insightbrewery

Hey guys, there's a serious problem I'm trying to help a friend out with. So to start, he decided to borrow my AGA toolkit and take on the valve stem seal job on his 2008 550i by himself. Now the car's been towed to my location and won't get to TDC on cyl#1 (where the harmonic balancer can be pinned for timing adjustments). Here's what he described happening, step by step:

1. He got everything apart, then cyl #1 done.
2. He tried to turn the engine to TDC on cyl #4. It wouldn't move, so he forced it. Turns out he forgot to remove the AGA chain lock tool and the upper timing chain guide broke. Timing may have jumped, not sure.
3. He replaced the upper guide, M6 bolt, and gasket.
4. Brought cyl #4 to TDC, and dropped a keeper on the last intake valve. Got two new keepers from the dealer, finished cyl #4. He thinks the keeper banged against the heat shields "based on the sound" and might have fallen to the bottom of the engine bay. underbody shield has not been removed yet to figure this out.
5. Before bringing cyl #3 to TDC, he tried to turn the harmonic balancer over. It will not make one full revolution - it stops about 10 degrees from cyl #1 TDC either way.

The car has been sitting here for a week and a half, and I finally have time to try and figure this out. A few more points:

- the upper chain guide broke cleanly, and there are no pieces that could have dropped in and held up the lower sprocket
- I will check for the keeper under the engine
- I can't check timing because I can't bring cyl #1 to TDC

So I'm thinking either there's something above cyl #1 piston preventing it from getting to TDC, or cyl #1 valves bent if timing jumped and are keeping it from getting there.

Any and all help is welcome, but especially from those of you who have taken the engine apart before and can give an idea of clearances at TDC, etc. Really want to figure this out, thanks a bunch.

insightbrewery

Figured it out - the carbon buildup on the #1 piston was keeping it from getting there. Blown out with shop air, and good to go!

Gee_115

Glad you guys got it.

How much for the AGA tool kit? If I can't find anyone to do the job for me I might do it myself. I'm a little unsure on the TDC and air in the cylinder. How do you know when you are at TDC for each cylinder? Also, do you have to have an air compressor?