Noob with a drive belt tensioner question

[Ziradog]

Just inherited a 1996 318ti California (M44 engine) with a number of problems. One is a serious oil leak from the oil filter mount, which makes it hard to track down the other oil leaks. I got the gaskets, o-rings and bush (?) to fix the leak, but when I went to take the belt off I could not loosen the tensioner. All the info I could find on-line says to use a 16 mm wrench to loosen the tension & remove the belt. Problem is, I can't find any hex to put the wrench on. There is a Torx or Hex in the center of the pulley (axle), can't see it well enough to tell which but none of my Allen or Torx bits fit it anyway. What am I missing?

[spidertri]

If you haven't already, take out the radiator fan to give yourself some more room to work. With that out of the way you should be able to see the tensioner pretty well.

You rotate it using that hex/torx in the middle of the pulley. Mine uses a T50 torx (which can be a pain, I wish it was a hex) rotated counter clockwise to loosen the belt. A breaker bar helps here to get leverage on it while you slip the belt off.

There are also two little holes on the tensioner that you can stick a nail in to lock it while the belt is off. If you don't lock it the tensioner will move a bit past where it normally is with the belt on, not a big deal.