DIY: 2005 503i (M54) Belts change
06-28-2011, 12:37 PM
#11
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Location: Quincy, MA, USA
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My Ride: E60 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
i used this write-up as a reference for when i did my belt change on my 2004 525i (m54), and i just wanted to add a bit to a great DIY. i'm not sure what the differences are between the tensioners, but my car did not have a pin or torx bit arrangement on the alternator tensioner to relieve tension. i ended up having to take off the cover from the pulley and used a hex bit in the pulley bolt to release the tension.
thanks for this write-up.
thanks for this write-up.
06-28-2011, 05:09 PM
#13
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My Ride: E60 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
06-14-2012, 06:27 PM
#14
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My Ride: 2004 - 530i premium pkg, assist, but no nav. BTUM- CPT 9000 interface.
Model Year: 2004
2004 530i To change 2 belts - Just take under body pan off under engine. 8 Philips screws. Gives access to A/C idler tension pulley.
#60 Torix/Star to releive tension on idler.
No need to remove fan shroud or anything else. 5/8 socket will fit idler for waterpump & alt. serpentine belt. stick drill bit in when holes line up
with tension removed. This is an easy 1 hr. project ! Make sure belt ribs are in pulley groves before starting engine.
#60 Torix/Star to releive tension on idler.
No need to remove fan shroud or anything else. 5/8 socket will fit idler for waterpump & alt. serpentine belt. stick drill bit in when holes line up
with tension removed. This is an easy 1 hr. project ! Make sure belt ribs are in pulley groves before starting engine.
06-14-2012, 06:33 PM
#15
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My Ride: 2004 - 530i premium pkg, assist, but no nav. BTUM- CPT 9000 interface.
Model Year: 2004
I had bought both A/C and Accessories belts a while ago but too lazy to put them on until now. The accessories belt after 68k miles shows cracks.
For M54 engine, there is no way to replace the belts without taking out the fan. Therefore, I followed an UK memeber's instruction who did the thermostat change, to remove the fan. However, there are a few things which were not mentioned by that UK member when doing the fan removal. Maybe, UK model is different from US model.
I started by removing the 10 T30 metal screws to remove the metal cover above the radiator.
Center:
Driver side:
Passenger side:
T30 Screws:
Then I removed the plastic cover which is under the metal cover and above the radiator. There were 5 T25 screws. Take it easy when removing these 5 screws because you are dealing with plastic parts here.
Center screw hole:
Driver side screw holes:
Passenger side screw holes:
For M54 engine, there is no way to replace the belts without taking out the fan. Therefore, I followed an UK memeber's instruction who did the thermostat change, to remove the fan. However, there are a few things which were not mentioned by that UK member when doing the fan removal. Maybe, UK model is different from US model.
I started by removing the 10 T30 metal screws to remove the metal cover above the radiator.
Center:
Driver side:
Passenger side:
T30 Screws:
Then I removed the plastic cover which is under the metal cover and above the radiator. There were 5 T25 screws. Take it easy when removing these 5 screws because you are dealing with plastic parts here.
Center screw hole:
Driver side screw holes:
Passenger side screw holes:
06-16-2012, 03:26 PM
#16
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Yea well at least he didn't use a T50 torx on the pulleys. That would have REALLY been something. Looks like salt really does a number to the car huh?
10-08-2012, 09:04 AM
#17
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Great writeup. Used it as a starting point for my own belt change.
here is my thread on
Bimmerforums belt change howto
here is my thread on
Bimmerforums belt change howto
10-30-2012, 03:26 PM
#20
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It's not the year it's the engine. my 530i M54 I did a pulley delete in order to save tensioner life and belt life. Did the same for my Z4. My E46 2.5 which is the same as a 3.0 except for a few minor things actually has a different belt setup. and it is M54 as well. So it depends on motor.