{"product_id":"bmw-timing-chain-rail-12","title":"Original BMW Timing Chain Guide Rail for BMW E36 318i, 318is, 318ti, and Z3 (1993–1999)","description":"\u003cp\u003eMade in Germany and weighing only 14 g, this Original BMW timing chain guide rail holds the timing chain on its path between the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets on 1993–1999 BMW E36 318i, 318is, 318ti, and Z3 models with four-cylinder M42, M43, and M44 engines. Keeping the chain on that path is what keeps valve timing locked to crankshaft rotation, so the intake and exhaust valves open and close at the right moment. The guide limits excess chain movement and vibration while the engine runs. It works alongside the timing chain tensioner, which holds the chain at the correct tension so slack does not build up. A worn or broken guide lets the chain slap against nearby parts and, in severe cases, slip on its sprockets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal BMW Parts carry a 24-month parts warranty.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBMW's parts data calls this part 'Guide' and shows production starting in September 1993. It replaced the earlier 11-31-1-721-419, but BMW marks that change as not exchangeable retrospectively. If your engine was built before September 1993 or still carries the older guide, check with us before ordering. Across the E36 range, the same guide serves the four-cylinder 318 sedan, convertible, coupe, and 318ti compact, and it also appears on the Z3 with the M43 and M44.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManufacturer: BMW\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePart number: 11-31-1-734-694\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBMW part name: Guide (timing chain guide rail)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 14 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduction start: September 1993\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReplaces 11-31-1-721-419, not exchangeable retrospectively\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngines: M42, M43, and M44 four-cylinder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCountry of manufacture: Germany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSold individually\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty: 24-month Original BMW parts warranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat noise does a worn timing chain guide make?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe most common sign is a rattling or clattering from the engine, most noticeable at start-up or idle, caused by the chain hitting or rubbing nearby parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan a bad guide cause running problems?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. A worn guide can let the chain slip, which upsets cam timing and can cause misfires, stalling, or hard starting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this guide work on its own?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt works together with the timing chain tensioner, which maintains chain tension while the guide controls the chain's path.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePMB Performance supplies factory timing parts for the M42 and M44 four-cylinder BMWs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFitment \u0026amp; Compatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse the fitment table below to confirm year, model, submodel, and application notes before ordering. PMB Performance has spent over 20 years matching parts to vehicles and can verify this against your VIN.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable border=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\" width=\"100\"\u003eYear\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\" width=\"125\"\u003eMake\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\" width=\"150\"\u003eModel\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\" width=\"80\"\u003eSubmodel\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003eNotes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1993\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1994\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1995\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1996\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1997\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1998\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318i\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1993\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318is\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1994\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318is\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1995\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318is\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1996\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318is\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1997\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318is\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1995\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318ti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1996\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318ti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1997\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318ti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1998\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318ti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1999\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e318ti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1996\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZ3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1997\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZ3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1998\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBMW\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZ3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"SSF E","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47779291627698,"sku":"BSMS_11-31-1-734-694","price":44.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0521\/8792\/2610\/files\/2922C175-43F0-42BB-B53F-B3497AF2F3C1-2.jpg?v=1785453288","url":"https:\/\/pmbperformance.com\/products\/bmw-timing-chain-rail-12","provider":"PMB Performance","version":"1.0","type":"link"}