Timing belt or chain?
 

my 1996 318ti sport (M44) comes with a timing chain correct?

Correct.

do all ti's come with a timing chain?
and it needs replacing at approx 100k am i right?

I don't think chains ever need replacing...

no, but the tensioners do.

sorry, i got confused. when do the tensioners need replacing?

reason i ask, the car has a light hum when i let off the trottle, i think it may be attributed to some sort of belt

The Tensioner internal spring gets weak or the oil seal gets old and the engine could be off. This is also a hydraulic tensioner and the spring is it's main support. The worst issue would be a "tooth jump". When the Tensioner gets so weak the chain goes slack and this causes the chain to jump on the gear teeth. Note as common on BMWs as some other cars. I'm not sure what the change interval is, but I would guess 100,000. Any input mates?

cossieturbo

I saw somewhere today where it said something like 60,000 mi. I could be wrong but better safe than sorry. how many miles are on your car right now?

I'm at 130,000 and I think it's time. I'll have to sort whether I need to just install it and run the engine at 3k RPM (many other cars) to set it or push on the chain guide to unlock the Tensioner. The factory M42 tensioner has to be released in this annoying fashion, but not sure about the M44. The M44 unit can supposedly be installed in the M42. Any additional details would be great. I'll keep looking myself.

I'm looking for more. Here's a bit I found... "A loud ticking sound, especially on a cold start, on an M42 1.8 16 valve engine is often a failing chain tensioner".

cossieturbo

i ordered the part and had my old shop do the work. did this before i moved so it was right around 200k miles.

was it replaced befor that?

not that i'm aware of. i never had it done and i don't believe it would have been done as part of any dealer services i'd had done previously.

I'll look into this because I might want to replaced mine.