N42/N46 Chain Replacement DIY Complete Guide PART #1: Removing chain, Guide rail, Seal & Timing

Detailed DIY guide for replacing timing chain, chain guide rail and front main crankshaft oil seal on an E46 316ti BMW with N42 engine.

Plastic chain rail guides get brittle over time and can break which can cause the chain to jump a tooth on the chain sprockets.

Some of the symptoms of broken guide rail or jumped chain are long crank when engine is cold, hesitation, unresponsive low range operation when cold and increased fuel consumption. Engine will have very low compression when cold.

This procedure will be very similar on other BMW vehicles with N42 or N46 engines: 3 series (316i, 318i, 320i, 316ti, 318ti, 318ci), 1 series (116i, 118i, 120i), X1 series and Z4 series with 1.8/2.0 litre engines.

You must read and understand the service manual before attempting this procedure!

Part numbers:
chain: 11317505608,
rail guide: 11317512520, 11317505608,
chain tensioner: 11318685091,
VANOS bolts: 11367500574,
crankshaft bolt: 11237503107,
oil pan gasket: 11137511224,
oil dipstick tube O-ring: 11437529257 ,
oil pickup tube o-ring: 11417507756,
front radial seal: 11117511395,
VANOS solenoid o-rings: 11367546379, 11367506178,
valve cover gasket: 11120032224,
VALVETRONIC sensor connector flange gasket: 11377502022

Complete parts catalogue: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select

Tools:
N42/N46 crankshaft front oil seal tool: https://tinyurl.com/u7uo595
N42/N46 timing toolkit. https://ebay.to/2HR8C9s
N42/N46 holder and balancer toolkit: https://tinyurl.com/u4tcd9d
engine support bar: https://tinyurl.com/qlkmdhn

Service manual:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e4...

Disclaimer:
BimmerZen assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. BimmerZen recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of BimmerZen , no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not BimmerZen. BimmerZen assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. BimmerZen recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of BimmerZen , no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not BimmerZen.