[Jacoblamb069]

I was doing the valve cover gasket on my 08 328i and while taking the valve cover off and opening the engine something fell into the exhast camshaft leadge and I'm wondering can I just take it off and fish whatever fell in there out without any special procedures before taking it off or anything I should know before taking off the leadge cover to see if can reach whatever fell in there. Sorry if not in right area of forum I'm new and would love any advice you guys would have for me. I've tired magnet and other thing and it only got pushed deeper...really stressing about this. Thanks guys

[StradaRedlands]

No idea, but good luck and hope you can get it out!!!

[Jacoblamb069]

Thanks uhh so we ended up unbolting some of the camshaft on the exhast side and stopped we are wording do we need to lock the timing chain to mess with the cam or not and if we unbolt it will it mess up the timing if we don't lock it first

[NZE90]

Yes you will mess the timing up if you unbolt the Camshaft housing. You need timing tools and you are also supposed to use special tools to align the Camshaft housing as well if you unbolt them.

[Jacoblamb069]

OK so unfortunately family members said it should be fine but yeah they unbolted the housing without it being locked and moved the tail end of the cam but didn't remove it and nothing on the chain has moved so you think the timing is off now? Probably? Super fantastic.

[NZE90]

Probably but hard to tell over the interwebs

[Jacoblamb069]

OK so I just learned how to time it anyway I'll just have to buy a cam locker tool could the housing ever get damaged like clam shell affect? And I'm just gonna take the whole cam out. And make sure nothing is damaged I was gonna take tention off the chain I before I do that do I need to lock fly wheel or anything before doing so or anything? Before doing so since I'm just gonna retime engine anyway.

[NZE90]

I would advise getting hold of a Bentley workshop manual.The timing procedure has to be done in the correct order plus you will need torque tightening specs for all the bolts etc.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by NZE90

I would advise getting hold of a Bentley workshop manual.The timing procedure has to be done in the correct order plus you will need torque tightening specs for all the bolts etc.

+1

I would get the manual and the timing tools and do it right. The alternative is possibly screwing up your engine.

[BRG_N54]

Engine timing is not so critical on dis-assembly, just makes your job easier when it goes back together. However, it should be triple checked when it's time to bolt it all up, interference engines can wreak havoc if started out of time. Verifying cylinder #1 is at TDC should be the first basic step when diving into any motor to this extent.

You mentioned removing the cam; If the gear is removed from the cam, the retaining bolt should be replaced, as it is torque to yield. The timing set also has other necessary items like the tensioner dummy tool and the flywheel locking pin, which you will need for re-assembly.

[Jacoblamb069]

Yeah I ordered the timing tool and already removed that manifold. So can get to the fly wheel once the timing kit comes and I ordered new bolts for the exhast cam bolt and the housing bolts just to be safe and new gaskets for the manifold and I can just stick a screw driver in cylinder one and turn the crankshaft till its tdc and then I can hook the timing tool up to the cams and time her all up do u think I need the jig to set the cam box? And I found a pretty informative video. I thought I'd share incase helps someone else.