XSeries-forum

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363772624896 ... media=COPY

That’s the E torx socket set you’ll need to turn the crank pulley, pretty sure it’s an E14
But just check before ordering, you’ll either have 4 of these or one 26mm bolt in the centre, you’ll be able to check by reaching down and feeling with your hand as you’re probably not going to see it from above.

AVI-8 wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 12:11 pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363772624896 ... media=COPY

That’s the E torx socket set you’ll need to turn the crank pulley, pretty sure it’s an E14
But just check before ordering, you’ll either have 4 of these or one 26mm bolt in the centre, you’ll be able to check by reaching down and feeling with your hand as you’re probably not going to see it from above.

Much appreciated. Both belts now ordered from bmw. I'll try to take the fan off tomorrow once I get the fan spanner. If the fan does not come off then it will have to go to the mechanic.

I’ve just checked, It’s an E12 for the crank bolts
And yes it’s a 32 for the water pump, if you don’t have an adjustable spanner that goes up to 32mm this is about the cheapest I could find

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252502895043 ... media=COPY

32mm spanner......go to a caravan/camping shop...gas bottle spanners are 31.8mm, so you just need to file/grind it out a bit....I have one from years ago and works fine and not a lot of money.....

AVI-8 wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 4:28 pm I’ve just checked, It’s an E12 for the crank bolts
And yes it’s a 32 for the water pump, if you don’t have an adjustable spanner that goes up to 32mm this is about the cheapest I could find

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252502895043 ... media=COPY

I got back home late last night. Fan tool from amazon and 32mm Spanner from Halfords. The fan nut came straight off thought any effort. I still have to wait till Tuesday for both belts from bmw

Is yours a 3.0D? because your picture looks same as mine.

I am slightly lost on the E torx you mentioned because the pulley adjuster has a nut on it like in your picture hence not required?

Things just used to be simpler. Back in the 70’s when the belt on my 850 mini broke I used the girlfriend’s tights to get us home. She wasn’t amused. You could say she overheated but at least the car didn’t.

Looking at the routing, when Ford introduced the FWD Escort the 16V CVH engine cambelt went through two sequential 180° bends and Surrey Police had to start changing them every 3,000 miles! A significant number of cars with that engine suffered catastrophic engine failure (including the one I was driving with less than 6k on it from new). The drive belt on these cars seems to go through worse contortions but they last for years.

That idler pulley is on a sprung arm just put a spanner or socket on it and it will rotate round to get the tension of the new belt , think mine was the same on my e70 when I changed the water pump

The socket that goes on the sprung arm is a 24mm. The big belt is now on hurray!

I tried to get the smaller belt that goes on the AC compressor of with no joy. There has to be a trick to stretching it over the two pulleys.

These is a tool for the job without it will be a real struggle if you were changing it as I said cut it off is fastest way.. I used a piece of thick card to refit.

I have cut the old belt off. What do you mean by thick card?

Will this item this item help at all ?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lisle-59370-St ... p_s_a_1_1?

That's the one though they should be cheaper than that ,ones on ebay 12 quid . if you have a piece of old belt put it on the grooves too allow the new belt to run over it till its on the pulley problem on these is there is no crank pulley bolt to turn by hand just 4 little bolts but using one of them may be enough to rotate engine The one I did on out focus was easier due to having a crank bolt to spanner after I snipped old belt to get it out the way , I didn't need to take x5 one off just slipped main belt of as I was only changing water pump

to be fair for 12 quid just buy the tool and you will always have it

I’ll order that from ebay. I’m almost certain i saw a plastic version of it which means it could be 3d printed, same as a tool to turn the AC pulley.

I have a 3d printer but crap at design. Maybe there is a money maker idea here

There are plastic ones for 6 quid on the bay cheap as chips now

Well I give up. I can’t install the smaller ac drive belt. Only this belt will stretch if its being pulled by the terminator!

I’ll take it into the mechanics.
For now can I just keep driving the car without the AC belt or really needs to be on?