[overdrivex]

I'm going to be changing the belt tensioner pulley, idler pulley, and belt on my 08 E92 328xi sometime next month. I realize I'm going to need a torque wrench for the bolts, and so far, I've found three 1/2 inch drive torque wrenches that seem like they may be good for this application (and others in the future). Do any of you have experience with any of these wrenches, or are there any others you would recommend?

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-24335-2...6%3A1249152011

http://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-31...6%3A1249152011

http://www.amazon.com/Sunex-9701A-2-...6%3A1249152011

I realize these aren't anything like the snap-on tools, but what about for a home DIY?

[Abax335]

Personally feel 1/2" is way to big for most engine work, probably better off with a 3/8" that does angle since alot of the components require torque angle as well.

When you do the tensioner make sure you get a new bolt and make sure you use the t60 when moving the tensioner, seen alot of people use 55 then strip the tensioner

[jwalker87]

Agreed on the T60, since I just did this last week.

For the torque wrenches, I actually use the first one linked (Tekton 10-150 ft-lb). I also have a Tekton 250 ft-lb (both of these are 1/2" drive) and a Craftsman 3/8" drive (not sure of the range, but its in in-lb, something like 270). Something that does angle is unneccesary, since you can just torque to the specified torque using the torque wrench, then I switch over to a breaker bar for the additional angle (when it says something like torque to 18 ft-lbs then an additional 90*, like the tensioner bolt IIRC).

I highly recommend the Tekton wrench, or a 1/2" wrench, for most car work. Most of the things you really care about torquing are larger numbers, like chassis fasteners, wheel bolts, and such. I recently picked up the 3/8" drive to torque the smaller things, since I'm kind of anal about doing things per the book, and EVERYTHING has a torque spec.

[overdrivex]

Thanks guys! I was looking at the 1/2" since it had a larger range that could be used for many other things on the vehicle. I've purchased a Torx T60 already, so no worries there! I also plan on getting a breaker bar to use for this as well. I'm thinking I'll purchase the first torque wrench linked.

This seems to come with the bolt, so I should be good there.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...52-engine.aspx

[mweisdorfer]

I have had good luck with this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0032A...GkL&ref=plSrch

[noah.s]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

Thanks guys! I was looking at the 1/2" since it had a larger range that could be used for many other things on the vehicle. I've purchased a Torx T60 already, so no worries there! I also plan on getting a breaker bar to use for this as well. I'm thinking I'll purchase the first torque wrench linked.

This seems to come with the bolt, so I should be good there.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...52-engine.aspx

If you want to save some cash, I just bought and installed this a few days ago. The price has actually gone up $10 since I bought it, but still much less than anywhere else and its prime. It's the same kit everyone else is selling.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

I have had good luck with this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0032A...GkL&ref=plSrch

I've never seen a digital one before...has it been working very well for you?

Originally Posted by noah.s

If you want to save some cash, I just bought and installed this a few days ago. The price has actually gone up $10 since I bought it, but still much less than anywhere else and its prime. It's the same kit everyone else is selling.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh wow thanks! That is a great price savings! Seems to be the same company that makes the OEM, correct?

[critical05]

One thing to consider is what range of the bolts you will typically be torqueing.

There's the 20% percent rule. Anything less than 20% of full torque on a torque wrench has a different accuracy (far worse) than the listed +/- 4%.

This means at 150 ft*lbs, you shouldn't use that torque wrench for anything under 30ft*lbs.

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by critical05

One thing to consider is what range of the bolts you will typically be torqueing.

There's the 20% percent rule. Anything less than 20% of full torque on a torque wrench has a different accuracy (far worse) than the listed +/- 4%.

This means at 150 ft*lbs, you shouldn't use that torque wrench for anything under 30ft*lbs.

So to torque something to 18 ftlbs it wouldn't be good based on that 20% rule...

But then for the tensioner pulley bolt I believe its 18 ftlbs + 90 degrees as stated above.

[Hops128i]

Originally Posted by Abax335

Personally feel 1/2" is way to big for most engine work, probably better off with a 3/8" that does angle since alot of the components require torque angle as well.

When you do the tensioner make sure you get a new bolt and make sure you use the t60 when moving the tensioner, seen alot of people use 55 then strip the tensioner

thanks for posting this, i'm planning to do the belt/tensioner in the next few weeks and was just getting ready by laying things out, the T55 seemed a good fit, but went back to check, yup it's a T60.

[noah.s]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

I've never seen a digital one before...has it been working very well for you?


Oh wow thanks! That is a great price savings! Seems to be the same company that makes the OEM, correct?

Yea, I've read that contitech is the OEM. I compared all the parts when I was replacing them and there were no differences.

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by noah.s

Yea, I've read that contitech is the OEM. I compared all the parts when I was replacing them and there were no differences.

Cool thanks!

[NoSlow5oh]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

So to torque something to 18 ftlbs it wouldn't be good based on that 20% rule...

But then for the tensioner pulley bolt I believe its 18 ftlbs + 90 degrees as stated above.

I bought the TEKTON last year and use it for tightening down the oil drain bolt and oil filter cap at around 18ft.lbs and the marks line up perfectly.

[davidwarren]

I have Husky torque wrenches from home depot. I have a 50-250, 20-100, and a smaller one for 5-30ish ft-lbs (but this one is scaled in inch-pounds). They work great for me.

[critical05]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

So to torque something to 18 ftlbs it wouldn't be good based on that 20% rule...

But then for the tensioner pulley bolt I believe its 18 ftlbs + 90 degrees as stated above.

It will be fine. I guess I've been regurgitating what I have been told but never bothered to calculate it out. It seems like noise to me after calculating.

So typically, they are allowed 0.8% of full torque error for anything under 20%. So on a 150 ft lbs torque wrench, anything under 30 ft*lbs can have an error of 1.2 ft*lbs.

Seems like noise to me. I have a torque wrench load cell at work, I have checked accuracy on some of my personal torque wrenches. I can easily push 5- 10 ft*lbs over the set value if i'm not careful. These are on the click style, breakaway torque wrenches, these aren't cheap wrenches either, they're Stahlwille.

No i wouldn't promote spending that much on torque wrenches. I got them on firesale from a business that didn't know what they had, picked them up unused for less than $25. Lets say at that price, I have all ranges covered and backups, lol.

[John 070]

Stop playing around, you're working on a BMW....$12x.xx is not a lot of money. Sure, this wrench was $15 cheaper 3 years ago, but so what....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[ctuna]

You might want get a torque angle adapter to.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by critical05

It will be fine. I guess I've been regurgitating what I have been told but never bothered to calculate it out. It seems like noise to me after calculating.

So typically, they are allowed 0.08% of full torque error for anything under 20%. So on a 150 ft lbs torque wrench, anything under 30 ft*lbs can have an error of 1.2 ft*lbs.

Seems like noise to me. I have a torque wrench load cell at work, I have checked accuracy on some of my personal torque wrenches. I can easily push 5- 10 ft*lbs over the set value if i'm not careful. These are on the click style, breakaway torque wrenches, these aren't cheap wrenches either, they're Stahlwille.

No i wouldn't promote spending that much on torque wrenches. I got them on firesale from a business that didn't know what they had, picked them up unused for less than $25. Lets say at that price, I have all ranges covered and backups, lol.

It isn't noise, it's spelled out on Snap On's website.

Snap On usually isn't worth it, because you're looking at $400 vs. $130 with the CDI, and less accurate. What you get with Snap On is the ratchet head.

I have two Snap On ratchets that I love, but I got them from a Vegas pawn shop, before reality tv drove the prices up, they were cheap, $30 each. Wish I could get more.

Were you serious about not being able to calculate 20% of the upper range, or just joking?

[critical05]

Originally Posted by John 070

It isn't noise, it's spelled out on Snap On's website.

Snap On usually isn't worth it, because you're looking at $400 vs. $130 with the CDI, and less accurate. What you get with Snap On is the ratchet head.

I have two Snap On ratchets that I love, but I got them from a Vegas pawn shop, before reality tv drove the prices up, they were cheap, $30 each. Wish I could get more.

Were you serious about not being able to calculate 20% of the upper range, or just joking?

Never said not being able to calculate it out. What I said is that I never bothered too.

So at 18 ft*lbs, it will be off by by 6.6% (1.2 ft*lbs). I'm saying that the tool error is small relative to the error of the operator. I've done repeat-ability studies at work using new calibrated torque wrenches with different people, you find that the operator is not as accurate as the tool. Not everyone has the same reaction time when they hear/feel that click.

Snaps on web site quotes a 16% error at 5 ft*lbs per ANSI (based on a 100 ft*lb torque wrench). This is irrelevant because at this low of a torque, you should be using in*lbs anyways.

This bolt is technically not torqued, but set by bolt stretch. The purpose of the 18 ft*lbs is to ensure the bolt is fully seated. The bolt thread has a certain pitch (height of 1 full screw thread), by rotating the bolt 90 degrees, you ensure you have 1/4 screw thread of stretch in the bolt.

[Eddien123]

1/2 is a bit large for engine work. A 1/2 inch torque wrench at max could snap most bolts under your hood. Obviously you wouldn't do that but just making a point.

[Swish]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

I'm going to be changing the belt tensioner pulley, idler pulley, and belt on my 08 E92 328xi sometime next month. I realize I'm going to need a torque wrench for the bolts, and so far, I've found three 1/2 inch drive torque wrenches that seem like they may be good for this application (and others in the future). Do any of you have experience with any of these wrenches, or are there any others you would recommend?

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-24335-2...6%3A1249152011

http://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-31...6%3A1249152011

http://www.amazon.com/Sunex-9701A-2-...6%3A1249152011

I realize these aren't anything like the snap-on tools, but what about for a home DIY?

...stores, such as Advance Auto Parts, allow you to borrow their tools for free. I did that when I changed my own oil rather than buying my own oil filter wrench. I had to return it in 24 hours but free is always good!

[overdrivex]

Thanks for all the responses! I ended up purchasing the 1/2 inch drive Tekton, so I'll see how that goes. I'm going to be changing the tensioner pulley in a couple weeks, so I'll research a bit more, but for now, I have the Tekton on the way here!