[ovd]

Hello. 2007 BMW 335i. Removed oil pan to replace the gasket (as part of a bigger project including replacing turbos). Found these in my oil pan. The small debris where actually inside the oil pickup tube (thankfully filtered by the metal filter mesh inside).
The larger parts "seem important" The timing chain part (I think that's it) even has part number on it: 11417523891. The chain guide pieces in size are about 1x1 cm.
What could be the larger rubber pieces. What kind of a gasket was chowed up?

(The small chunks on the larger picture at the bottom are parts from disintegrating oil pan gasket.)

The car, btw, was running fine, no codes, no misfires or anything. Just leaking oil pan gasket. The car is a 2007, so these components might have been already replaced/fixed by previous owners. Should I have see issues if these were were unrepaired "important parts"?

Should I be concerned?





Thanks in advance

[Efthreeoh]

Yes.

The engine sucked in the serpentine belt through the front crankshaft seal. The metal part is called, "Securing f engine sprocket". It located way up in the cam box. The cam chain guide in your engine is all kinds of busted up.

[cbrider73]

Previous owner lost he belt and only replaced the seal. This is why it is so important to pull the pan and valve cover after shredding the belt.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by cbrider73

Previous owner lost he belt and only replaced the seal. This is why it is so important to pull the pan and valve cover after shredding the belt.

Or replace the seal and dump the car so it is someone else's problem.

[ovd]

Well, this is a project car, so I kinda expected surprises.

There're no metal shavings and there're no metal parts in the oil pan.

The parts found (apart from belt remnants):



I figured the plastic pieces are these:


I guess my question is, if "Securing f engine sprocket" was not replaced, would the engine even run?? Again, the engine actually ran pretty good.

If the timing chain "ears" pieces were broken off and not replaced, wouldn't the chain come off by now with catastrophic results?

[ovd]

Also, this is the pump seal cap. Is "A04.02.11" the manufacture date? If so, I have to assume someone was in there since the car is 2007.

[ovd]

Guys, question. If I remove the pump cap like on the picture below, the oil pump chain tray assembly is visible. Will I be able to see through this opening if the oil pump sprocket f retainer is installed? Anyone know? I am hoping that the window is large enough to get a light there and see if the sprocket is replaced. Just contemplating ideas before I start investing in crank hub removal and all that headache. Thanks!

[ovd]

Answer: no, you cannot see. But I stuck a remote camera in there and clearly saw that the sprocket is not there... Damn. Everything else is intact.

Next question (I know I've been an annoying fly at this point), if I drop the oil pan, again, will I be able to reach from underneath and stick the "securing f engine sprocket" (I now know what "f" stands for...) into place while the oil pump drive assembly is installed? Eyeballing from where it should be where the block end is there seem to be enough room from below. But my question is, while everything is assembled, will the sprocket click in? Will anything be in the way?
Thanks!