HI 318ti, Thanks again for your help, and those useful links.
I also spoke to the
Head Technician in a large BMW Dealership here in London, and he also introduced me to the
Chief BMW mechanic (very experienced). They were excellent, very friendly, helpful and full of sound advice. The superb advice could almost be reason in itself for buying a BMW
.
Below is a recap of my original questions, along with suggestions from the experienced Technician and Mechanic from the dealership;
Quote:
Originally Posted by montrealblue7  1) By pushing the Timing Chain Tensioner (TCT) back in, could have I damaged the engine/timing chain or upset the timing ? |
We discussed this issue, and I was advised that it would be VERY unlikely that either the timing chain or the timing would be upset. It was also suggested that I try and manually turn the crankshaft to double check.
Procedure: Remove all 4 spark plugs (30Nm tightening torque), and turn the crankshaft using a 22mm socket and 1/2" ratchet (I also removed the Cylinder head cover, so that I could see and feel the timing chains, cams and pistons). [Was also useful for double checking that the Hydraulic tensioner was correctly located].
The crank would have cycles where it was stiff to turn, then immediately following this, very easy to turn. I assumed that this was due a piston rising then falling respectively (
please correct me if I am wrong 
). Despite a fair amount of effort required in turning the crank, I don't think that I heard/felt any piston/valve contact (I hope
).
With the Cylinder Head cover removed, I really should have checked TDC positions on the Camshaft and Crankshaft, but didn't want to raise the car and crawl underneath, to check the flywheel near the transmission.
BTW, is there an easier way to check for TDC on the Camshaft ? Quote:
Originally Posted by montrealblue7 2) How do I go about reinstalling the TCT ? Does the timing case cover have to be removed, to resinstall the TCT ? |
As per your answer, no.
This is actually discussed in great depth in the informative link;
M42 Club: Change the timing chain tensioner the easy way If your car has the improved M44 tensioner (which is a
highly recommended upgrade if you currently have a M42 tensioner [link also tells you how to differentiate]), then it should be possible to quickly undo the 19mm tensioner plug, and swap the tensioner in the decompressed state.
For my understanding, I beleive the reason that TIS and some other car manuals recommend installing the Tensioner in the 68.5mm compressed state, is that the original M42 style tensioner could lock into fully extended position if uncompressed, and so cause chain/engine damage.
Hopefully, the revised M44 tensioner doesn't do this.
BTW: TIS and Bentley recommend renewing the Tensioner plug washer, when re-installing. Quote:
Originally Posted by montrealblue7 3) Does anyone accurately know the Torque setting for the 19mm TCT plug ? |
The Bentley manual quotes this as; Chain Tensioner to cylinder head:
40Nm (30 ft-lb).
Originally, I just tightened by hand, but ended up using a Digital Torque wrench, just to make sure
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by montrealblue7 4) Where is the engine coolant drain plug on an M42 engine ? |
OK, this is a little messy (
which probably explains why I accidently removed the wrong plug in the first place!)
Looking from the front of the car to back of the car, the Engine block coolant drain plug is on the left hand side of the engine, in the bottom far corner.
Or putting it another way, it is
below the exhaust manifold on Cylinder 4. Remember that Cylinder 1 is closest to the timing chain, i.e. towards the front of the car. The Block coolant drain plug is very difficult to see, (
and even more difficult to remove/install) even when the car is jacked/axle stand up.
BTW: I could only see the Block coolant drain plug, when the car was jacked/axle stand up, and had to crawl underneath the car.
Like the Hydraulic Timing Chain Tensioner, the Block coolant drain plug is a 19mm plug.
Bentley quotes the tightening torque; Engine block drain plug to block
25Nm (18 ft-lb).
Regards,
MB7