N62 AC Belt Question

[wsmeyer]

As others ssaid, no special tools needed but it is a PITA to get to the tensioner bolt. Definitely try to stretch a new belt on first, IF the tensioner has never been adjusted it will still be in the correct place for a new OEM belt.

[Davidf]

I don't believe there is really an "adjustment" You tighten the "adjuster" bolt all the way until the tensioner pulley bracket bottoms out. With this in mind, it may very well be a stretch belt...

[wsmeyer]

I had to adjust mine. There was NO WAY it was going to stretch on. At the time I had the fan assembly out so I had enough room to put a notch into it with a Dremel. If I was to do it again I would find a nut that fit, smear the threads of the nut with JB Weld, thread it on and wait for it to dry. I think this would be even easier to adjust from the top than notched.

[Davidf]

No, what I meant was that you fully tighten the "adjustment" bolt that you said you cut a slot into. You don't stretch the belt on, you loosen the "adjustment bolt which moves the pulley so the belt will slip on, then you FULLY tighten the "adjustment" bolt until it bottoms the pulley bracket. you don't worry about belt tension or anything else. Because of this, it leads me to believe that maybe it is a stretch belt that self tensions.

[wsmeyer]

Mine isn't bottomed out though. Wasn't with the old belt and isn't now with the new belt. I pried my old belt off and then attempted to stretch the new one on hoping the tensioner was still in it's original position. Unfortunately it wasn't as apparently at some point the dealer had tightened it. I had to back it out most of the way, slip the new belt on and then tighten it to the correct belt tension.

[Davidf]

You might be right. I remember mine as bottomed out and adjuster bolt tight.

[SeanC]

What size is that adjustment bolt? I will attempt to reach to it from underneath tomorrow. Looks like a long snake extension might be needed to get to it.

[SeanC]

Well I was able to change my ac belt. Wasn't as bad as I thought even though mine also has dynamic suspension, etc. Nothing seems difficult after my failed attempt at the oil cooler gasket a few months back lol.

For some reason the bolt is not at its previous position, despite belt being tighter than before. Probably because it's a new belt.

Thanks Greg for your write up in the other thread. I changed water pump, thermostat, hoses, and also installed bimmerfix stent with the help of it.

[jfoj]

I recently changed my alternator and replaced my idlers and belts.

The AC belt on the N62 is a PITA.

Turns out the AC belt adjustment is T40 Torx that you reach from the bottom. The T40 is NOT fun trying to get to with a 3/8" drive T40, I was able to get is, but I had to go back and tighten the belt more.

I purchased this 1/4" drive kit on ebay for $23 that had a T40 1/4" drive rather than a 1/4" drive Torx bit set at T40 in 1/4" is a bit tricky to find. 46pc 1 4" Drive Socket and Bit Set Metric Hex Pozi Star Phillips Slotted | eBay

I then used a very long (12"??) 1/4" wobble extension I had already and the T40 Torx bit to get to the adjustment. MUCH easier than with a 3/8" T40 Torx bit. I could have used this set by its self, but found the long 1/4" drive wobble extension gave me another angle from further back than the shorter extensions did not give me.

Some red Loctite and the proper size nut installed on the other end of the adjustment bolt might be another option so you could get to the adjustment from above might be what some would choose to do. Not sure how long the Loctite would take to cure or what thread size the adjustment bolt is.

[lordshin808]

hey guys, i'm trying to change my AC belt, but now i'm stuck at this spot.

Do I just loosen the adjustment bolt number 2 from the bottom? How do you even reach it from the bottom? There's hardly any room there.

Do I need to loose bolt number 1 at all?

Thanks