I think I broke my timing belt

I was at a stoplight and the beast just stopped idling. Doesn't crank. I can hear something spinning under the hood, but the engine isn't actually turning. Does anyone have any experience with this? Of course, this had to happen like 25 miles from where I live, it's sitting in a Rite Aid parking lot right now just waiting to get towed. I'm in the Navy and I live on base, so I can't get it towed back to my place...they won't let a vehicle on base that doesn't run. I am just about sh*t out of luck. I have nowhere to work on it except the parking lot that it's in, and I don't think I can pull off a job as big as a timing belt replacement there, not to mention the bent valves and all that noise. I might get $200 for her as she sits

Originally Posted by legionnaire1857

I was at a stoplight and the beast just stopped idling. Doesn't crank. I can hear something spinning under the hood, but the engine isn't actually turning. Does anyone have any experience with this? Of course, this had to happen like 25 miles from where I live, it's sitting in a Rite Aid parking lot right now just waiting to get towed. I'm in the Navy and I live on base, so I can't get it towed back to my place...they won't let a vehicle on base that doesn't run. I am just about sh*t out of luck. I have nowhere to work on it except the parking lot that it's in, and I don't think I can pull off a job as big as a timing belt replacement there, not to mention the bent valves and all that noise. I might get $200 for her as she sits

is this an E30 or the car you mentioned in your alias thing next to mien auto? t/belt can be done in 4 hours if they will let you do it.

It's my 1988 325is. I also have a 1987 535is (no brakes!)

Originally Posted by legionnaire1857

It's my 1988 325is. I also have a 1987 535is (no brakes!)

judging by your post count i thought it probably was. t/belt is pretty easy to do. there is a good write up here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ bmw/techarticles/101-Projects-20-E30-Timing-Belt/101-Projects-20-E30-Timing-Belt.htm

you could do that in about 4 hours if you put your mind to it. that article doesnt mention it but take the bonnet off the car. is a 5 minute job to take it off and put it back on and makes in 10 time easier

Do you think that's what it is?

i broke a timing belt at a stop and the symptoms were exactly as you described. I had damage to the valves, and if you have the same just changing the belt will not fix it. Do they not have auto hobby shops in the navy? If you do you should be able to keep it there while you fix it.

If not, maybe you can keep it at a friend who lives off base. Sucks dude I hope you can work something out.

Yeah, they have an auto hobby shop on base. I probably should just take it there, that's the only way they would let me tow it on base. I'm sure I can fix it by myself, there's nothing that I've tried to do to a car that I haven't gotten done. Did you have to get a new head for the motor, or did you just buy replacement valves?

Originally Posted by legionnaire1857

Yeah, they have an auto hobby shop on base. I probably should just take it there, that's the only way they would let me tow it on base. I'm sure I can fix it by myself, there's nothing that I've tried to do to a car that I haven't gotten done. Did you have to get a new head for the motor, or did you just buy replacement valves?

just valves. but for the same price, you can probably get a head from a junkyard. but either way, get the head resurfaced, checked for cracked, and reseat the valves. of course doing all this, buying a head gasket kit is in dyer need