Check your tensioners

delvec03 · 08-19-2018, 03:08 PM

Just did my tensioner. Like others have said, its a 30 min job. Take the airbox off, unbolt, etc. swap. boom, done.

I have been looking into the idler pully (228i) and can't seem to find much literature out there on replacements. Anyone do this themselves? Is the idler pulley something other than the roundy roundy thing on the tensioner?

thanks all,
CDV
(ironic initials, yah?)

itsbeenfunmike · 09-03-2018, 01:02 PM

Hey guys first post here. Just picked up a new to me 2016 m235i. Looked at my tensioner and saw this.

Is that “normal” ? Going in for an alignment at the dealer so I might just ask them next week.

Thanks!

Pray for Mojo · 09-03-2018, 05:57 PM

No it's not normal, but they might try to convince you it is. I've replaced mine and it went from what you see to dead steady.

XutvJet · 09-03-2018, 08:39 PM

Normal. It's a spring loaded device. Of course it will bounce/move a bit. The news ones will loosen up a bit over time and do the same thing.

Funwithdesign · 09-03-2018, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delvec03

Just did my tensioner. Like others have said, its a 30 min job. Take the airbox off, unbolt, etc. swap. boom, done.

I have been looking into the idler pully (228i) and can't seem to find much literature out there on replacements. Anyone do this themselves? Is the idler pulley something other than the roundy roundy thing on the tensioner?

thanks all,
CDV
(ironic initials, yah?)

The ‘roundy roundy thing’ is the tensioner pulley, the idler pulley is the one to the right of the tensioner in the video posted above. That’s on an N55 though, not sure if the N20 has one.

Luftwaffe1O1 · 09-11-2018, 06:32 PM

same thing happened to me. Was driving home and suddenly saw a warning pop up that charging system malfunction. The belt was disintegrated.

celsdogg · 09-25-2018, 07:46 AM

I brought mine into the dealer for this issue and they said it was normal.

Pray for Mojo · 09-25-2018, 10:51 AM

6 weeks and 3,000km later mines still steady with no deflection.

bryan_G01 · 09-25-2018, 11:24 AM

its a bmw, get used to that sound...

PaddyWack · 10-15-2018, 01:11 AM

Had a similar thing happen as OP. 2015 M235i with about 25k miles on the clock decided to drop the belt and self-destruct the pulley. Replaced under warranty but it's not fun being stranded 1.5 hours from home for such a simple issue in a nearly new car.

08-19-2018, 03:08 PM	#23
delvec03 First Lieutenant 90 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 228i Sport/ DSB Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: United States, DC iTrader: (0)	Just did my tensioner. Like others have said, its a 30 min job. Take the airbox off, unbolt, etc. swap. boom, done. I have been looking into the idler pully (228i) and can't seem to find much literature out there on replacements. Anyone do this themselves? Is the idler pulley something other than the roundy roundy thing on the tensioner? thanks all, CDV (ironic initials, yah?)
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09-03-2018, 01:02 PM	#24
itsbeenfunmike New Member 6 Rep 26 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: SOCal iTrader: (0)	Hey guys first post here. Just picked up a new to me 2016 m235i. Looked at my tensioner and saw this. Is that “normal” ? Going in for an alignment at the dealer so I might just ask them next week. Thanks!
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09-03-2018, 05:57 PM	#25
Pray for Mojo Major 430 Rep 1,115 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i & 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	No it's not normal, but they might try to convince you it is. I've replaced mine and it went from what you see to dead steady.
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09-03-2018, 08:39 PM	#26
XutvJet Major General 5551 Rep 5,369 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	Normal. It's a spring loaded device. Of course it will bounce/move a bit. The news ones will loosen up a bit over time and do the same thing.
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09-11-2018, 06:32 PM	#28
Luftwaffe1O1 Lieutenant 230 Rep 555 Posts Drives: M235i, 2000 Z3 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	same thing happened to me. Was driving home and suddenly saw a warning pop up that charging system malfunction. The belt was disintegrated. __________________
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09-25-2018, 07:46 AM	#29
celsdogg E4 Mafia 323 Rep 412 Posts Drives: E30, E36/5, E46, F22, F30 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 1990 BMW 325i [0.00] 1998 BMW 318ti [0.00] 2003 BMW 325i [0.00] 2015 BMW 335i [0.00] 2015 BMW M235i [0.00]	I brought mine into the dealer for this issue and they said it was normal. __________________ Squad - '90 E30 325i MT (225k) \| '98 E36/5 318ti MT (153k) \| '03 E46 325i MT (152k)\| '15 F22 M235i MT (60k) \| '15 F30 335i MT (80k) KIA - '91 E30 325i AT (146k) \| '02 E46 325i MT (212k) Bring back the purple M stripe
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09-25-2018, 10:51 AM	#30
Pray for Mojo Major 430 Rep 1,115 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i & 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	6 weeks and 3,000km later mines still steady with no deflection.
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09-25-2018, 11:24 AM	#31
bryan_G01 Lieutenant Colonel 1165 Rep 1,931 Posts Drives: like i stole it... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	its a bmw, get used to that sound... __________________ www.nybmwcca.org Current Cars: 1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White 1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic 2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
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10-15-2018, 01:11 AM	#32
PaddyWack Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Had a similar thing happen as OP. 2015 M235i with about 25k miles on the clock decided to drop the belt and self-destruct the pulley. Replaced under warranty but it's not fun being stranded 1.5 hours from home for such a simple issue in a nearly new car.
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