HELP!!! My belt broke & now the car won't start!!

E90MYKE · 09-10-2013, 09:43 AM

The car pretty much went off immediately. It was less than a block.

nate5ks · 09-10-2013, 01:29 PM

I wouldn't trust this mechanic, take it to somebody else and get a readout of the codes.

E90MYKE · 09-12-2013, 03:38 PM

I think I'm going to have to have a tow truck pick it up and take it to another shop. It's been a week since they started working on it. So far the only thing that has actually been done is the valve cover gasket has been replaced. I needed that because there was a leak and apparently a broken bolt. The spark plugs have been cleaned, and the crank case vent hose has been replaced. $540.68 and I'm no where closer to my car starting.

nate5ks · 09-12-2013, 11:03 PM

That's ridiculous, the valve cover gasket has nothing to do with that even though it needed to be done. Too bad you aren't in Florida, I would look at it.

E90MYKE · 09-16-2013, 03:07 PM

AAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! A piece of the belt actually went into the engine and is tangled. A broken $30 belt is going to cost me $2,300.

michbmw · 09-16-2013, 06:31 PM

How is that possible?

E90MYKE · 09-16-2013, 07:42 PM

Apparently the belt gets shredded and wraps around the crank, destroys the seal, and then gets pulled in and tangled up. I've seen a couple cases on the forum and a few pictures. From what I've read it's an issue with the engine mounts. The mounts go bad and will allow i think the power steering pulley to contact the sub frame and it shreds the belt. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.

bhmax16 · 09-20-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90MYKE

Apparently the belt gets shredded and wraps around the crank, destroys the seal, and then gets pulled in and tangled up. I've seen a couple cases on the forum and a few pictures. From what I've read it's an issue with the engine mounts. The mounts go bad and will allow i think the power steering pulley to contact the sub frame and it shreds the belt. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.

I'm pretty sure the crank pulley contacting sub-frame issue is only on the 335 vehicles, so it wouldn't apply to you.

Furthermore, if the belt magically broke the crank seal and got pulled into the engine wouldn't the hack of a mechanic who looked at your car have seen oil dripping out of the damaged seal? Good thing you took it to another shop! That is some crappy luck

E90MYKE · 10-15-2013, 01:25 PM

FINAL:
So it ended up taking 5 weeks and $2,400. I did get a couple other things done as part of that $2,400. I did get the valve cover gasket replaced, which needed to be done. I also got the idle tensioner pulley replaced. It was recently replaced but for some reason it wasn't lining up right, so I had them replace it.
1/1,000,000 chance, but the belt shredded and a piece got behind the crank pulley, broke the seal, and was pulled into the engine. The timing chain had to be replaced. etc.

All from a broken $30 belt... The belt could probably break 1000 more times and that would never happen.

GoRomeo · 10-15-2013, 01:35 PM

oh man. Sorry to hear this. I appreciate you taking the time to post your experience.

I will have to add this belt replacement to my to do list...it just keep adding up...

I need to replace my VCG soon too.

09-10-2013, 09:43 AM	#23
E90MYKE Private 9 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	The car pretty much went off immediately. It was less than a block.
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09-10-2013, 01:29 PM	#24
nate5ks Captain 35 Rep 648 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330xi Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't trust this mechanic, take it to somebody else and get a readout of the codes.
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09-12-2013, 03:38 PM	#25
E90MYKE Private 9 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	I think I'm going to have to have a tow truck pick it up and take it to another shop. It's been a week since they started working on it. So far the only thing that has actually been done is the valve cover gasket has been replaced. I needed that because there was a leak and apparently a broken bolt. The spark plugs have been cleaned, and the crank case vent hose has been replaced. $540.68 and I'm no where closer to my car starting.
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09-12-2013, 11:03 PM	#26
nate5ks Captain 35 Rep 648 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330xi Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	That's ridiculous, the valve cover gasket has nothing to do with that even though it needed to be done. Too bad you aren't in Florida, I would look at it.
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09-16-2013, 03:07 PM	#27
E90MYKE Private 9 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	AAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! A piece of the belt actually went into the engine and is tangled. A broken $30 belt is going to cost me $2,300.
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09-16-2013, 06:31 PM	#28
michbmw Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 228 Posts Drives: 2010 328XI Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	How is that possible?
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09-16-2013, 07:42 PM	#29
E90MYKE Private 9 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	Apparently the belt gets shredded and wraps around the crank, destroys the seal, and then gets pulled in and tangled up. I've seen a couple cases on the forum and a few pictures. From what I've read it's an issue with the engine mounts. The mounts go bad and will allow i think the power steering pulley to contact the sub frame and it shreds the belt. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-15-2013, 01:25 PM	#31
E90MYKE Private 9 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	FINAL: So it ended up taking 5 weeks and $2,400. I did get a couple other things done as part of that $2,400. I did get the valve cover gasket replaced, which needed to be done. I also got the idle tensioner pulley replaced. It was recently replaced but for some reason it wasn't lining up right, so I had them replace it. 1/1,000,000 chance, but the belt shredded and a piece got behind the crank pulley, broke the seal, and was pulled into the engine. The timing chain had to be replaced. etc. All from a broken $30 belt... The belt could probably break 1000 more times and that would never happen.
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10-15-2013, 01:35 PM	#32
GoRomeo Brigadier General 1251 Rep 4,166 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	oh man. Sorry to hear this. I appreciate you taking the time to post your experience. I will have to add this belt replacement to my to do list...it just keep adding up... I need to replace my VCG soon too.
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