BMW VID DAMPER

!RAY

hi
The vib damper part no b11.23.7.805.696 is not working on my 2005 e46 320dES saloon m4 bmw. the air con belt came off.The car has 54,000 miles .Any idea why this could happen and is it a big job to get fixted.
Thanks
Ray

Seth Brundle

What do you mean its not working and has a mechanic seen it (assuming it may be something simple)?
(visual of part)

!RAY

Hi kbannon
Yes i had the mechanic in bmw service the car and told them the air con belt had come off.
They said that the Belt Drive-Vibration Damper was gone and it has to be replaced.They were looking for around 400euro.can this damage the engine?
Cheers
Ray

Seth Brundle

Looking on ebay, I see one of them on sale for about €150 so expect this to be higher from BMW themselves.

The pulley is the bottom one at the front in this pic....

I haven't done it before but I'm surprised at the €400 cost.
Contact Alan or Richie in AC Cars and get a quote there.

!RAY

Thanks kbannon
One last question do i need to get this done in a hurry.What damage can happen to engine.
Cheers
Ray

Anan1

Not using the a/c for extended periods will result in the seals perishing.

Seth Brundle

Regarding the damage, I don't know because I don't know what is exactly meant by "not working" and that the pulley was 'gone' and I would be just guessing (is it siezed, broken, missing...)
Talk to one of the guys in AC.

!RAY

Sorry the air con belt has come off.Bmw told me this is because the vib damper is not working and has to be replaced
.
Cheers
!RAY

Seth Brundle

The vib damper (based on the part number you quoted) is a big pulley wheel (see #1 here) and is fixed to the crankshaft. How is it not working? Is it not spinning around? Is it in pieces? Did you ring AC Cars or somebody other than the dealer you had been with?

!RAY

No not yet as i am broke at the mo.Thats why i was wondering if i had a bit of time.
Bmw just said it had to be replaced,sorry thats all i know .I will ring AC cars next week.
Cheers
RAY

Seth Brundle

Can you describe the condition and movement of the pulley when the engine is ticking over?

!RAY

It does not turn the belt is off.Sorry i am not to up on cars.
I can do the basic that about it.When i look down at the front of the engine there is a wheel to the left side and to the right side there is two wheels one in front of the other but they are joined.The wheel to the left is not turning and the wheel to the right is as this is driven by the crank shaft.The belt that came off drives the wheel on the left side.I thinks its for the air con.
Cheers
Ray

Seth Brundle

See this pic - is the one at the bottom turning? This is your part.

!RAY

Yes .The one just to the left of it is not .The belt goes from the one in the far left of the pic to the one i am talking about

Seth Brundle

Here is a better pic:


OK so it sounds like the vibration damper pulley is ok (the large dark one in the pic). The other one probably isn't turning because the belt has been removed (hence having the belt).

So I'm puzzled. If it appears to be working fine and has no damage, why do BMW want to replace it?
Is the other belt attached and working?

Where are you based?

!RAY

Sorry about been a pain .The wheel to the left of the large black one is the one that is not turning .The belt went from this to the front wheel on the large black one . They said the vibration dampner the part number i gave above had to be replaced that is why the belt came off.I am based in Donabate and work in rathcoole.
Cheers
Ray

Seth Brundle

The vibration damper is the black one. I'm guessing (not a mechanic) that this is the crankshaft pulley and this turns the belt that goes to the smaller one on its left (grey pulley in above pic).
As you say, the vibration damper/crank pulley is turning so why did BMW say it wasn't working and needed to be replaced?
If I'm correct, then you need to see if the pulley on the A/C compressor (or even the compressor itself) is not working. Personally, I would get the old belt and put it on and see if I can get it turning and working!

!RAY

They said it came off due to vibration.I have a service pack on the car which is just up .They are going to change the breaks on the 24th june so i will ask a few questions.I just tryed to put the belt on and cant get to it ,to much crap in the way .The gray pulley seems to turn freely.
Thanks
Ray

Seth Brundle

OK I didn't know that.
get a price incl. VAT from BMW.
See these also:
http://www.schmiedmann.com/880/produkt/11237805696.htm
http://www.motormec.co.uk/vibration.html



See these for some additional info:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080326134551AAYyEVf
http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Harmonic_Balancer

!RAY

Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Ray