How to time a 2002 enigne

[dmenche914]

We got a 2002 with vacum advance, we also have the Haynes manual, and are new to this car. (first bimmer)

the distributor had to be pulled to clean it, but now we need to set the timing but we cant get it statically as there are no timing marks on the pulley (the pointer is there, just no marks at all on the pulley)

any advice?

[CamB]

There should be something! Well there was on mine.

If you take off the rocker cover its pretty easy to see TDC from the cam, from memory.

[6point3]

Originally Posted by CamB

There should be something! Well there was on mine.

If you take off the rocker cover its pretty easy to see TDC from the cam, from memory.

It would be nice to know what happened ..........

[Tirebiter]

Timing marks are on the flywheel and can be seen through an oblong opening in the bell housing. The opening is just off centerline on the driver's side (above the starter motor) near the firewall. When you look down through it you should be able to see that one end of the oval is tapered like a knife edge lying flat on a table. That edge is the reference line that the marks on the flywheel are lined up with. Use a flashlight to help you see down into the opening. There is no need to remove the valve cover. Simply put the car in fourth gear and rock it on way or the other to rotate the engine.

There are two marks on the flywheel, one is a line with the letters OT next to it and the other is a BB sized ball pressed into the outside edge of the flywheel ( the Z ball). When the OT line is lined up with the knife edge, the engine is at TDC for #1 cylinder and is good for setting static timing. The Z ball is the mark used for dynamic timing and would be lined up on the knife edge when using your timing light.

Hope this helps...

Brock