Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

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wattsmonkey
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Post by wattsmonkey »

well, the unobtanium main slider rail was not an issue for me because (and you'll be amazed to hear this) there was loads more rust to sort out than I originally thought, which took much, much longer than I allowed for! I've actually been sitting on a stash of bits for a couple of years, although the top rail was the duplex one. I used a grindstone on this, just about the right shape to clear the cover in a sort-of neat style!

The odometer says under 100k, but there is NO history with my car at all. Having said that, it has clearly been well looked after, with lots and lots of money spent on new bits at some point and much evidence of regular oil and coolant changes.

I spent a very happy day putting various bits back on today, finishing with manifold studs upon which I'm going to mount...my new Fritz manifold!!!!

Engine and box now going back in Tuesday, hoping to borrow a torque wrench to hit the 325 ft/lb setting for the hub nut.

Cheers,

Rob
"Most of it necessary; all of it enjoyable." LJKS
'84 635CSi, dogleg...itbs and supercharger????? Eaton Mess
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Skank
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Post by Skank »

HI guys,

MY local dealer says guide rail 11 31 1 307 442 is available. $300 bloody US Dollars in South Africa though!

:evil:
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Da_Hose
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Post by Da_Hose »

That's the going rate, mate. I recall I paid $280 for the lower and $230 for the upper.

Jose
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milroy
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by milroy »

Just been to Bmw dealer in Solihull for a timing chain kit and the lower slide rail is still NLA ](*,)

Did anyone find out how the hell we are supposed to service this component? Anyone heard of reproduction parts?
brickwhite
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by brickwhite »

I was told others use the latter dual row chain guide for the M88
- 12 535i
- 92 325ic
milroy
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by milroy »

Thanks brickwhite, i've just ordered one! Cheers for the advice.
wattsmonkey
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by wattsmonkey »

That's really interesting Milroy,

Could you post some pics and measurements when it arrives? I've got my old rails for comparison.

Cheers,

Rob
"Most of it necessary; all of it enjoyable." LJKS
'84 635CSi, dogleg...itbs and supercharger????? Eaton Mess
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M6smitten
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by M6smitten »

brickwhite wrote:I was told others use the latter dual row chain guide for the M88
Read page 2 of this thread
2011 1 Series M
1974 2002 Turbo
1987 M6 (2/87) - Sold
1984 M635CSi (10/84) - Sold
2012 335 xi
2009 328 xi

Image
GaAlpinaowner

Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by GaAlpinaowner »

Well the damn part is now available...in fact all the chain guides and the tensioner are avail from Germany
Pod
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by Pod »

GaAlpinaowner wrote:Well the damn part is now available...in fact all the chain guides and the tensioner are avail from Germany
Great news! Thanks for the heads-up :D
greencsi
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by greencsi »

GaAlpinaowner wrote:Well the damn part is now available...in fact all the chain guides and the tensioner are avail from Germany
Did you mean all these parts?

M88/3 single chain top slide rail (11311306603)
M88/3 single chain slide rail (11311306580)
M88/3 single chain upper tensioner (11311317335)
M88/3 single chain lower tensioner (11311307442)

Thanks.
brickwhite
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by brickwhite »

Anyone replace their guides recently ? I did... see next post...
Last edited by brickwhite on Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- 12 535i
- 92 325ic
brickwhite
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by brickwhite »

Using the twin chain tensioner....

Since the original single chain tensioner is NLA. PN - 11311307442


I was told by most to use the twin chain tensioner. PN - 11311309945

However when you go to install the twin chain tensioner there are a couple issues.....

It is wider at the pin and you need to use the wider pin to fit on the E clip or you will need to modify the $275 tensioner to allow the single row pin to fit.

Let me try to explain.

Here we have the 2 chain tensioners. New on top old single chain on bottom.
Image

Here are the 2 different pins which moves the new tensioner over and does not align with the Oil pressure tensioner.

Image

Image

New single row pin with dual row tensioner. E clip will not fit on pin now. \

Image

Image

The old tensioner had a relief cut where the pin goes unlike the new tensioner.

as you can see here.

Image

Guess I need a decent machinist to fix the new tensioner. Don't really want to do that on the grinder.

What have others Done? No one has ran into this issue?
- 12 535i
- 92 325ic
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BA in CT
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by BA in CT »

How did you resolve this issue with the Duplex Chain tensioner ? Curious minds would love to know.....
84 M635
84 euro 635
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brickwhite
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Re: Whats up with no Euro Chain Tensioners?

Post by brickwhite »

I had it machined to fit.

Top original, bottom newly machined guide. Now I can fit the clip.
Image

Image

Image

pn-11311309945 does not fit the M88/3 engine in m635csi without machining. BMW is wrong to say this fits.

More details on my build..

http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=23373
- 12 535i
- 92 325ic
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