Checking camshaft timing (manual transmission)

WARNING: Hot surfaces .
Risk of burning!

Perform all work only on components that have cooled down.

Preliminary work

Refer to DISCONNECTING ALL BATTERY GROUND LEADS .
Refer to REMOVING THE ACOUSTIC COVER .
Refer to REMOVING INTAKE SILENCER HOUSING .
Refer to REMOVING CLEAN AIR PIPE .
Refer to REMOVING FAN COWL .
Refer to REMOVING THE COVER IN THE LEFT ENGINE COMPARTMENT .
Refer to REMOVING THE RIGHT COVER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT .
Refer to REMOVING THE SOUND INSULATION ON THE BULKHEAD UPPER PART AT THE CENTER .
Refer to REMOVING BOTH WIPER ARMS .
Refer to REMOVING COWL PANEL COVER .
Refer to REMOVING TRAILING LINK AT SPRING STRUT DOME .
Refer to REMOVING ACOUSTIC COVER AT REAR .
Refer to REMOVING IGNITION COILS .
Refer to REMOVING THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE BETWEEN THE RAIL AND THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP .
Refer to REMOVING FUEL DELIVERY LINE .
Refer to REMOVING THE INJECTORS FOR CYLINDERS 1 TO 3 .
Refer to REMOVING THE INJECTORS FOR CYLINDERS 4 TO 6 .
Refer to REMOVING HIGH PRESSURE PUMP .
Refer to REMOVING BOTH ACTUATORS .
Refer to REMOVING FRONT ENGINE ENCAPSULATION .
Refer to REMOVING THE CYLINDER HEAD COVER .
Refer to REMOVING ALL SPARK PLUGS .
Refer to REMOVING THE FRONT UNDERBODY PROTECTION
Refer to REMOVING THE SUPPORT FOR THE UNDERBODY PROTECTION .

NOTE: RISK OF DAMAGE
Damage to the engine .
If the engine is manually rotated in the wrong direction of rotation, the engine can be damaged .

Only rotate the engine manually in the correct direction of rotation: a) clockwise when looking at the damper, or b) counterclockwise when looking at the chain drive, b) applies only if the timing chain is installed in the rear.

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Twist the engine with the special tool 0 493 380 (116 480) to the TDC firing position of the 1st cylinder .
Block the crankshaft in the TDC firing position of cylinder 1 (manual transmission) .
On vehicles with manual transmission: Insert the special tool up to dimension (X) in the dowel hole.
Dimension (X) = 56 mm

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Vehicles with manual gearbox:
Special tool 2 288 380 has been correctly positioned.

Engine is in TDC firing position of cylinder 1.

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Vehicles with manual gearbox:
Special tool 2 288 380 incorrectly positioned.

TDC firing position of cylinder 1 not achieved.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles with manual gearbox:
Open sealing cap (1) from the oil sump.

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Vehicles with manual gearbox:
Use the special tool 2 288 380 to block the crankshaft in the TDC firing position of cylinder 1.
NOTE: If the crankshaft is blocked properly, it is not possible to turn the engine forwards or backwards on the vibration damper!

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Check
Check whether the mark (1) of the exhaust camshaft and the mark (2) of the intake camshaft can be read from above.

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Result

» Marks (1) and (2) cannot be read from the top.

Measure
- Turn the camshafts to the correct position or re-adjust the valve timing.
Check
Check whether the center of the three flattened areas (1) on both camshafts points upwards. The special tool 2 358 122 can also be mounted if the camshafts are twisted by 180° (central flattened area points downwards).

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Result

» The center of the three flattened areas (1) does not point upwards.

Measure
- Turn the camshafts to the correct position such that the center of the three flattened areas (1) on both camshafts points upwards.
Check whether the cam of the exhaust camshaft (1) and the intake camshaft (2) are positioned on the 1st cylinder as shown.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Keep set of special tools 2 358 122 at hand:

Number	Description
1	Basic carrier
2	Basic carrier screws on cylinder head
3	Gauge to fix exhaust camshaft
4	Gauge to fix intake camshaft
5	Screw gauge on basic carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Secure the basic carrier (1) of the special tool 2 358 122 with the screws (2) the cylinder head .
Position gauge (3) with the recess on the exhaust camshaft and fix with the screws (5) on the basic carrier (1) .
NOTE: TECHNICAL INFORMATION
If special tool cannot be mounted, the timing must be readjusted.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Position gauge (4) with the recess on the intake camshaft and fix with the screws (5) on the basic carrier (1) .

Follow-up work

Refer to INSTALLING ALL SPARK PLUGS .
Refer to INSTALLING CYLINDER HEAD COVER .
Refer to INSTALLING FRONT ENGINE ENCAPSULATION .
Refer to INSTALLING BOTH ACTUATORS .
Refer to INSTALLING HIGH PRESSURE PUMP .
Refer to PREPARING THE INJECTORS FOR INSTALLATION .
Refer to INSTALLING THE INJECTORS FOR THE CYLINDERS 1 TO 3 .
Refer to INSTALLING THE INJECTORS FOR THE CYLINDERS 4 TO 6 .
Refer to INSTALLING FUEL DELIVERY LINE .
Refer to INSTALLING THE HIGH-PRESSURE LINE BETWEEN THE HIGH-PRESSURE RAIL AND THE HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP .
Refer to INSTALLING THE IGNITION COILS .
Refer to INSTALLING ACOUSTIC COVER AT REAR .
Refer to INSTALLING TENSION STRUT ON SUSPENSION STRUT TOWER .
Refer to ATTACHING COWL PANEL COVER .
Refer to INSTALLING BOTH WIPER ARMS .
Refer to CHECKING THE ANGLE OF ATTACK OF THE WIPER ARMS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT .
Refer to INSTALLING SOUND INSULATION AT THE CENTER OF THE BULKHEAD UPPER PART .
Refer to INSTALLING THE COVER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE LEFT .
Refer to INSTALLING THE COVER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE RIGHT .
Refer to INSTALLING FAN COWL .
Refer to INSTALLING CLEAN AIR PIPE .
Refer to INSTALLING INTAKE SILENCER HOUSING .
Refer to INSTALLING ACOUSTIC COVER .
Refer to INSTALLING THE SUPPORT FOR THE UNDERBODY PROTECTION .
Refer to INSTALLING THE FRONT UNDERBODY PROTECTION
Refer to DISCONNECTING ALL BATTERY GROUND LEADS .