ECO BMW 3 SERIES 1991 E30 Owner's Manual

cover, remove the vibration damper/hub by
locking the crankshaft in position and
loosening the large centre bolt. Since the bolt
is on very tight, you’ll need to use an
extension bar and socket to break it loose. On
M30 engines, BMW recommends using a
3/4-inch drive socket and extension bar, since
the bolt is extremely tight on these engines.
To lock the crankshaft in place while the bolt
is being loosened, use BMW special tool
No. 11 2 100 (or equivalent).
9On the M10 engine, if the special tool listed
in the previous paragraph is not available, you
may try locking the crankshaft by removing
the flywheel/driveplate inspection cover and
jamming a wide-bladed screwdriver into the
ring gear teeth. On the M30 engine, since the
bolt is so extremely tight, we don’t
recommend substitute methods. Use the
correct tool. On the M10 engine, after the
centre bolt is removed, it will probably be
necessary to use a jaw-type puller to pull the
vibration damper off the crankshaft. Position
the jaws behind the inner pulley groove, and
tighten the puller centre bolt very slowly,
checking the pulley to make sure it does not
get bent or otherwise damaged by the puller.
10Unscrew the plug and remove the timing
chain tensioner spring (see illustration). The
tensioner plunger may come out with the
spring. If not, reach down into the hole where
the tensioner spring was, and remove the
plunger. To check the plunger for proper
operation, see Section 8.
Caution: The spring is under
tension, and this could cause the
plug to be ejected from its hole with
considerable force. Hold the
tensioner plug securely as it’s beingunscrewed, and release the spring tension
slowly.
11On the M30 engine, if you’re removing the
upper timing cover, unbolt the thermostat cover
and remove the thermostat (see Chapter 3).
12On the M30 engine, if you’re removing the
lower timing cover, loosen the alternator
mounting bolts, and swing the alternator to
one side. Remove the front lower mounting
bracket bolt, and loosen the other bolts. Also
unbolt the power steering pump mounting
bracket, and move it to one side.
13Remove the bolts and nuts securing the
upper timing chain cover to the engine block,
and remove the cover. Draw a simple diagram
showing the location of the bolts, so they can
be returned to the same holes from which
they’re removed. Remove the upper timing
chain cover. If it sticks to the engine block, tap
it gently with a rubber mallet, or place a piece
of wood against the cover and hit the wood
with a hammer. On the M30 engine fitted with
the L-Jetronic fuel system, remove the
distributor driveshaft.
14Remove the bolts and nuts attaching the
lower timing chain cover to the engine block.
Be sure to remove the three bolts from
underneath that connect the front of the sump
to the bottom of the front cover (see
illustration). Loosen the remaining sump bolts.
15Run a sharp, thin knife between the sump
gasket and lower timing chain cover, cutting
the cover free from the gasket. Be very careful
not to damage or dirty the gasket, so you can
re-use it.
16Break the lower timing chain cover-to-
block gasket seal by tapping the cover with a
rubber mallet, or with a hammer and block of
wood. Do not prise between the cover and the
engine block, as damage to the gasket sealing
surfaces will result.
17Using a scraper, remove all traces of old
gasket material from the sealing surfaces of
the covers and engine block.
Caution: Be very careful not to
scratch or gouge the delicate
aluminium surfaces. Also, do not
damage the sump gasket, and
keep it clean. Gasket removal solvents are
available at motor factors, and may prove
helpful. After all gasket material has beenremoved, the gasket surfaces can be
degreased by wiping them with a rag
dampened with a suitable solvent.Refitting
18Renew the front oil seals (see Section 11).
It’s not wise to take a chance on an old seal,
since renewal with the covers removed is very
easy. Be sure to apply a little oil to the front oil
seal lips.
19Apply a film of RTV-type gasket sealant to
the surface of the sump gasket that mates
with the lower timing chain cover. Apply extra
beads of RTV sealant to the edges where the
gasket meets the engine block. Note:If the
sump gasket is damaged, instead of fitting a
whole new gasket, you might try trimming the
front portion of the gasket off at the point
where it meets the engine block, then trim off
the front portion of a new sump gasket so it’s
exactly the same size. Cover the exposed
inside area of the sump with a rag, then clean
all traces of old gasket material off the area
where the gasket was removed. Attach the
new gasket piece to the sump with contact-
cement-type gasket adhesive, then apply
RTV-type sealant as described at the
beginning of this paragraph.
20Coat both sides of the new gasket with
RTV-type gasket sealant, then attach the
lower timing chain cover to the front of the
engine. Refit the bolts, and tighten them
evenly to the torque listed in this Chapter’s
Specifications. Work from bolt-to-bolt in a
criss-cross pattern to be sure they’re
tightened evenly.Note 1:Tighten the lower
cover-to-block bolts first, then tighten the
sump-to-cover bolts. If the gasket protrudes
above the cover-to-block joint, or bunches up
at the cover-to-sump joint, trim the gasket so
it fits correctly.Note 2:After applying RTV-
type sealant, reassembly must be completed
in about 10 minutes so the RTV won’t
prematurely harden.
21Refit the upper timing chain cover in the
same way as the lower cover. If the gasket
protrudes beyond the top of the cover and the
engine block, trim off the excess with a razor
blade.
22Refitting is otherwise the reverse of
removal.
In-car engine repair procedures 2A•7
7.14 From underneath the vehicle, remove
the three bolts (arrowed) that connect the
cover and the sump7.10 Unscrew the plug from the timing
chain cover, and remove the tensioner
spring and plunger7.7 Place a socket and ratchet on the
centre bolt to keep the pulley stationary,
and use another socket and ratchet to
remove the smaller bolts attaching the
pulley to the vibration damper
2A
If the pulley seems to be
sticking on the crankshaft, it
may help to spray the hub
area with some penetrating
oil, and to gently tap on the hub area
with a hammer.

8 Timing chain and
sprockets- removal,
inspection and refitting
5
Note:This procedure applies to M10 and M30
engines.
Caution: Once the engine is set
at TDC, do not rotate the
camshaft or crankshaft until the
timing chain is reinstalled. If the
crankshaft or camshaft is rotated with the
timing chain removed, the valves could hit
the pistons, causing expensive internal
engine damage.
Removal
1Position the No 1 cylinder at Top Dead
Centre (TDC) on the compression stroke (see
Section 3).
2Remove the valve cover (see Section 4).
Double-check that the No 1 cylinder is at TDC
on the compression stroke by making sure the
No 1 cylinder rocker arms are loose (not
compressing their valve springs).
3Remove the upper timing chain cover (see
Section 7). Note the location of the camshaft
timing marks, which should now be aligned.
On four-cylinder (M10) engines, there’s
usually a stamped line on the camshaft flange
that aligns with a cast mark on the top of the
cylinder head; also, the camshaft sprocket
dowel pin hole will be at its lowest point. On
six-cylinder (M30) engines, a line drawn
through two of the camshaft sprocket bolts
opposite each other would be exactly vertical,
while a line drawn through the other two bolts
would be horizontal. Additionally, the locating
pin should be in the lower left corner (between
the 7 and 8 o’clock positions). Be sure you’ve
identified the correct camshaft TDC position
before dismantling, because correct valve
timing depends on you aligning them exactly
on reassembly. Note:As the engine is
mounted in the engine compartment at anangle, all references to horizontal and vertical
whilst timing the camshafts are in relation to
the crankshaft, and not the ground.
4Hold the crankshaft stationary with a socket
and ratchet on the vibration damper centre bolt,
then loosen (but don’t unscrew completely) the
four bolts attaching the camshaft sprocket to
the camshaft. Be very careful not to rotate the
camshaft or crankshaft. Note:Some earlier
models may have locking tabs for the camshaft
sprocket bolts. Bend the tabs down before
loosening the bolts. The tabs are no longer
available from the manufacturer, and do not
have to be used on refitting.
5Remove the lower timing chain cover (see
Section 7).
6Unscrew and remove the four camshaft
sprocket bolts, then disengage the chain from
the crankshaft sprocket and carefully remove
the chain and camshaft sprocket from the
engine. It may be necessary to gently prise
the camshaft sprocket loose from the
camshaft with a screwdriver.
Inspection
Timing sprockets
7Examine the teeth on both the crankshaft
sprocket and the camshaft sprocket for wear.
Each tooth forms an inverted V. If worn, the
side of each tooth under tension will be
slightly concave in shape when compared
with the other side of the tooth (i.e. one side of
the inverted V will be concave when
compared with the other, giving the teeth a
hooked appearance). If the teeth appear to be
worn, the sprockets must be renewed. Note:
The crankshaft sprocket is a press fit on the
crankshaft, and can be removed with a jaw-
type puller after the Woodruff key and oil
pump are removed (see Section 14). However,
BMW recommends the new sprocket be
pressed onto the crankshaft after being
heated to 80°C (175°F) on the M10 engine, or
to 200°C(390°F) on the M30 engine. For this
reason, if the crankshaft sprocket requires
renewal, we recommend removing the
crankshaft (see Part B of this Chapter) and
taking it to an engineering works to have the
old sprocket pressed off and a new one
pressed on.
Timing chain
8The chain should be renewed if the
sprockets are worn or if the chain is loose
(indicated by excessive noise in operation).
It’s a good idea to renew the chain anyway if
the engine is stripped down for overhaul. The
rollers on a very badly worn chain may be
slightly grooved. To avoid future problems, if
there’s any doubt at all about the chain’s
condition, renew it.
Chain rail and tensioner
9Inspect the chain guide rail and tensioner
rail for deep grooves caused by chain contact.
Renew them if they are excessively worn. The
rails can be renewed after removing the
circlips with a pointed tool or needle-nose
pliers (see illustration).10Shake the tensioner plunger, and listen for
a rattling sound from the check ball. If you
can’t hear the ball rattling, renew the plunger.
11To further check the tensioner plunger,
blow through it first from the closed end, then
from the slotted (guide) end. No air should
flow through the plunger when you blow
through the closed end, and air should flow
through it freely when you blow through the
slotted end. If the tensioner fails either test,
renew it.
Refitting
12Refit the tensioner rail and chain guide
rail, if removed.
13Temporarily refit the lower timing chain
cover and vibration damper, so you can check
the crankshaft timing marks. Once you’ve
verified the TDC marks are aligned, remove
the damper and cover.
14Loop the timing chain over the crankshaft
sprocket, then loop it over the camshaft
sprocket and, guiding the chain between the
chain guide and tensioner rail, refit the
camshaft sprocket on the camshaft. Make
sure the camshaft timing marks are aligned.
15The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal. Be sure to tighten the fasteners to
the correct torques (see this Chapter’s Speci-
fications).
9 Timing belt covers-
removal and refitting
2
Note:This procedure applies to M20 and M40
engines.
Caution: If the radio in your
vehicle is equipped with an anti-
theft system, make sure you
have the correct activation code
before disconnecting the battery.
Note: If, after connecting the battery, the
wrong language appears on the instrument
panel display, refer to page 0-7 for the
language resetting procedure.
1Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2Remove the fan clutch and fan shroud (see
Chapter 3).
3On the M20 engine, remove the radiator
(see Chapter 3).
4Remove the fan drivebelt pulley.
2A•8 In-car engine repair procedures
9.6a Unbolt the distributor cap
(M40 engine) . . .
8.9 To remove the tensioner or chain guide
rail, remove the circlips with a pointed tool
or needle-nose pliers - the circlips tend to
fly off when they’re released, so make sure
you catch them or they’ll get lost (or,
worse, wind up in the engine!)

alignment mark on the camshaft sprocket and
rear timing cover to ensure correct refitting.
6On the M20 engine, loosen the two
tensioner roller retaining bolts a little, and
push the tensioner towards the water pump
(see illustration). With the timing belt tension
relieved, re-tighten the retaining bolt.
7On the M40 engine, loosen the tensioner
retaining nut, and use an Allen key to rotate
the tensioner clockwise. This will relieve the
tension of the timing belt. Tighten the
retaining nut to hold the tensioner in its free
position.
8If the same belt is to be refitted, mark it with
an arrow indicating direction of rotation.
Caution: It is not advisable to
refit a timing belt which has been
removed unless it is virtually
new. On the M40 engine, BMW
recommend that the timing belt is
renewed every time the tensioner roller is
released.
9Remove the timing belt by slipping it off the
roller(s) and the other sprockets (see
illustrations).
10If it’s necessary to remove the camshaft
or the intermediate shaft sprocket, remove the
sprocket bolt while holding the sprocket to
prevent it from moving. To hold the sprocket,
wrap it with a piece of an old timing belt
(toothed side engaging the sprocket teeth) ora piece of leather, then hold the sprocket
using a strap spanner. If a strap spanner is not
available, clamp the ends of the piece of belt
or leather tightly together with a pair of grips.
Before loosening the bolt, make sure you have
the necessary tool for positioning the
camshaft as described in the following
paragraph (see illustration).
Caution: Do not use the timing
belt you’re planning to refit to
hold the sprocket. Also, be sure
to hold the camshaft sprocket
very steady, because if it moves more than
a few degrees, the valves could hit the
pistons.
Note: On the M40 engine, the sprocket is not
directly located on the camshaft with a key, as
the groove in the end of the camshaft allows
the sprocket to move several degrees in either
direction. The retaining bolt locks the sprocket
onto a taper after positioning the camshaft
with a special tool.
11The BMW tool for positioning the camshaft
on the M40 engine consists of a metal plate
which locates over the square lug near the No
1 cylinder lobes on the camshaft - the valve
cover must be removed first (see
illustrations). If the BMW tool cannot be
obtained, a home-made tool should be
fabricated out of metal plate. The tool must be
made to hold the square lug on the camshaft
at right-angles to the upper face of the cylinder
head (ie the contact face of the valve cover).
12If it’s necessary to remove the crankshaft
sprocket, remove the crankshaft hub centre
bolt while holding the crankshaft steady.
Note:The removal of the crankshaft hub
mounting bolt requires a heavy-duty holding
device because of the high torque used to
tighten the bolt. BMW has a special tool,
numbered 112150 (M20 engines) or 112170
(M40 engines), for this purpose. If this tool
cannot be bought or borrowed, check with a
tool dealer or motor factors for a tool capable
of doing the job. Note that the tool number
112170 bolts on the rear of the cylinder head
and engages with the flywheel ring gear, so it
will only be possible to use this tool if the
gearbox has been removed, or if the engine is
out of the vehicle (see illustrations). On
2A•10 In-car engine repair procedures
10.12a Home-made tool for holding the
crankshaft stationary while the crankshaft
pulley bolt is being loosened (engine
removed for clarity)
10.11b The BMW camshaft-holding tool in
position on the M40 engine10.11a The BMW tool for holding the
camshaft in the TDC position on
M40 engines
10.10 Removing the camshaft sprocket on
the M40 engine
10.9b Removing the timing belt from the
camshaft sprocket on the M40 engine
10.9a When removing the timing belt on
models with a two-piece crankshaft hub,
it’s a tight fit to remove it around the hub,
but it’s a lot easier than removing the
crankshaft hub assembly, which is secured
by a very tight bolt10.6 Loosen the idler pulley bolts
(arrowed) to relieve the tension on the
timing belt so it can be removed

models with a two-piece hub, after removing
the outer hub piece, you’ll then need to
remove the sprocket with a bolt-type puller
(available at most motor factors). When using
the puller, thread the crankshaft centre bolt in
approximately three turns, and use this as a
bearing point for the puller’s centre bolt.
Inspection
13Check for a cracked, worn or damaged
belt. Renew it if any of these conditions are
found (see illustrations). Also look at the
sprockets for any signs of irregular wear or
damage, indicating the need for renewal.
Note:If any parts are to be renewed, check
with your local BMW dealer parts department
to be sure compatible parts are used. On M20
engines, later sprockets, tensioner rollers and
timing belts are marked “Z 127”. Renewal of
the timing belt on M20 engines will mean that
the later belt tensioner should also be fitted, if
not already done.
14Inspect the idler roller and, on M20
engines, the tension spring. Rotate the
tensioner roller to be sure it rotates freely, with
no noise or play. Note:When fitting a new
timing belt, it is recommended that a new
tensioner be fitted also.
Refitting
15On the M20 engine, refit the idler/
tensioner/spring so that the timing belt can be
fitted loosely.
16Refit the sprockets using a reversal of the
removal procedure; tighten the retaining bolts
to the specified torque. On the M40 engine,
turn the camshaft sprocket clockwise as far
as possible within the location groove, then
tighten the retaining bolt to an initial torque of
1 to 3 Nm at this stage.
17If you are refitting the old belt, make sure
the mark made to indicate belt direction of
rotation is pointing the right way (the belt
should rotate in a clockwise direction as you
face the front of the engine).
18Refit the timing belt, placing the belt
under the crankshaft sprocket first to get bythe housing. Guide the belt around the other
sprocket(s).
19Finally, place the belt over the
idler/tensioner rollers.
20On the M20 engine, loosen the tensioner
bolts and allow the spring tension to be
applied to the belt.
21On the M20 engine, lightly apply pressure
behind the tensioner to be sure spring
pressure is being applied to the belt (see
illustration). Don’t tighten the bolts while
applying pressure; lightly tighten the bolts
only after releasing the tensioner.
22On the M40 engine, unbolt and remove
the valve cover, then use the special tool to
hold the camshaft in the TDC position (see
paragraph 11).
23On the M40 engine, loosen the tensioner
roller retaining nut, and use an Allen key to
rotate the roller anti-clockwise until the timing
belt is tensioned correctly. The 90°-twist
method of checking the tension of the timing
belt is not accurate enough for this engine,
and it is strongly recommended that the
special BMW tensioning tool is obtained if at
all possible (apply 32 ±2 graduations on the
tool) (see illustration). A reasonably accurate
alternative can be made using an Allen key
and a spring balance (see illustration).Make
sure that the spring balance is positioned as
shown, since the tensioner roller is on an
eccentric, and different readings will be
obtained otherwise. The spring balance
should be connected 85 mm along the Allen
key, and a force of 2.0 kg (4.4 lb) should be
In-car engine repair procedures 2A•11
10.13a Inspect the timing belt carefully for
cracking, as shown here. . .
10.13b . . . and any other damage
10.12c Removing the crankshaft sprocket
from the front of the crankshaft10.12b Removing the crankshaft pulley
bolt (M40 engine)
10.23b Using a spring balance and Allen
key to adjust the tension of the timing belt
on the M40 engine
Dimension A = 85 mm
10.23a Using the special BMW tool to
check the tension of the timing belt on the
M40 engine
10.21 On the M20 engine, after the belt
has been installed correctly around all
sprockets and the tensioner pulley, lightly
apply pressure to the tensioner, to be sure
the tensioner isn’t stuck and has full
movement against the timing belt
2A

applied. Tighten the retaining nut to the
specified torque to hold the tensioner in its
correct position. Note:It is important that the
timing belt is tensioned correctly. If the belt is
over-tightened, it will howl, and there is the
possibility of it being damaged. If the belt is
too slack, it may jump on the sprockets.
24Check to make sure the camshaft and
crankshaft timing marks are still aligned(see
illustrations 10.5a and 10.5b).
25Turn the crankshaft clockwise through
two complete revolutions. (Remove the
camshaft positioning tool from the M40
engine first.)
Caution: This is necessary to
stretch the new belt. If not done,
the belt tensioner will be too
loose, and damage could result.
26On the M20 engine, loosen the tensioner
roller bolts, then tighten them to the torque
listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.
27On the M40 engine, loosen the tensioner
roller retaining nut, and re-adjust the tension
of the timing belt as described in paragraph
23. On completion, tighten the tensioner roller
retaining nut, then fully tighten the camshaft
sprocket bolt if previously loosened (see
illustration).
28Verify that the timing marks are still
perfectly aligned. If not, remove and refit the
timing belt.
29The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
11 Front oil seals- renewal
5
Note:Oil seals are fitted with their sealing lips
facing inwards (towards the engine).
M10 and M30 (timing chain)
engines
Camshaft front seal (M30 engines
only)
1Remove the upper timing chain cover only
(see Section 7).2Support the cover on two blocks of wood,
and drive out the seal from behind with a
hammer and screwdriver. Be very careful not
to damage the seal bore in the process.
3Coat the outside diameter and lip of the
new seal with multi-purpose grease, and drive
the seal into the cover with a hammer and a
socket slightly smaller in diameter than the
outside diameter of the seal.
4The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
Crankshaft front seal (M10 and
M30 engines)
5Remove the crankshaft pulley and vibration
damper (see Section 7).
6Carefully prise the old seal out of the cover
with a large screwdriver. Be very careful not to
damage the seal bore or the crankshaft with
the tool. Wrap the tip of the screwdriver with a
piece of tape to prevent damage.
7Clean the bore in the cover, and coat the
outer edge of the new seal with engine oil or
multi-purpose grease. Also lubricate the lips
of the seal with multi-purpose grease. Using a
socket with an outside diameter slightly
smaller than the outside diameter of the seal,
carefully drive the new seal into place with a
hammer (see illustration). If a socket isn’t
available, a short section of large-diameter
pipe will work. Check the seal after refitting to
be sure the spring around the inside of the
seal lip didn’t pop out of place.
8The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
M20 and M40 (timing belt)
engines
Camshaft front seal (M20 and
M40 engines)
9Remove the timing belt and camshaft
sprocket (see Section 10).
10On the M20 engine only, remove the two
screws, and separate the camshaft seal
housing from the cylinder head by pulling it as
you rotate it back and forth.
11On the M20 engine only, support the
housing on two blocks of wood, and drive the
seal out of the housing from behind using ahammer and screwdriver. Be very careful not
to damage the seal housing.
12On the M40 engine, prise the seal out
from the cylinder head using a screwdriver,
being careful not to damage the camshaft
surface or the seal bore.
13Coat the lip and outside diameter of the
new seal with multi-purpose grease.
14On the M40 engine, wrap some adhesive
tape around the end of the camshaft to
protect the new seal from the location groove
as it is being fitted (see illustration).
15Carefully locate the new seal in position,
and press it in by hand initially so that it enters
the bore. Drive the new seal into the housing
or cylinder head (as applicable) using a
hammer and a socket with a diameter slightly
smaller than the outside diameter of the seal.
On the M40 engine, remove the adhesive tape
from the end of the camshaft.
16On the M20 engine, renew the O-ring on
the back of the seal housing, and work the lip
of the seal over the end of the camshaft. Refit
the screws and tighten them securely.
17The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
Crankshaft and intermediate shaft
front seals (M20 engines)
18Remove the timing belt and crankshaft
and intermediate shaft pulleys as applicable
(see Section 10). Note:We recommend the
timing belt be renewed any time it is removed.
19Remove the bolts and nuts securing the
front cover to the engine block. Be sure to
remove the three bolts from underneath that
connect the front of the sump to the bottom of
the front cover (see illustration 7.14).
20Run a sharp, thin knife between the sump
gasket and the front cover, cutting the cover
free from the gasket. Be very careful not to
damage the gasket, and keep it clean so you
can re-use it.
21Break the front cover-to-block gasket seal
by tapping the cover with a rubber mallet or
block of wood and hammer. Do not prise
between the cover and the engine block, as
damage to the gasket sealing surfaces will
result.
2A•12 In-car engine repair procedures
11.14 Fitting a new camshaft oil seal on
the M40 engine (note the adhesive tape
around the end of the camshaft to protect
the seal)11.7 The crankshaft front oil seal is
pressed into the front of the lower timing
chain cover (cover removed from the
engine for clarity)10.27 Tightening the camshaft sprocket
retaining bolt on the M40 engine

22Using a scraper, remove all traces of old
gasket material from the sealing surfaces of
the covers and engine block.
Caution: Be very careful not to
scratch or gouge the delicate
aluminium surfaces. Also, do not
damage the sump gasket, and
keep it clean. Gasket removal solvents are
available at motor factors, and may
prove helpful. After all gasket material has
been removed, the gasket surfaces
can be degreased by wiping them
with a rag dampened with a suitable
solvent.
23Support the cover on two blocks of wood,
and drive out the seals from behind with a
hammer and screwdriver. Be very careful not
to damage the seal bores in the process.
24Coat the outside diameters and lips of the
new seals with multi-purpose grease, and
drive the seals into the cover with a hammer
and a socket slightly smaller in diameter than
the outside diameter of the seal.
25Apply a film of RTV-type gasket sealant to
the surface of the sump gasket that mates
with the front cover. Apply extra beads of RTV
sealant to the edges where the gasket meets
the engine block. Note:If the sump gasket is
damaged, instead of fitting a whole new
gasket, you might try trimming the front
portion of the gasket off at the point where it
meets the engine block, then trim off the front
portion of a new sump gasket so it’s exactly
the same size. Cover the exposed inside area
of the sump with a rag, then clean all traces of
old gasket material off the area where the
gasket was removed. Attach the new gasket
piece to the sump with contact-cement-type
gasket adhesive, then apply RTV-type sealant
as described at the beginning of this
paragraph.
26Coat both sides of the new gasket with
RTV-type gasket sealant, then attach the front
cover to the front of the engine, carefully
working the seals over the crankshaft and
intermediate shaft. Refit the bolts and tighten
them evenly to the torque listed in this
Chapter’s Specifications. Work from bolt-to-
bolt in a criss-cross pattern, to be sure they’re
tightened evenly.Note 1:Tighten the front
cover-to-block bolts first, then tighten the
sump-to-cover bolts. Note 2:After applying
RTV-type sealant, reassembly must be
completed in about 10 minutes so the RTV
won’t prematurely harden.
27The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
Crankshaft front seal (M40 engines)
28Remove the timing belt and crankshaft
sprocket (see Section 10).
29Remove the Woodruff key from the
groove in the end of the crankshaft.
30Note the fitted position of the oil seal, then
prise it out from the front cover using a
screwdriver, but take care not to damage the
bore of the cover or the surface of thecrankshaft. If the seal is tight, drill two small
holes in the metal end of the seal, and use two
self-tapping screws to pull out the seal. Make
sure all remains of swarf are removed.
31Coat the outside diameter and lip of the
new seal with multi-purpose grease, then
drive it into the cover with a hammer and a
socket slightly smaller in diameter than the
outside diameter of the seal. Make sure the
seal enters squarely.
32The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal. Note that it is recommended that the
timing belt be renewed - see Section 10.
12 Cylinder head-
removal and refitting
5
Removal
1Relieve the fuel pressure on all fuel injection
engines (see Chapter 4).
2Disconnect the negative cable from the
battery. Where the battery is located in the
engine compartment, the battery may be
removed completely (see Chapter 5).
Caution: If the radio in your
vehicle is equipped with an anti-
theft system, make sure you
have the correct activation code
before disconnecting the battery.
Note: If, after connecting the battery, the
wrong language appears on the instrument
panel display, refer to page 0-7 for the
language resetting procedure.
3Remove the air cleaner assembly (see
Chapter 4).
4Disconnect the wiring from the distributor
(mark all wiring for position first, if necessary),
and the HT lead from the coil (see Chapter 5).
5Disconnect the lead from the coolant
temperature sender unit (see Chapter 3).
6Disconnect the fuel lines from the fuel rail or
carburettor as applicable (see Chapter 4).
7Drain the cooling system (see Chapter 3).
8Clearly label then disconnect all other
hoses from the throttle body, intake manifold,
carburettor and cylinder head, as applicable.
9Disconnect the throttle cable from the
throttle linkage or carburettor (see Chapter 4).
10Disconnect the exhaust manifold from the
cylinder head (see Section 6). Depending on
the engine type, It may not be necessary to
disconnect the manifold from the exhaust
pipe; however, on right-hand-drive models,
the steering column intermediate shaft may
not allow the manifold to clear the studs on
the cylinder head.
11Remove or disconnect any remaining
hoses or lines from the intake manifold,
including the ignition advance vacuum line(s),
and the coolant and heater hoses.
12On early carburettor models, disconnect
the wiring from the alternator and starter
motor.13Remove the intake manifold (see Sec-
tion 5). Do not dismantle or remove any fuel
injection system components unless it is
absolutely necessary.
14Remove the fan drivebelt and fan (see
Chapter 3).
15Remove the valve cover and gasket (see
Section 4). Remove the semi-circular rubber
seal from the front of the cylinder head, where
this is not incorporated in the valve cover
gasket.
16Set No 1 piston at Top Dead Centre on
the compression stroke (see Section 3).
17Remove the timing chain or belt (see
Section 8 or 10). Note:If you want to save
time by not removing and refitting the timing
belt or chain and re-timing the engine, you can
unfasten the camshaft sprocket and suspend
it out of the way - with the belt or chain still
attached - by a piece of rope. Be sure the
rope keeps firm tension on the belt or chain,
so it won’t become disengaged from any of
the sprockets.
18Loosen the cylinder head bolts a quarter-
turn at a time each, in the reverse of the
tightening sequence shown (see illustrations
12.30a, 12.30b, 12.30c or 12.30d). Do
notdismantle or remove the rocker arm
assembly at this time on M10, M20 and M30
engines.
19Remove the cylinder head by lifting it
straight up and off the engine block. Do not
prise between the cylinder head and the
engine block, as damage to the gasket sealing
surfaces may result. Instead, use a blunt bar
positioned in an intake port to gently prise the
head loose.
20Remove any remaining external
components from the head to allow for
thorough cleaning and inspection. See
Chapter 2B for cylinder head servicing
procedures. On the M40 engine, remove the
rubber O-ring from the groove in the top of the
oil pump/front end cover housing.
Refitting
21The mating surfaces of the cylinder head
and block must be perfectly clean when the
head is refitted.
22Use a gasket scraper to remove all traces
of carbon and old gasket material, then clean
the mating surfaces with a suitable solvent. If
there’s oil on the mating surfaces when the
head is refitted, the gasket may not seal
correctly, and leaks could develop. When
working on the block, stuff the cylinders with
clean rags to keep out debris. Use a vacuum
cleaner to remove material that falls into the
cylinders.
23Check the block and head mating
surfaces for nicks, deep scratches and other
damage. If the damage is slight, it can be
removed with a file; if it’s excessive,
machining may be the only alternative.
24Use a tap of the correct size to chase the
threads in the head bolt holes, then clean the
holes with compressed air - make sure that
In-car engine repair procedures 2A•13
2A

nothing (including oil, water, etc) remains in
the holes (see illustration).
25BMW recommend head bolts are renewed,
but if the old ones are re-used, mount each bolt
in a vice, and run a die down the threads to
remove corrosion and restore the threads. Dirt,
corrosion, sealant and damaged threads will
affect torque readings (see illustration). If the
bolts or their threads are damaged, do not re-
use the bolts - fit a new set.
26Refit any components removed from the
head prior to cleaning and inspection. On the
M40 engine, locate a new rubber O-ring in the
groove in the top of the oil pump/front end
cover housing (see illustration).
27Make sure the gasket sealing surfaces ofthe engine block and cylinder head are clean
and oil-free. Lay the head gasket in place on
the block, with the manufacturer’s stamped
mark facing up (it usually says “UP,” “OBEN”
or something similar). Use the dowel pins in the
top of the block to properly locate the gasket.
28Carefully set the cylinder head in place
on the block. Use the dowel pins to properly
align it. Where the engine is tilted slightly (ie
M40 engine) you may find it helpful to fit
guide studs to ensure correct positioning of
the cylinder head on the block. Use two old
head bolts, one screwed into each end of
the block. Cut the heads off the bolts, and
use a hacksaw to cut slots in the tops
of the bolts so they can be removed oncethe cylinder head is in position (see
illustration).
29Fit the cylinder head bolts (see
illustration).
30Tighten the cylinder head bolts, in the
sequence shown, to the torque listed in this
Chapter’s Specifications (see illustrations).
Note that on some engines the final stage of
tightening takes place after the engine has
been run.
31The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal. Set the valve clearances on M10,
M20 and M30 engines (see Chapter 1) before
refitting the valve cover (check them again
after the engine is warmed-up). Run the
engine and check for leaks.
2A•14 In-car engine repair procedures
12.30d Cylinder head bolt TIGHTENING
sequence for M40 (four-cylinder) engines12.30c Cylinder head bolt TIGHTENING
sequence for M30 (six-cylinder) engines12.30b Cylinder head bolt TIGHTENING
sequence for M20 (six-cylinder) engines
12.30a Cylinder head bolt TIGHTENING
sequence for M10 (four-cylinder) engines12.29 Inserting a cylinder head bolt
(M40 engine)12.28 Lowering the cylinder head onto the
block (M40 engine)
12.26 Fitting a new rubber O-ring in the
groove in the top of the oil pump/front end
cover on the M40 engine12.25 A die should be used to remove
sealant and corrosion from the head bolt
threads prior to installation12.24 The cylinder head bolt holes should
be cleaned and restored with a tap (be
sure to remove debris from the holes after
this is done)

Inspection
Note:Considering that a malfunctioning oil
pump can easily cause major engine damage,
we recommend that the oil pump should
always be renewed during engine overhaul,
unless it’s in as-new condition.
M10, M20 and M30 engines
16Remove the cover and check the pump
body, gears or rotors and cover for cracks
and wear (especially in the gear or rotor
contact areas).
17Check the strainer to make sure it is not
clogged or damaged.
18Lubricate the gears with clean engine oil,
then attach the pump cover to the body and
tighten the bolts evenly and securely.19Before refitting the pump - new, rebuilt or
original - on the engine, check it for proper
operation. Fill a clean container to a depth of
one inch with fresh engine oil of the
recommended viscosity.
20Immerse the oil pump inlet in the oil, and
turn the driveshaft anti-clockwise by hand. As
the shaft is turned, oil should be discharged
from the pump outlet.M40 engines
21With the front end cover on the bench,
unscrew the bolts and remove the cover plate
to expose the oil pump rotors (see
illustrations).
22Identify the rotors for position, then
remove them from the housing (see
illustrations).23Clean the housing and the rotors
thoroughly, then refit the rotors, making sure
that they are in their previously-noted
positions. The inner rotor must be fitted with
the guide facing the body.
24Using feeler blades, measure the
clearance between the oil pump body and the
outer rotor, then check the clearance
between the outer and inner rotors (see
illustrations).
25If the clearance is not as given in the
Specifications, the complete oil pump and
front end cover should be renewed. If the
clearance is within tolerance, remove the
rotors, then pour a little engine oil into the
housing. Refit the rotors and turn them to
spread the oil around.
In-car engine repair procedures 2A•17
14.14a Front end cover and oil pump in
position on the front of the M40 engine14.13 Removing the spacer ring from the
front of the crankshaft14.12 Removing the key from the groove
in the nose of the crankshaft (M40 engine)
14.24a Measuring the clearance between
the oil pump body and the outer rotor
(M40 engine)14.22b . . . and outer rotor from the oil
pump (M40 engine)14.22a Removing the inner rotor . . .
14.21b . . . and remove the oil pump cover
(M40 engine)14.21a Unscrew the bolts . . .14.14b Extract the rubber O-ring from the
groove in the nose of the crankshaft
(M40 engine)
2A

the crankshaft flange (see illustration). Be
careful - the flywheel is heavy.
5To refit the flywheel/driveplate on the
crankshaft, use a liquid thread-locking
compound on the bolts, and tighten them
gradually, using a criss-cross pattern, to the
torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.
6The remainder of refitting is the reverse of
removal.
16 Crankshaft rear oil seal-
renewal
3
1Remove the flywheel or driveplate (see
Section 15).
2Remove the bolts and/or nuts attaching the
seal retainer to the engine block. Be sure to
remove the two bolts (from underneath)
connecting the rear of the sump to the bottom
of the seal retainer (see illustration).
3Run a sharp, thin knife between the sump
gasket and the seal retainer, cutting the
retainer free from the gasket. Be very careful
not to damage the gasket, and keep it clean
so you can re-use it.
4Break the seal retainer-to-block gasket seal
by tapping the retainer with a plastic mallet or
block of wood and hammer. Do not prise
between the retainer and the engine block, as
damage to the gasket sealing surfaces will
result.
5Using a scraper, remove all traces of old
gasket material from the sealing surfaces of
the retainer and engine block. Gasket removal
solvents are available at car accessory shops,
and may prove helpful. After all gasket
material has been removed, the gasket
surfaces can be degreased by wiping them
with a rag dampened with a suitable solvent.
Caution: Be very careful not to
scratch or gouge the delicate
aluminium surfaces. Also, do not
damage the sump gasket, and
keep it clean.
6Support the retainer on two blocks of
wood, and drive out the seal from behind with
a hammer and screwdriver (see illustration).Be very careful not to damage the seal bore in
the process.
7Coat the outside diameter and lip of the
new seal with multi-purpose grease, and drive
the seal into the retainer with a hammer and a
block of wood (see illustration).
8Apply a film of RTV-type gasket sealant to
the surface of the sump gasket that mates with
the seal retainer. Apply extra beads of RTV
sealant to the edges where the gasket meets
the engine block. Note:If the sump gasket is
damaged, instead of fitting a whole new
gasket, you might try trimming the rear portion
of the gasket off at the point where it meets the
engine block, then trim off the rear portion of a
new sump gasket so it’s exactly the same size.
Cover the exposed inside area of the sump
with a rag, then clean all traces of old gasket
material off the area where the gasket was
removed. Attach the new gasket piece to the
sump with contact-cement-type gasket
adhesive, then apply RTV-type sealant as
described at the beginning of this paragraph.
9Coat both sides of the new retainer gasket
with RTV-type gasket sealant, then attach the
gasket to the seal retainer. Fit the seal retainer
to the rear of the engine, then refit the bolts
and tighten them evenly to the torque listed in
this Chapter’s Specifications. Work from bolt-
to-bolt in a criss-cross pattern to be sure
they’re tightened evenly.Note 1:Tighten the
retainer-to-block bolts first, then tighten the
sump-to-retainer bolts.Note 2:After applying
RTV-type sealant, reassembly must becompleted in about 10 minutes so the RTV
won’t prematurely harden.
10Refit the flywheel/driveplate (see Sec-
tion 15).
11Refit the transmission (on vehicles with
manual transmission, see Chapter 7A; on
vehicles with automatic transmission, see
Chapter 7B).
17 Engine mountings-
check and renewal
1
1Engine mountings seldom require attention,
but broken or deteriorated mountings should
be renewed immediately, or the added strain
placed on the driveline components may
cause damage or wear.
Check
2During the check, the engine must be
raised slightly to remove its weight from the
mounts.
3Raise the vehicle and support it securely on
axle stands, then position a jack under the
engine sump. Place a large block of wood
between the jack head and the sump, then
carefully raise the engine just enough to take
its weight off the mounts.
Warning: DO NOT place any part
of your body under the engine
when it’s supported only by a
jack!
In-car engine repair procedures 2A•19
16.6 After removing the retainer from the
block, support it on two wood blocks, and
drive out the old seal with a punch and
hammer16.2 Remove the six bolts from the rear of
the block and the two from underneath at
the sump15.4 Using a socket and ratchet, remove
the eight bolts that hold the flywheel/
driveplate to the crankshaft flange - prevent
the flywheel/driveplate from turning by
locking the ring gear with a lever
17.4 As engine mountings wear or age,
they should be inspected for cracking or
separation from their metal plates
16.7 Drive the new seal into the retainer
with a block of wood, or a section of pipe,
if you have one large enough - make sure
the seal enters the retainer bore squarely
2A

Pistons and piston rings
Piston diameter (standard)
M10 engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88.97 mm
M20 engines
B20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79.98 mm
B25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.98 mm
M30 engines
B30M
Alcan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88.970 mm
KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88.980 mm
B35M
Alcan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.972 mm
Mahle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.980 mm
M40 engines
Factory stage 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.985 mm
Factory stage 00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.065 mm
Piston-to-cylinder wall clearance
New
M10 and M30 engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.05 mm
M20 and M40 engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01 to 0.04 mm
Service limit
Except B25 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.15 mm
B25 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.12 mm
Piston ring end gap
M10 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.30 to 0.70 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 0.40 mm
Oil ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.25 to 0.50 mm
M20 engine
All rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 0.50 mm
M30 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 0.45 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.40 to 0.65 mm
Oil ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.30 to 0.60 mm
M40 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 1.00 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 1.00 mm
Oil ring
B16 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20 to 1.00 mm
B18 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.40 to 1.40 mm
Piston ring side clearance
M10 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.06 to 0.09 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.03 to 0.072 mm
Oil ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.06 mm
M20 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.04 to 0.08 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.03 to 0.07 mm
Oil ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.05 mm
M30 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.04 to 0.072 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.03 to 0.062 mm
Oil ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.055 mm
M40 engine
Top compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.20 mm
Second compression ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.10 mm
Oil ring
B16 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02 to 0.10 mm
B18 engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not measured
Torque wrench settingsNm
Main bearing cap-to-engine block bolts*
M10, M20 and M30 engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
M40 engines
Stage 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Stage 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angle-tighten an additional 50°
General engine overhaul procedures 2B•3
2B