Special tool grips timing chain for valve adj??

[Gene in NC]

Is there a special tool or some trick to turn the engine for valve adjustments in Auto trans 535?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Buy two Vice-grip type pipe chain wrenches. (The ones with what looks like a bike chain to wrap and lock around a pipe.)

Take the bike chain off of one and added it to the other.

Now you have a pipe chain wrench that will wrap around the harmonic balancer and allow you to turn, or lock the crank as needed.

I made one years ago and it comes in handy every time I do a timing belt or adjust the valves.

You could also to the electric starter bump. But I always miss my mark and end up turning the crank by hand any way.

[Derek A.]

Pull the plugs - do the starter blip - I watch the tech do it at the shop - takes like 15 minutes to adjust valves on one of thse cars.

[mikemaster]

Grind down a wrench (32 mm I think?) to fit on the fan clutch nut. Works great.

[Kalevera]

Gene...

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_5.htm

Don't waste your time manually moving the crank. I've adjusted my valves about 5 times in the past two months (have to get them *just* right :) ), and the remote start is the quickest and easiest.

At first, I used two pieces of a heavy gauge coat hanger. Not adviseable. I've graduated to a set of wires with a 30a in line fuse. Works superbly. Don't waste your time cranking it by hand -- too much risk of nailing the radiator accidentally, and too freakin' painful on the back.

Best, whit

[Robert K]

I also have an automatic 535i. When I adjust the valves, I remove all of the plugs to check the gaps. I leave them out while I adjust the valves. I literally reach down and turn the crank with my hand gripping the harmonic balancer. For me, it's much easier than bumping the starter. For one thing, you never know how much the starter is going to turn the engine over. If you do it by hand, you just watch the cam lobes of the cylinder you're going to adjust. When both lobe tips are pointed equally away from their corresponding rocker arms, you stop, adjust the valves, then manually crank it around to the next cylinder. Trust me, I've been using the method for years and to me, it's as easy as anything.

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i

[Hector]

I used to use a socket on the crankshaft nut. This was too tedious and usually got nicked/scratched when the socket slipped. Some have made there own little switched to pump the starter. I tried doing the same but couldn't find the right switched I needed although I had handy the proverbial "pill bottle" and wires... So I gave up on this and went to NAPA and purchased a remote starter switch for $12. Couldn't believe how embarrasingly easy and fast it was to do the valve adjustment. The switch fits ergonomically perfect in the hand so that you can bump the starter by very small increments. One of the best investments I've ever made.

[Gene in NC]

What kind of pin/whatever do you use for plugging in to the "n" pin connector. I have a couple of remote starter switches. Used em for this application on 2002s.

[Kalevera]

I use a stripped wire...nothing hi-tech :)

Also, I like using the remote starter method because, after doing the valves, it allows me the opportunity to crank the sucker for a few seconds so I can watch the oil passages/make sure everything's flowing correctly.

best, whit

[Gene in NC]

Is there a special tool or some trick to turn the engine for valve adjustments in Auto trans 535?
Lowell, how much oil and where?

My tech says that my very noisy top end problem that developed immediately following
oil change may be from the m30 oil pump failure of an aluminum shuttle valve
sticking and if so bottom end may be fried as well. Ever heard of that?

My '68 '02 had unbushed aluminum rockers wearing out shafts and rockers in about 40k. BMW mechanical engineers seem to learn very slowly, if at all. Why the hell would they ever use an aluminum shuttle valve in an oil pump?

Just one more worry. If my "info" is true, might be worthwhile to check out oil pump.

[callen]

Change plugs anyway when I adj valves....sooo....
I remove plugs.
Take off radiator fan
turn crank with 1/2 drive Rathet and socket on crank...get it right on the lobe...don't need to hit or miss by bumping with starter.

[Kalevera]

Hi Gene.

What I meant to communicate is that, with the remote starter, you can crank the engine long/fast enough to watch how the oil flows around the head. The spray bar can get clogged, and it's important to make sure that it's doing the job.

If by sticking shuttle valve your mechanic means the check valve in the filter canister, then it's a well documented problem (see bmwe34.net). However, I'm not sure how that would/could destroy the virtually bulletproof M30 bottom end. From what I recall, the M30 oil pump rarely needs replacement -- I think Bill R. mentions it as being an item to check.

Fritz's top end is nosier than a two year old with a tambourine. Brett Anderson says the valves are "a little loud" but nothing to be concerned about, and I'm not. Sounds like a sewing machine, and I'm sure people get nervous around it when the car's idling away at a red light. Oh well.

Best, whit

[Bill R.]

male pins 61 13 1 376 191 . From bmw they are .40 cents each. And i used a momentary spring loaded switch i had laying around , Its by far the easiest way for me to set the valves on bmw's, you just put the toe of each cam lobe 180 degrees away from the eccentric adjuster so that the eccentric is in the center of the cam lobe heel.http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/remotestarter.jpg








What kind of pin/whatever do you use for plugging in to the "n" pin connector. I have a couple of remote starter switches. Used em for this application on 2002s.

[Hector]

and when you are done with it I'd put it in a time capsule to be dug out in 100 years. Assuming we are still around since it is projected that a comet with strike earth in 2012 according to Bible codes if you believe in that sort of thing...


male pins 61 13 1 376 191 . From bmw they are .40 cents each. And i used a momentary spring loaded switch i had laying around , Its by far the easiest way for me to set the valves on bmw's, you just put the toe of each cam lobe 180 degrees away from the eccentric adjuster so that the eccentric is in the center of the cam lobe heel.http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/remotestarter.jpg

[Gene in NC]

Ok, got the switch built and am ready to go. One problem. How to locate pin 11 and 14 on e28 535?

Reminds me of the little boy with the new red wagon and little girls with golden curls. "Hi, want a ride". "Yeth". "Otay. Dit in den. Gonna dimme tum." "No!" "Dit out den."

Third little girl says in response to the "dimme tum" inviitation, "Yeth"

To which the little boy responds, "Doddam. Dot it but donno what to do wif it."

I'm ready but just don't know where to insert it.

[Kalevera]

W.....T....F....


uhm...feeling okay over there, Gene? :)


I don't know the pinout on the e28 port, or even if there's a similar remote start capability. Do a search on RoadFly? :)

best, whit

[Gene in NC]

So shoot me for using this forum for m30 support. Have two e34 and one e28 535. Forum contributors knowledgeable/supportive and format and content outstanding. You also have BillR. Roadfly had excllent detail on pin location for e28.

Note factory pins, important part on BillR remote starter tool. Have ordered a dozen. Two for me and rest for whoever at my cost of $1.20 per pair plus postage which should be about $0.60.

However, didn't use starter except for comp check (148 to 152 cold) on 150k+ m30. Used 1 1/4 (32mm) 15" long wrench (around $10 at ACE) to turn engine by fan nut (plugs out). Easy, fast and very precise. BillR tool next time.