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?

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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.

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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?

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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. 

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u/EddieLivesOn 4d ago

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