timing belt in 3 and 5 series?

i thought with the newer engines BMW did away with the timing belt. what is BMW Canada trying to pull on consumers with quoting timing belt replacement costs on their website.

$267.50 for 3 and Z3 series 1984 to current
$257.50 for 5 series 1985 to current

BMW.ca

Perhaps it should have read "timing chain"? I would guess that the cost would be higher to replace that though.

--SONET

i didn't think the timing chain would require any changing/replacement due to wear. it would have to be after many hundred of thousand kilometers i'm guessing even if it did. most timing belts last 80-100k kms. with a chain even if the metal were to wear and fatigue it would have to be in excess of 200k kms using WAG method.

Originally posted by SONET
Perhaps it should have read "timing chain"? I would guess that the cost would be higher to replace that though.

--SONET

Typically in road cars timing chains are rated for life. i.e. 200k+ miles. Often, there are guides or tensioners that can go bad (I think the S14 has a particular problem with this).

The only BMW engine I know of that ran belts was the M20.