THSCC Forums

I took the BMW to the NASA event to see how it handles with new shocks, springs and swaybars. At the end of the third run I hit a cone and suddenly had no power steering. The cone had knocked the belt off for the alternator, power steering and water pump.

Is this a common problem for an E36 or just a freak event. If common what are the solutions available in DSP class or STS. I don't know if it makes a difference but the car has been lowered about 1.5 inches.

_________________
Mitch Moore

The proper solution to your problem is to buy a Miata like everyone else, or you could just not hit cones
Actually I've never heard of that happening to anyone before. Although the Neon used to mysteriously lose a belt when driven hard, I can't remember if it was after a coned run or not??

I think it was probably just a fluke.

Shawn

_________________
OK so I'm back in. Now which tire should I buy??

It happened on my Scirocco once, never heard of it happening to BMW's before.

(Yes, a very helpful post...)

--Kevin H.

_________________
2003 WRX (again!)

First time I've ever heard of that happening to a BMW!

Kendra used to hit cones all the time with her (now my) 95 325i. Never a problem. I'd vote for "freak occurence". Probably kind of a pain to get it back on since you had to get at the tensioner. If the fan is removed, it's a piece of cake (just did this last weekend to replace a pissing water pump)

One suggestion - make sure all of the undertray plastic is in place. With that big plastic piece behind the radiator, I can't imagine this happening. I bet it's missing.

Also, I think the E36 M3 guys have a nice aluminum undertray available. Doubt it's legal in STS or DSP, but I have never checked the rules. Doubt you would have a problem running one locally, since it's just for mechanical reliability.

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Damn.....

Better hope she doesn't frequent the forums, or its the sofa for you

_________________
91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

I do not have a plastic undertray. It is either missing or never there. BMW made a bunch of changes in the middle of the 92 model year and mine is a early 92. I'll have to find out.

Thanks Mike.

_________________
Mitch Moore

My Datsun Z has thrown a few belts....There is just one..soo it really sucks when you loose it. With no fan or cooling clutch to hang on.... it just dissapears.

I have been using Gates and Goodyear V-belts with solid construction (no teeth) with no failures...
The no-name brands...and the ones with notches to ease flexing were the ones I had trouble with.
I also doubled the size of the Alternator pulley to 5"...which has greatly reduced rotational inertia in the alternator.

The Z only has crank pulley, water pump pulley, and alternator pulley.

_________________
Paint don't make it go any faster.

Dave Davis (Dave's Automotive) told me that the belt was probably not an OEM BMW belt. Continental makes their belts. He was correct. The belt that got kicked off was a Gates belt. The Gates belt is a little longer so the tension is not correct and the grooves are not the same shape so the belt does not fit as deep in the pulley as it should. He said that he has seen BMW's throw the Gates belt of at high RPMs. So beware of using any belt but Continental.

_________________
Mitch Moore

Very interesting to know. Thanks for sharing!

(PS - Based on that tidbit of knowledge, I think I may be visiting Dave for work some day in the future. Someone who knows that kind of stuff can get my business )

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1