Accessory Belt - Check your belts!

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Jan 13, 2010 | 07:46 AM

Ceenit

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Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 256

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From: Charlotte, NC

My Ride: 525

Model Year: 2004

My car's in the body shop getting some work done (whole other story on a different thread). I went by this morning to see what the car looked like with the front end dismantled. I got a really good look at the front end of the engine block and the belts. I was amazed at how worn my accessory belt looked. There was lots of deep cracking across most of the belt. I'm usually a maintenance junky on this type of thing and can't believe I had a car with a belt that looked that bad. I never would have taken it on some of my recent road trips had I know the condition of the belt. I'm assuming that it had never been changed (it's an '04 w/65k miles).

The good news is that since the front end is off the car, it looks like about the easiest belt job change ever. Given how much money the body shop is making off of me anyway, they said they'd be happy to have their mechanic (he's certified to work on BMW's) swap it out if I brought the part by.

I'm going to do a quick check now of dealer price versus getting one from Pelican or another on-line supplier. In my backwards way of making myself feel better about messing up my car, I think I just save myself some money.

Check your belts!

Jan 13, 2010 | 08:28 AM

e6t.lab.rat

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Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 948

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From: Sin City

My Ride: Jet Black '05 545i, Sport/Premium Pkg, Steptronic, Adaptive Xenon, Nav, L7, Blue2th, PDC,

my belts don't fit me anymore!! Need another one. Tacked on some pounds this holiday season uuggghhhhh....

oh.... sorry, not that belt.

thank for the heads up. i have 55k on mine so i guess nows a good time to do some preventative maintenance on my belts.

Jan 13, 2010 | 08:51 AM

porsche911targa

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Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 2,718

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From: Massachusetts, USA

My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny. 2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter. Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.

Are belts included with the extended maintenance program?

Jan 13, 2010 | 09:41 AM

BimmerJay

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Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 124

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From: Baltimore, MD

My Ride: 2004 BMW 530i - no mods. Pretty basic really. I mean it has tires, windows, and a sweet look, what more could a man want? Honestly, I'd like to improve the sound system mildly, and possibly find a worthy engine mod that would increase my BHP by 100 without giving an arm and a leg for. I don't think it's out there, so I'll stay stock and love driving my 530i.

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche911targa' post='1089821' date='Jan 13 2010, 12:51 PM

Are belts included with the extended maintenance program?

I just got my 04 530i back from the shop to have some work done the heated seats and to have the belts change. I had 85K miles on the car and I presume these were the belts... I only reason I knew belts were needed was because National Tire Battery they said the belts were in dire need of replacement. I called the dealer why I was waiting for my new tires and the dealer said it was covered. I however have CPO and Maintenance Warranties to cover the car.

Also when my car was ready I was invoiced $398 USD -

I reminded them about the prior phone conversation, and after a quick look in the account all was fixed. Just left only having to pay the $50 USD copay...

-Jay