I would think if you did a survey of the users on the site, you will find that everyone that has replaced their belt did not have to do what you are suggesting. This is not a hard operation. I don't have photos to send, but someone might. I would NOT go to the dealer under any circumstances for anything. I would give my car away before paying their over the top amounts and listen to their arrogant attitude, along with the worst quality control of any group in any business I have ever seen. (exceptions to NBcat and Brutal noted).

Find a nice indy shop. The first time I needed one put on I went to a family owned shop down from me and spent $20 bucks to have them take one off and put a new one on. After that I did it the next 2 times myself. I bought the belt each time myself. Make sure you check the pricing on Rock Auto for a belt.

Tom in Plano

 

Hey Tom! Well, first of all, thank you for replying; I'm just down the street from you in Deep Ellum! :-)

As for not utilizing the dealer, actually, there is a great Indi shop that works on foreign cars (especially BMWs but Jaguars & other European cars as well) very close here in downtown. I have already reached out to him. He is a very nice dude from South Africa and possibly the antithesis of the big corporate dealer type.

Based on what you're saying, I will probably pull everything one more time (airbox, yada yada) and have ONE LAST look myself at the area with which I'm seeing a problem and maybe I'll find that pathway everyone else seems to have found.

If not, I'll have my local guy do it and if for any reason he won't or can't, I'll do the unthinkable and go to Jaguar of Frisco where they can do it for 232 bucks out the door (including the belt, so that way the one I have purchased already will just be a spare :-)

Cheers and have a great week!

 

I do not mind getting together with you and being of assistance. Even if my time did not permit- I would turn you over to the guys that did mine and you can buy the belt and wait and pay about $20-25 bucks and be in and out. I do have a base question- why are you changing the belt in the first place? You can buy good belt at Rock for $22.00

Tom

 

Hey Tom,

I'll start with your last question: it shows a bit of visable dry cracking, throughout. I just purchased the car about 1000 miles ago and it has about 197K on the clock, so this is simply one bit of maintenance that I feel I should take care of now rather than after towing it (after the belt breaking while, let's say, on a trip to Oklahoma or whatnot LOL - or not so LOL :-)

It's dry and cracking so it would be nipping it in the bud, as they say.

I already have purchased a belt that was well reviewed on Amazon – I think I paid somewhere between $15 and $20 for it.

Although somewhat tempting to try it again myself, rather than take all that stuff off and then realize I still am stumped, I would definitely like to take you up on your offer as regards the folks you say that would put the belt on for me for the approximate $$ range you mention – that would be utterly dandy!

I suppose it's in Plano (?) I'm in downtown Dallas so that travel would be not much of an issue.

Feel free to direct message me with the shop's information and I'll reach out to them & take it from there and again would like to say thank you so much for taking the time to reply!

 

here is the Alldata procedure attached.

Tom in Dallas/Plano

 

That doesn't show how to get the belt out from around the water pump housing/structure, but indeed, those are the basic instructions; understood. Thanks.

 

I just looked at mine and the belt on goes across the top of the water pump. Once you get it loose at either end, it will just slide across the top of the water pump and come out- it does not go all the way around the water pump.

TBB

 

Why not take a picture of the part you think will be a problem?

 

If I correct, the belt just is on top of the water pump held by tension, not all the way around it and once the belt is loose- it will just slide off the top of the water pump pulley? Does that sound correct? It seems I did something like that when I did many many moons ago.

T