
-Torque Wrench (I didn't use one, but you can if you want)
PART ONE: To remove the belts and fan clutch see my DIY here:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=696330&highlight=
PART TWO: For the Pulleys here are the Video DIY Guides:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzaRY4EqMvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pG1LcFItd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOzAmqstmy8
PART THREE: Here is a Pictorial Reference describing key points in the process:
http://img31.imageshack.us/g/waterpumppulleydiy3.jpg/
PART FOUR: Here is the original thread of the incident and the reason I should have changed my pulleys FYI
PROLOGUE:
If your Pulleys are squealing under the hood every time you start your car then DIY them out of there now or they will fail on you and leave you stranded road side!
Here is an older video from last November of what my pulleys sound like months before they inevitably and eventually failed. At the time I shot this video I didn't understand what these sounds were but now I do and I will never ever ever forget them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjiGl-dXX2E&feature=player_embedded
ABOUT THE DIY:
I did all my Pulleys in less than an hour. Parts all cost under $100 which was almost equal to what I paid just to tow my car off the highway when the pulleys finally gave way and excused themselves from my Belt Drive as I was cruising down the highway.
I also replaced my belts at the same time and now my engine bay is quiet, the car accelerates way better and my MPGs shot right back up to low 30s highway and mid 20s city.
Said and done the hardest part of the DIY was putting the fan back on the car.
The tools required are:
-Fan Clutch Tools if your car is an automatic/steptronic - costs about $30 and up on ebay
-Breaker bar/Ratchet Handle set about 8 inches and up (the bolts aren't super tight but the longer handle makes removal easier)
-5/8" or 13mm socket, 10mm socket and T50 Torx head-to de-tension the AC Belt Tension Pulley
Tools not required but you can use if you have them:
-Ratchet socket extension 3 or 5 inch to reach the Tension Pulley lower mount bolt in removal of the tensioner pulley
-Torque Wrench (I didn't use one, but you can if you want)
PART ONE: To remove the belts and fan clutch see my DIY here:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=696330&highlight=
PART TWO: For the Pulleys here are the Video DIY Guides:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzaRY4EqMvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pG1LcFItd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOzAmqstmy8
PART THREE: Here is a Pictorial Reference describing key points in the process:
http://img31.imageshack.us/g/waterpumppulleydiy3.jpg/
PART FOUR: Here is the original thread of the incident and the reason I should have changed my pulleys FYI