BMW 530i xDrive Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement Service

How much does a Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 530i xDrive Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement is $178 with $38 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2020 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeSerpentine/Drive Belt Replacement	Estimate$230.72	Shop/Dealer Price$253.25 - $312.74
2017 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeSerpentine/Drive Belt Replacement	Estimate$221.71	Shop/Dealer Price$242.47 - $300.64
2019 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeSerpentine/Drive Belt Replacement	Estimate$221.71	Shop/Dealer Price$242.50 - $300.68
2021 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeSerpentine/Drive Belt Replacement	Estimate$221.71	Shop/Dealer Price$242.50 - $300.68
2022 BMW 530i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeSerpentine/Drive Belt Replacement	Estimate$221.71	Shop/Dealer Price$243.97 - $303.26

Show example BMW 530i xDrive Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement prices

What is a serpentine belt and how does it work?

A serpentine belt is a relatively long, flat, multi-ribbed belt that is driven by the engine’s crankshaft pulley. The belt drives many, and often all, of the engine accessories such as the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, water pump, and air pump. The serpentine belt is tensioned by a hydraulic or spring-loaded automatic tensioner. Some older cars use a serpentine belt to drive most accessories but will also have a shorter v-style belt to drive, for example, the power steering pump.

Belts

When to consider replacing the serpentine belt:

Regularly scheduled maintenance. Typically, belt manufacturers recommend belt replacement at 90,000 miles. However, the belt must be inspected for wear or damage at regular intervals prior to this high mileage.
Squealing noise, belt slippage, visible belt damage. Should the belt fail or wear out prematurely, you may hear noise or you may see visible signs of deterioration such as missing chunks of rubber, excessive cracking, or a shredded appearance on the edge of the belt.
Battery Light. A loose belt, perhaps caused by a defective tensioner, may not drive the alternator at adequate speed and thus the battery may discharge, causing the warning light to illuminate.
Engine overheating. Often, the serpentine belt drives the water pump. In those applications, if the belt breaks the engine will overheat in seconds to minutes. If the belt is inadequately tensioned, you may notice higher-than-normal engine operating temperature.

How do mechanics replace the serpentine belt?

Prior to removing the belt, the mechanic must run the engine to determine if the idler pulley and the belt tensioner are noise-free. Those rotating components have grease filled bearings and are subject to wear. In addition, the mechanic will ensure that all pulleys and accessories are turning in the same plane. These steps help make sure your new belt will operate trouble-free for its full-service life.
The belt’s routing path through the various components is noted. The belt tensioner is released, usually with a wrench or lever, to release the tension from the belt. With the tension off, the belt slides off the pulleys.
All rotating components — that is the alternator, air conditioner compressor, etc. — are checked for smooth operation and no noise.
If everything checks out, the new belt is slipped over all of the pulleys while holding the tensioner away from the belt. Once the belt is centered on all pulleys, the tensioner is released and the installation is complete. The engine is run to ensure normal operation.

Is it safe to drive with a serpentine belt problem?

No. Should the belt have visible damage, you risk unexpected and sudden breakage that could potentially leave you stranded. Serpentine belt problems that result in the alternator not charging may cause the battery to discharge, which will result in loss of electrical power to the vehicle. Additionally, if a deteriorated belt breaks and that belt drives the water pump, the engine will overheat in a matter of seconds.

When replacing the serpentine belt keep in mind:

On many cars, the expected service life of a serpentine belt is around 90,000 miles. Should the belt fail well prior to that, a very careful inspection should be performed to check for out-of-alignment pulleys, a possibly out-of-position crankshaft harmonic balancer on which the drive pulley is mounted, binding pulleys, or a defective belt tensioner.
Attention should always be given to serpentine belt routing, since proper routing is critical to proper belt tension, and function of the driven components.
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish serpentine belt related noise from other engine noises. In these cases, a mechanic will determine the origin of the noise by momentarily running the engine without the serpentine belt attached.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(4)

Rating Summary

4

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

James

32 years of experience

705 reviews

James

32 years of experience

by Robert

BMW 530i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Brea, California

Great Service

Nicholas

26 years of experience

21 reviews

Request Nicholas

Nicholas

26 years of experience

Request Nicholas

by Joe

BMW 530i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Front, Rear) - Massapequa Park, New York

Nicholas was the most professional and knowledgeable mechanic for my car. He went above and beyond anything that was expected. He took his time, answered all of my questions, spent plenty of time ensuring everything was perfect! He was great!

Simon

28 years of experience

378 reviews

Simon

28 years of experience

by Andre

BMW 530i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Temple Hills, Maryland

Was fast and efficient

Mario

22 years of experience

9 reviews

Mario

22 years of experience

by Joe

BMW 530i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Massapequa Park, New York

Mario was great! Just perfect! Could t ask for better! I’ve been so happy with all the service. Mario is top notch!

Excellent Rating

(4)

Rating Summary

4

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Industry News for Automotive Techs: September 10th-16th

New VW concept, dealership service assembly line, semi-autonomous vehicle device and new tools from Snap-On and Bolt Breaker top this week's news.

How Long Does a Valve Cover Gasket Last?

Among Among the most important parts of any engine is the oil that is contained within it. There are a variety of moving parts that depend on the oil for lubrication. The valve cover goes on top of the engine...

How to Replace an Air Cleaner Temperature Sensor

The air cleaner temperature sensor allows the computer to adjust engine timing and air/fuel ratio. A rough idle or "engine lag" are signs of failure.

How do you access the system check and vehicle feature customization options in the message center?

While your car’s message center provides you with a lot of information, you can also use it to access different systems and their statuses, as well as customize some of the options in your system. Here’s what you should do:...

What does the charging system Warning Light mean in a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

The charging system Warning Light symbolizes an electrical charging system problem. When this warning light is illuminated, your battery may not be able to charge itself, and electrical systems (such as the air conditioning, radio, and interior lights) will drain...

Car wouldn't start in cold weather

A number of things can effect a vehicle's ability to start in cold weather. The battery can have enough power to to turn on lights and other accessories, but not have enough power to crank the engine. The engine needs...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com