Broken belt tensioner

midnighted · Thu, Dec-06-2018, 12:04:36 PM

Had my main belt tensioner fail on me the other day. Anyone see one fail like this before?

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bigjae1976 · Thu, Dec-06-2018, 01:17:30 PM

That’s odd but I could see that happening if the hydraulic arm or roller bearings are seized up.

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Texaz3 · Thu, Dec-06-2018, 02:43:33 PM

Probably defective. Unlikely to crack like that under normal use.

BTB · Thu, Dec-06-2018, 06:34:21 PM

My mechanical (ac belt..?) tensioner failed similarly, the cast casing just broke apart. Got the part at an advance auto so I think it’s just low quality manufacturing

**Obioban** · Thu, Dec-06-2018, 07:06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTB

My mechanical (ac belt..?) tensioner failed similarly, the cast casing just broke apart. Got the part at an advance auto so I think it’s just low quality manufacturing

Interesting.

OP: is that part original or aftermarket?

midnighted · Wed, Dec-26-2018, 03:47:44 PM

Sorry for the delay. Checked it out the other day before tossing it. It was INA branded.

TboneM3 · Wed, Dec-26-2018, 05:23:59 PM

That's oe, probably a flaw in the casting.

**terraphantm** · Wed, Dec-26-2018, 05:47:53 PM

It's been known to happen on occasion. The INA replacement kit is pretty cheap

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...1287838797-1-2

///mtree · Sat, Dec-29-2018, 11:40:40 PM

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago as well. Base plate snapped and also took one of the mounting bolts with it, I had to get the broken piece tapped out from the hole it was bolted in to.

It was also an INA tensioner, someone mentioned that it probably seized and rattled until failure.

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Thu, Dec-06-2018, 12:04:36 PM	#1
midnighted Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 349 Reputation: 0 Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Broken belt tensioner Had my main belt tensioner fail on me the other day. Anyone see one fail like this before? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thu, Dec-06-2018, 01:17:30 PM	#2
bigjae1976 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 7,880 In the garage: '13 BMW 328i '04 BMW E46 M3 '11 BMW E90 M3 V8 4 Door Reputation: 0 Location: SW Houston	Broken belt tensioner That’s odd but I could see that happening if the hydraulic arm or roller bearings are seized up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2013 F30 328i - Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 - Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 - Imola Red Last edited by bigjae1976; Thu, Dec-06-2018 at 02:34:37 PM.

Thu, Dec-06-2018, 02:43:33 PM	#3
Texaz3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,164 Reputation: 0	Re: Broken belt tensioner Probably defective. Unlikely to crack like that under normal use.

Thu, Dec-06-2018, 06:34:21 PM	#4
BTB Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,040 In the garage: '99 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 '05 Suzuki GSX-R750 '99 Kawasaki Ninja 250 '12 BMW ///M3 '03 BMW ///M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Orange County, California	Re: Broken belt tensioner My mechanical (ac belt..?) tensioner failed similarly, the cast casing just broke apart. Got the part at an advance auto so I think it’s just low quality manufacturing __________________ UIUC / TU Munich Mechanical Engineering 2018 2003 ///M3 6MT Coupe Imola Red/Black Napa, slicktop, manual seats My Journal

Wed, Dec-26-2018, 03:47:44 PM	#6
midnighted Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 349 Reputation: 0 Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Re: Broken belt tensioner Sorry for the delay. Checked it out the other day before tossing it. It was INA branded.

Wed, Dec-26-2018, 05:23:59 PM	#7
TboneM3 YNWA Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,509 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 E46 Reputation: 0 Location: Socal	Re: Broken belt tensioner That's oe, probably a flaw in the casting. __________________ /// 2004 SilberGrau M3 · Coupe · 6MT · slicktop · zero options · <3200lbs · JOURNAL Evolve-R Alpha N · Evolve CSL CF Airbox · Eventuri Scoop · Supersprint V1 stepped 2.5" · SS V1 S pipes 2.5" + 200 cell HFC · OE sect 2 · SCZA 2.5" sect 3 · Besian · RE pullies · fan/SAP/washer/fog delete · CSL battery Bilstein HD B6 + GroundControl/Eibach 325/550lb + GC "tall" RSMs · Hotchkis front sway (med) · rear strut bar · TMS camber & subframe plates · Eibach alu rear camber arms · RE trans mounts · AKG poly subf/diff 95a · SDW RTAB · OE weighted ///M knob + ZHP alcantara boot + UUC DSSR + delrin bushing OE CSL trunk · Cobra Nogaros + BK + manual OE bases · TMS black pedals · Sportline 8S 18"x 8.5/9.5" · MPSS 245/275 · APEX 75mm Studs · Brembo 996 4 pot 36/40 345mm CSL & 28/30 328mm CSL · ZHP "712" rack · Pioneer/CDT/Eclipse/Kicker

Wed, Dec-26-2018, 05:47:53 PM	#8
terraphantm Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,246 In the garage: '04 BMW 330i '05 BMW M3 Reputation: 11 Location: Philadelphia	Re: Broken belt tensioner It's been known to happen on occasion. The INA replacement kit is pretty cheap https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...1287838797-1-2

Sat, Dec-29-2018, 11:40:40 PM	#9
///mtree Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 227 Reputation: 0 Location: Anaheim	Re: Broken belt tensioner I had this happen to me a couple of years ago as well. Base plate snapped and also took one of the mounting bolts with it, I had to get the broken piece tapped out from the hole it was bolted in to. It was also an INA tensioner, someone mentioned that it probably seized and rattled until failure. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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