 Belt Tensioner Info?
As a noob, can anyone clarify the serpentine belt tensioner differences on the M44 - 1998 (10/97 build) 318Ti? I had to replace the alternator recently (that's what happens when you try to charge a battery with a shorted cell, although it WOULD start the car!) and now I get a pretty loud whine from the alternator/tensioner area, worse at an idle. From what I can tell, some engines have 2 idler pulleys - one on the alternator itself and one on the tensioner, and others have only the one on the tensioner. There seem to be both hydraulic-style and mechanical tensioner assemblies. Mine appears to be a mechanical tensioner with a 16mm hex-head bolt which releases counter-clockwise and with only one idler pulley. What do I order to replace the idler pulley? I see idlers, but those are supposed to only be for the hydraulic-type tensioners. I see complete mechanical tensioner assemblies, but those are pretty pricey if it's only the pulley bearings gone bad. Can somebody sort out this tensioner mess for me? BTW - already replaced the one remanufactured alternator which whined with the one on there now - which also whines so would like to try the tensioner pulley if it's not too much... | 
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