CARS:
- X5 3lt diesel
- 320d & 330d (E46 & E90 )
- Mini
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:
Belt fits into it.
Damper splits
SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE:
- Intermittent yet severe Vibration at low speeds
- Damper starts to delaminate
- Belts jump off; steering gets stiff, battery and coolant lights comes on
HOW IT WORKS:
The name is self explanatory. “Vibration damper” is exactly what it does. It dampens or absorbs the torsional vibrations (normal vibrations) caused from the crankshaft. Every time a cylinder fires up the crank rotates; causing all sorts of very technical vibrations which I won’t get into here. The simple solution to this magnitude of force is mounting a big rubber damper or pulley onto the front part of the crank.
X3 and X5 – usually between 120000km and 150000km
E90 between 100000km – 140000km
