Water pump options? Hydraulic belt tensioner?

[Uncle_Clanger]

Not yet but have bought all the pulleys to replace on mine as the tensioner appears fine and will just clean up.

So the pulley in the ebay link would be easy enough swap on the air conditioning tensioner? Just looking at making a saving without compromising the overhaul.

Somebody upgraded to a hydraulic tensioner... I can't remember who, it's supposed to be more efficient isn't it?

 

[Althulas]

I thought they were all hydraulic! But the pulleys are easy enough to change just one bolt to undue after taking any blanking cap off.

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

I thought they were all hydraulic! But the pulleys are easy enough to change just one bolt to undue after taking any blanking cap off.

No the belt tensioners are mechanical but BMW use hydraulic tensioners now apparently. Although I can't work out if some Z models had them from new?

You can buy one to replace the mechanical aux drive belt tensioner but not to replace the air conditioning tensioner. I'm trying to remember who's fitted one. I think the idea is that hydraulic is better because the standard mechanical spring type wear and then the whole unit has to be replaced rather than just the pulley.

Hoping someone can help me decide which ones to go for. It's a big job to change everything but I just wanted to tick it off the list as done.

 

[Paulro]

No the belt tensioners are mechanical but BMW use hydraulic tensioners now apparently. Although I can't work out if some Z models had them from new?

You can buy one to replace the mechanical aux drive belt tensioner but not to replace the air conditioning tensioner. I'm trying to remember who's fitted one. I think the idea is that hydraulic is better because the standard mechanical spring type wear and then the whole unit has to be replaced rather than just the pulley.

Hoping someone can help me decide which ones to go for. It's a big job to change everything but I just wanted to tick it off the list as done.

I'm not sure if you have bought the parts yet but I have a brand new water pump, belt tensioner, thermostat and housing, 2 belts. I bought them recently to have fitted to my z3 3.0.
Subsequently, I had bmw main dealers do the work in Portugal.
One problem, I am away for another 4 weeks but they'll be there when I return.

 

[Mint]

Somebody upgraded to a hydraulic tensioner... I can't remember who,

I think it may have been @Brian4, I'm sure he's done some work on the tensioner.

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

I'm not sure if you have bought the parts yet but I have a brand new water pump, belt tensioner, thermostat and housing, 2 belts. I bought them recently to have fitted to my z3 3.0.
Subsequently, I had bmw main dealers do the work in Portugal.
One problem, I am away for another 4 weeks but they'll be there when I return.

Oh that's a nuisance, I bought the pump, thermostat and belts already or I definitely would have.. Oh well. I'm just looking at tensioners at the minute, trying to decide whether to fit hydraulic drive belt tensioner or mechanical tensioner.. Both "INA" brand (OE quality)

I want a decent idler pulley also... this is weird too, ebay the prices (3.0) seem to be around £16 for an idler and europarts want nearly £40 for a the idler (INA again) can't understand how the price is so different, I bet an OEM is cheaper than £40.

 

[Brian4]

I replaced the main belt tensioner a few years back as the pulley was rattling away. At the time I couldn't get the pulley for the mechanical tensioner so replaced the tensioner with the hydraulic one. It isn't really hydraulic just a spring in an oil filled damper but looks totally different.

The mounting holes for it are in the engine block.

RealOEM only lists a hydraulic tensioner and looks as if later cars and other M54 engines had hydraulic ones fitted.

Here's a comparison of tensioners.
There was nothing obvious wrong with the tensioner just the pulley had gone. I did try lubricating the pulley bearing which worked for a while when waiting for time to fit the tensioner.

 

[Brian4]

Here is the US list price for a genuine one.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine...ternator-belt-tensioner-assembly/11287838797/

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

Here is the US list price for a genuine one.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine...ternator-belt-tensioner-assembly/11287838797/

Ouch! Doesn't look like it includes the actual pulley wheel either.

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

Here is the US list price for a genuine one.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine...ternator-belt-tensioner-assembly/11287838797/

This is the equivalent from europarts... About £60. Looks like it's the whole kit and caboodle. INA brand

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

I replaced the main belt tensioner a few years back as the pulley was rattling away. At the time I couldn't get the pulley for the mechanical tensioner so replaced the tensioner with the hydraulic one. It isn't really hydraulic just a spring in an oil filled damper but looks totally different.

The mounting holes for it are in the engine block.

RealOEM only lists a hydraulic tensioner and looks as if later cars and other M54 engines had hydraulic ones fitted.

Here's a comparison of tensioners.
There was nothing obvious wrong with the tensioner just the pulley had gone. I did try lubricating the pulley bearing which worked for a while when waiting for time to fit the tensioner.
View attachment 62855

Brian just to check, when you fitted the Hydraulic drive belt tensioner... Did the idler pulley go back in? I mean.. this new hydraulic tensioner doesn't delete or alter anything?

 

[Brian4]

Brian just to check, when you fitted the Hydraulic drive belt tensioner... Did the idler pulley go back in? I mean.. this new hydraulic tensioner doesn't delete or alter anything?

No just fitted new tensioner. It looks totally different and I doubted it would fit but does. The kit comes with new bolts as it has 3 fixings and the spring one has 2

 

[Dickymint]

I did this upgrade and works ok, one tip is to clean out the threads for the new bolts with a tap, I also had the extra pulley conundrum and after many many hours searching I discovered that there is no difference whether you fit it or not you just need a longer bolt for the alternator