Last thing to do so went and bought a new belt from BM yesterday then read up on the various forums, the favourite option seemed to be cutting the old belt and winding the new one on and while this Im sure would be a great get you home solution I thought I would try and do it the proper way and having done said task have to say that while I probably wouldnt want to try this at the side of the road, and I dont often travel with a torque wrench, it really is a fairly simple task, Ok so you have to take the bloody panels off, but ive now got that down to about 5 mins max, and the manual says you might have to move the tank, nope, I didnt, my 3/8 torque wrench with 6mm allen key fitted in just nicely below.
The alternator belt on my 99 s is also due for a change and whilst on the phone to Motorworks to order one they also agreed that simply cutting off the old one and levering on the new appears to be the best way. They were saying that they have only heard of a couple of instances where these things have failed and both were after BMW authorised services where the mechanic had adjusted the thing too tight. This belt will probably go on for miles and only need changing when the sides are starting to fray slightly.
scotty wrote:The alternator belt on my 99 s is also due for a change and whilst on the phone to Motorworks to order one they also agreed that simply cutting off the old one and levering on the new appears to be the best way. They were saying that they have only heard of a couple of instances where these things have failed and both were after BMW authorised services where the mechanic had adjusted the thing too tight. This belt will probably go on for miles and only need changing when the sides are starting to fray slightly.
Im sure the cutting technique will be fine scotty, Im just a perfectionist(or is it a worrier)and wanted to do the belt up to the correct torque
The guy I spoke to at Motorworks told me that when the belt needed changing it would be obvious from the slipping/screeching, and not to bother until then...
2011 Harley-Davidson FLD Switchback - yeah, I know. I've always wanted one though...
My drive belt broke without prior warning whilst on the motorway. Didn't realise until I left at my chosen junction, by which time the only thing keeping the engine running was the high revs.
I braked for the red light at the bottom of the slip road. The engine died and the servo had nothing to power it. Sh*t - no brakes.
The belt was just inside its 36k serice limit. I now give it a quick visual at intermediate service intervals.
