2009 535I Xdrive- Found this in my engine
 

I drive a 2009 535I Xdrive, I was doing a replacement of the valve cover and gasket on my car when I noticed this deep under the cams at the bottom of the timing chain. Can someone please tell me what this is and where it may have come from and or how to check or replace?
I know Im not giving much info but that's all I have. I did finish the install and car does run, but fear driving it.https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/5series...2b13248218.jpgn54- this is where I was looking and saw the unknown gasket
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/5series...ec84ef1de9.jpgpulled from under cam
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/5series...f1c3bf7bf8.jpgpullfrom under cam

Bit of shredded belt?

I have had no belt issues and this was inside the motor, saw it after I removed the valve gasket cover. I'm just hoping its not a gasket for something else.

If you are not the original owner, perhaps it's left over from a previous sloppy repair job?

I am the 2nd owner of the car, I am just not sure what it is or how it would have even got sucked up in there, going to run a scan on the car this morning and see what code pop up.

Is it just a rubbery strip or does it have cord in it?

Looks like bits of the serpentine belt.

How long have you had this as the second owner and what miles are on it?

That looks, from pics too thick to be any kind of gasket, and has cords showing ... looks like a piece of belt to me.


Many others have the serpentine belt fail and the crank pulley, due to it's design, pulls/sucks pieces of the shredded belt behind it into the timing cover. Well documented. Seems like most plausible explanation. Prior owner had it repaired but the techs missed a piece.

I would take solace that the shredded belt never made your timing chain skip a tooth, that would have been a bad day

My 535i just shredded its belt so the wound is a bit fresh for me haha