valve clearances

[chippy17]

on e36 3ltr, I have been told that this has to be done but does anyone know when/how often and how long it should take a competent machanic?

thanks

[belleair302]

Every twelve months is a good guide and to get it checked the engine must be stone cold and only take it to a decent specialist with the correct tools. It is not a DIY job unless you really understand measurements and how to use callibration tools.

[chippy17]

thanks Belleair, he is not a specialist but I trust him and he says he can do it no problem, the kind of guy who would say no if he couldn't...last words!

do you know how long it should take, he reckoned about 2.5hrs?

[Great Pretender]

chippy17 said:

thanks Belleair, he is not a specialist but I trust him and he says he can do it no problem, the kind of guy who would say no if he couldn't...last words!

do you know how long it should take, he reckoned about 2.5hrs?

I'd say that's about right yes. //M engines are not the only example of their kind to use valve shims, so it's hardly a complicated task for a mechanic that knows his onions.

[chippy17]

Great Pretender said:

chippy17 said:

thanks Belleair, he is not a specialist but I trust him and he says he can do it no problem, the kind of guy who would say no if he couldn't...last words!

do you know how long it should take, he reckoned about 2.5hrs?

I'd say that's about right yes. //M engines are not the only example of their kind to use valve shims, so it's hardly a complicated task for a mechanic that knows his onions.

thanks GP sound advice as always

I believe you have to take the inlet manifold off..or something like that

[TheEnd]

Shimming should be done on INS.2, So that's roughly every 24k miles, or mre often if you feel like it.

You do have to be careful as the M Power cover plate and the coil pack bolts will strip very easy.

It might take 2.5 hours in total, but the engine needs to be stone cold to get it done perfect, and most places take the car in the night before and leave it on a ramp ready for the morning.

[Ti22]

Just looking at doing this on my S50. The time will depend on how many shims are out. However, I can do a 16v bike engine in a couple of hours (most bike engines are shims) so 2.5 hrs seems about right.

[chippy17]

TheEnd said:

Shimming should be done on INS.2, So that's roughly every 24k miles, or mre often if you feel like it.

You do have to be careful as the M Power cover plate and the coil pack bolts will strip very easy.

It might take 2.5 hours in total, but the engine needs to be stone cold to get it done perfect, and most places take the car in the night before and leave it on a ramp ready for the morning.

thanks for this, I tested him on the point you haev made about the bolts and he came out with flying colours so it is being done as we speak

[chippy17]

Ti22 said:

Just looking at doing this on my S50. The time will depend on how many shims are out. However, I can do a 16v bike engine in a couple of hours (most bike engines are shims) so 2.5 hrs seems about right.

thanks

[TheEnd]

Looks like you've got a decent guy there, then!

[chippy17]

not that it is that interesting but all clearences spot on, none needed adjusting. Mechanic said on this engine he would have been worried that it had not had regular oil chanegs etc