Z3: Really Need Help With My Ac Belt

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

So I was able to get my serptine belt off with no problem and was able to replace my water pump, thermostat with housing and hoses. But I am having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to take off my ac belt. I have searched this forum up and down and cannot find any pictures with diy of my tensioner on my car. BTW I have a BMW Z3 2000 2.3. I have attached three photos of what I think is the tensioner on my car. Please can someone help me with this? I am trying to finish the project before monday so my wife can have the car back!

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Adobe\Digital Camera Photos\ac\100_0372.JPG


I am having trouble posting pics. Please let me know if the above link does not work.

[Ron Stygar]

So I was able to get my serptine belt off with no problem and was able to replace my water pump, thermostat with housing and hoses. But I am having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to take off my ac belt. I have searched this forum up and down and cannot find any pictures with diy of my tensioner on my car. BTW I have a BMW Z3 2000 2.3. I have attached three photos of what I think is the tensioner on my car. Please can someone help me with this? I am trying to finish the project before monday so my wife can have the car back!

What's the last seven digits of your vin number?

[Ron Stygar]

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Adobe\Digital Camera Photos\ac\100_0372.JPG


I am having trouble posting pics. Please let me know if the above link does not work.

No pics for me.

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

LAST SEVEN LM91938

Ron,

When I look under the vehicle I can see some type of hydraulic arm but I don't see anymore bolt to losen to allow less tension on the belt?

[Ron Stygar]

LAST SEVEN LM91938

Ron,

When I look under the vehicle I can see some type of hydraulic arm but I don't see anymore bolt to losen to allow less tension on the belt?

There are two styles. Hydraulic and mechanical. Which one do you have?
See pics. My scanner is broke.

<img src="http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=146472&stc=1">

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

100% the hydraulic arm. Ron, where in the heck do you loosen the bolts to get the belt off?
>>>>Remove the dust cap. Push back belt tensioner at bolt connection of guide pulley and remove drive belt.
See the arrows in the pic.

[Vinci]

You don't loosen any bolts to release the tension. You insert a hex socket (6mm, I think) into the pulley where the arrow in Ron's photo indicates and twist. This compresses the hydraulic piston and releases the tension on the belt.

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

Hey Vinci,

You have always helped me when I needed some advice. I did have to release the tension with a 6mm hex on the serptine belt but I did not realize that it was the same pratice for the ac belt.

[Vinci]

Yep, it's the same trick with the AC belt as well. It can be a bit of a juggling act to do it solo, but that's how I did it last time.

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

Vinci,

I justed realize you live in Sarasota, Fl! God what a small world we live in. Me and my wife live in Port Charlotte, Fl. I could basically through a rock and probably hit your house. Anyway I appreciate all the help you and Ron have given me.

Next time my wife drag's me up there to shop at the mall you just might see a yellow Z3 driving a little to fast with two people just trying to caught some sun rays!

[Vinci]

I'm not sure if you frequent the Z3 forum at Bimmerforums.com, but there are around 12 of us Florida Z3 guys that are going to be meeting in Sebring on Saturday 5/24 for lunch. If you're interested, send me a PM and I will get you all the info. There will be 2 or 3 of us caravaning from the Sarasota/Bradenton area.

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

So here is the deal I was able to get the ac belt off the car I got my new serpentine belt and went to put it on the car and the belt would not sit tight on the belt drive pulleys? So I tried loosening the hydraulic tensioner to see if it was sitting back at the full tension postion when tensionser just seized up on me? I don't understand is this normal on these cars and if so how hard would it be to replace the tensioner on the car? I can see two bolts that hold the tensioner to the car is that all I have to loosen to get the tensioner off?

My last request does anyone here have a belt drive diagram on the z3 2.3 models?

[Vinci]

If the belt is loose, you probably don't have it routed correctly. When the belt is routed the way it needs to be, it's tight enough to be tricky to get on by yourself.

Serpentine Belt (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CH93&mospid=48092&btnr=11_2205&hg=11&fg=18)

AC Belt (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CH93&mospid=48092&btnr=11_1345&hg=11&fg=18)

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

What about the seized tensioner pulley? I took the hex key and the tensioner will not budge is this normal for the tensioner pulley to seize up and not be able to move it?

[Vinci]

Is it the pulley itself that is seized or the hydraulic tensioner?

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

It's the hydralic tensioner. I tried turning it clockwise to see if the hydralic tensioner was in the full tension position due to so much play and extra belt left. When I forced the tensioner clockwise it stripped my 6mm hex nut and it seized up. I am thinking of just buying a new one. Oembimmerparts has them for $44.00 and it seems like all you have to do is remove the two bolts and put on the new one.

Vinci, I swear it seems like when you plan to do just one job with your BMW a hundred others pop up along with that one.

BTW I had already checked out the belt diagram at realoem. I have googled the belt drive and cannot find any post of the belt system? I feel stupid because I thought piece of cake I will have this belt back on in no time but in reality it's hard as hell to figure out whats wrong. Please let me know if you find any pictures of our belt systems.

[Vinci]

Vinci, I swear it seems like when you plan to do just one job with your BMW a hundred others pop up along with that one.
That's why every job I do ends up being a major affair. When I order parts, I end up orders everything in that part of the car, including bolts. I'm sure Max (from OEMBimmerParts) can confirm this. :)

The RealOEM diagram is correct, though they don't explicitly show the pulleys in place. Wherever the belt curves with the ribs on the inside is where a ribbed pulley is located (water pump, crank, etc.). Where there is a curve with the ribs on the outside is where a tensioner pulley is located.

If you damaged the tensioner, I'd recommend you replace it, even if you can "make it work". It will just be more of a headache down the road when you have to service it again.

[Ron Stygar]

It's the hydralic tensioner. I tried turning it clockwise to see if the hydralic tensioner was in the full tension position due to so much play and extra belt left. When I forced the tensioner clockwise it stripped my 6mm hex nut and it seized up. I am thinking of just buying a new one. Oembimmerparts has them for $44.00 and it seems like all you have to do is remove the two bolts and put on the new one.

Vinci, I swear it seems like when you plan to do just one job with your BMW a hundred others pop up along with that one.

BTW I had already checked out the belt diagram at realoem. I have googled the belt drive and cannot find any post of the belt system? I feel stupid because I thought piece of cake I will have this belt back on in no time but in reality it's hard as hell to figure out whats wrong. Please let me know if you find any pictures of our belt systems.

If your going to do these jobs often, order a BMW TIS repair disc, ETM electrical and ETK parts.
You can get them on EBAY for $30 or so.

[kostverloren]

I took this when I changed out my belts. I labeled as secondary the belt to the A/C. I'll look for the primary belt picture (serpentine belt).

[kostverloren]

Sorry guys for the double post.

[Z3CRAZYMAN]

Gentlemen,

I finally got it! I looped the belt around the water pump then the tensioner pulley and then around the others and the belt fit snuggly. Now I still have to order the mech. tensioner to replace the seized one. I tell you what it's the little jobs that you chuckle at and say "No Big Deal" well that no big deal turned out to be a very big pain in the axx deal!

Fellas, I appreciate all the help any sorry for taking up the forum with all my stupid questions. Now me and the wife have to juggle the gas guzzling suv for a day or two until the parts come in and I can get the car back on the road.

Hey Vinci, you want to help a brother out and let me borrow your Z for a few days? Just kidding!

Peace to All

[Vinci]

Glad to hear you're on your way to getting her back on the road. No dice on the loaner, though. I have a parking spot at work that I need to keep occupied. :)