Disconnect the ground wire from the battery.
Caution: When the battery is disconnected, the information in the electronic memory devices, such as the engine fault memory or the radio security code memory, is erased. The battery should only be disconnected with the ignition off, so as not to damage the fuel injection system control unit. When disconnecting the battery, follow the instructions in the sections "Radio" and "Removing and installing the battery".
Raise the front of the car.
Remove the engine compartment pan and fan frame.
Unscrew the central bolt-plug "1" of the high-pressure fuel pump.
Screw in an adapter instead of a plug (BMW-135330) and the arrow indicator and tighten it a little.
Turn the crankshaft clockwise in the direction of the top dead center of cylinder 1 until the indicator needle remains stationary at its lowest point. Start turning the crankshaft at least 60°-90° before the top dead center. In this case, the piston of cylinder 1 is at the top dead center if both cams corresponding to cylinder 1 on the chain side are facing upward. To check, open the oil filler neck and observe the cams.
To turn the engine, engage 5th gear, release the handbrake and move the car. Or tighten the handbrake, shift the gearbox into neutral and turn the crankshaft belt pulley with the key head on the central bolt.
Reset the dial indicator scale to zero.
Unscrew the plug on the engine block.
Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the locking rod can be inserted (BMW-112300) through the hole in the engine block into the hole in the flywheel at top dead center.
Caution: Do not turn the engine counterclockwise. This will result in incorrect measurement results.
Model 3254td/tds: In this position the dial gauge should show 0.95 + 0.02 mm.
Model 318tds: In this position the dial gauge should show 0.60 + 0.02 mm.
If the measurement result differs from the specified value, adjust the high-pressure fuel pump.
Loosen bolt "3" without unscrewing.
Loosen nuts "1" and "2".
Note: Loosen the nuts slightly to avoid overtightening with the timing belt.
Turn the high pressure fuel pump until the set value is set on the dial indicator scale.
Tighten the nuts and bolts in sequence 1 to 3 to a tightening torque of 25 Nm.
Check the adjustment again. To do this, first turn the crankshaft back 90°.
Remove the dial indicator.
Tighten the central plug bolt with a new copper sealing washer to a tightening torque of 15 Nm.
Start the engine and, if necessary, bleed air from the fuel injection system.
After a test drive, check the tightness of the central plug bolt and, if necessary, tighten it to a maximum of 20 Nm.