Change Car Accessory Belt Kit BMW 3-Series
Change Car Accessory Belt Kit
| Estimated time | 0h30–7h00 |
|---|---|
| Estimated labour cost | ~50–700£ |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Vehicles |
3-Series 1982-1995 15
3-Series 1990-2000 15
3-Series 1998-2007 26
3-Series 2005-2013 44
3-Series 2011-2020 35
3-Series 2019-2025 21
|
| Renew the air-conditioning compressor drive belt | 0h30–7h00 |
| Renew the ancillary drive belt | 0h30–7h00 |
| Renew the engine oil and filter | 0h30–0h45 |
| Renew the air-conditioning compressor drive belt ( - 08/1987) | 0h30–1h00 |
| Renew the air-conditioning compressor drive belt (09/1987 - ) | 0h30–0h45 |
| Renew the ancillary drive belt (09/1987 - ) | 0h30 |
| Renew the ancillary drive belt ( - 08/1987) | 0h30 |
| Renew the ancillary drive belt Without air conditioning | 0h30 |
| Renew the ancillary drive belt With air conditioning | 0h30 |
| Renew the air-conditioning compressor drive belt (09/1993 - ) | 0h30 |
| Renew the air-conditioning compressor drive belt ( - 08/1993) | 0h45 |
What is a BMW 3-Series accessory belt?
The accessory belt (also called the auxiliary belt or serpentine belt) allows the engine to drive peripheral components such as the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, and sometimes the water pump.
When should you change the BMW 3-Series accessory belt?
Typical replacement is every 60,000–120,000 km or 4–6 years. Signs of wear include: squealing noise (especially at start-up or in wet weather), visible cracks or fraying. Always replace the tensioner and any idler pulleys at the same time.
Is it difficult to change the BMW 3-Series accessory belt?
Difficulty level 2/5: technically easy. Key steps: note the belt routing before removal, release the automatic tensioner, slide off the old belt, replace tensioner and idler pulleys, route the new belt, release the tensioner to apply tension.
7 models covered
| Model | Year Range | Engines covered | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Series 1975-1983 | 1975-1983 | 315 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 320 Petrol (M10B20), 320 Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M10B20) | Petrol |
| 3-Series 1982-1995 | 1982-1995 | 316 Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M40B16), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M40B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320is Petrol (S14B20), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 325e Petrol (M20B27), 325i, -ix Petr… | Petrol |
| 3-Series 1990-2000 | 1990-2000 | 316g (65/75 kW) CNG,Petrol (M43B16), 316i (73/75 kW) Petrol (M40B16), 316i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B16), 318i (83/85 kW) Petrol (M40B18), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 318is, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M44B19), 320i Petrol (M50B20), 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20), 32… | CNG, LPG, Petrol |
| 3-Series 1998-2007 | 1998-2007 | 316 Ci Petrol (M43B16TU), 316i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N40B16), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N45B16), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B18A), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B18A), 316ti Petrol (N40B16), 318 Ci Petrol (N46B20), 318d Diesel (M47D20), 318d,… | Diesel, LPG, Petrol |
| 3-Series 2005-2013 | 2005-2013 | 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N43B16A), 316i Petrol (N45B16A), 318d Diesel (M47D20TU2uL), 318d Diesel (N47D20A), 318d Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B), 320d Diesel (M47D20TU2OL), 320d Diesel (N47D20A), 320d Die… | Diesel, LPG, Petrol |
| 3-Series 2011-2020 | 2011-2020 | 316d Diesel (B47D20A), 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N13B16A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (B38B15A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (B47D20A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C), 320d, -xD… | Diesel, Electricity, LPG, Petrol |
| 3-Series 2019-2025 | 2019-2025 | 316d Diesel (B47D20B), 316d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318d Diesel (B47D20B), 318d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318i Petrol (B48B20A), 320d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B), 320e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20… | 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol |