[brad s1]

I cut the old one out, but it looks like the other belt must be removed from the crank pulley to allow the ac compressor belt access to seat... How do you loosen the accessory belt? I seen the tensioner, but it's really difficult to access... Anyone have a step by step for this??

Thanks.

 

[RRPhil]

This might help? :

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/119957

Phil

 

[Dan_UK_1984]

Jesus that looks complicated!

 

[Locky]

It's not bad. Did it myself in about 45mins. Dont worry about taking the fan off. Make sure you know the route of the belt. Loosen the two bolts on the tensioner, pull the old belt off, you can feed it around the fan cowling. Pop new belt back on. Tension and tighten up two bolts on tensioner. Job done.

 

[brad s1]

What a terrible design... You say you don't need to remove the fan because the belt will fit through the blades etc, but is the ac belt big enough to do the same?

Also thank you very much for posting, great info. :thumb:

 

[RRPhil]

I also changed my ancillary drive belt (water pump, power steering pump, alternator) without removing the fan & radiator cowl, though I had to cut down one of my sockets to fit in the tight space and there was much swearing and grazing of knuckles going on. When I replaced the tensioner pulleys for the ancillary drive belt at a later date I removed the fan & cowl (which wasn’t without its problems : viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33214) and the additional space this gave to work in made a huge difference.

I haven’t replaced my a/c compressor drive belt so I’m afraid I don’t how easy it would be to remove with the fan & cowl still in place but the Workshop Manual doesn’t say you need to remove them so it must be possible – you just need to take the ancillary drive belt off first.

Maybe you should see if you can get the fan off easily – and, if so, remove this and the cowl to make life easier? If you can’t get the fan off - well, it should be possible to change both belts anyway - it’s just more of a struggle.

Phil

 

[SGW]

I have changed both belts with the fan and cowling in place, however its much easier with both of them removed.
Stewart.