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A/C belt keeps breaking

Old Jul 28, 2012 | 01:06 PM
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A/c belt snapped, assumed it was due to age and oil from previous oil pressure switch leak. Replaced belt with OE belt and it snapped again within 30 miles. Anyone have this happen before and have insight? Compressor mount seems fine, compressor pulley running true. I am wondering if aux fan is intermittent and causing high head pressure which is thus throwing belt.
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Old Jul 30, 2012 | 04:42 AM
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Update: Might have been caused by an assembly error on my part. Main belt is now miss aligned on pulleys one "tooth" toward engine. One rib rubbed away. Probably caused the a/c belt to snap.

And, no AUX fan on my car. The main electric fan is all there is.
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Old Jul 30, 2012 | 05:31 PM
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This happens to me, on 530xi but mine was because of the tensioner pulley.. Replaced both now fine.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:35 AM
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The 545i engine does not have a tensioner or idler pully for the a/c compressor. In fact, there is not tension adjustment for the belt at all...the compressor is rigidly fastened to the engine. The belt is a special stretchable blet that you have to use a special tool to "walk" on the pulleys. Going on, the belt will stretch and then once on the belt will contract to its original size and maintain proper tension...so the literature says. Stupid design for sure.

$50 mistake on my part. Trying agian this evening. Getting that a/c belt on is a pain.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 08:57 PM
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My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps... Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol) Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim. Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
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Originally Posted by DavidF
The 545i engine does not have a tensioner or idler pully for the a/c compressor. In fact, there is not tension adjustment for the belt at all...the compressor is rigidly fastened to the engine. The belt is a special stretchable blet that you have to use a special tool to "walk" on the pulleys. Going on, the belt will stretch and then once on the belt will contract to its original size and maintain proper tension...so the literature says. Stupid design for sure.

$50 mistake on my part. Trying agian this evening. Getting that a/c belt on is a pain.
It was a PITA, until I used a tool made by member Healthservices! Follow the thread HERE!
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 05:28 AM
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Yep, I saw that before and made the same tool, still a paint because you have to move brackets out of the way to give the tool clearance to rotate around the compressor pulley.
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Old Aug 6, 2012 | 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DavidF
Yep, I saw that before and made the same tool, still a paint because you have to move brackets out of the way to give the tool clearance to rotate around the compressor pulley.
I had this same problem...shop was not installing with the right tool
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Old Aug 6, 2012 | 06:23 PM
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it's true I have looked at pictures I took in BMW Welt.
Attached Thumbnails A/C belt keeps breaking-101_7293.jpg  
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