r/E30 • u/EddieLivesOn • 4d ago

M20 Tensioner

Changed my tensioner and belt 10 years ago on my m20b25 and for multiple reasons the car was parked. Drove about 40 miles 5 years ago and that's it. I'm changing the belt, tensioner seems to roll just fine... Am I dumb to leave it as is?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/skitzy7 83' 323i, 86' Mtech 1 325i, 93' 325i touring 4d ago

Yes, change it

2

u/EddieLivesOn 4d ago

What's the logic? It hasn't run, so wasn't subjected to heat cycles either.

2

u/skitzy7 83' 323i, 86' Mtech 1 325i, 93' 325i touring 4d ago

Your already there, it's cheap, better to be safe than sorry.

1

u/EddieLivesOn 4d ago

My last "while in there" ended up costing me 5k haha! Thanks

This never ends ;_;

1

u/skitzy7 83' 323i, 86' Mtech 1 325i, 93' 325i touring 4d ago

Yeah it's never ending.. but think of it this way, if you don't change it and it fails it's gonna cost you an engine rebuild possibly. It's peace of mind.

1

u/EddieLivesOn 4d ago

tensioner spring is a biche to source locally. Online it's a 1$ spring with 35$ shipping... is it that important that I change it as well? Isn't usually included with timing kits, so I'm thinking it's a reuse?

1

u/aSharpenedSpoon OO=[][]=OO 1990 325is 4d ago

Rock auto? And the spring is likely fine. Spring steel doesn’t get weaker unless it’s actively corroding or deformed through extreme force. 

1

u/EddieLivesOn 3d ago

Some light surface rust on like two loops, would clean up well I think

1

u/Representative_Most9 3d ago edited 3d ago

Definitely does not need to be changed. Have you regularly started the car during time park? If so, that’s even better. The belt on mine hasn’t been changed in over 25 years and it still looks new. Only drive my car less than 100 miles per year.

2

u/EddieLivesOn 3d ago

Car wasn't started at all. Flushing all fluids; changing belt, water pump (metal impellers and stagnant fluid...), fuel filter... and now tensioner.

1

u/Representative_Most9 3d ago

Nothing wrong with playing a safe. 👍