Anyone has Vanos troubles?

[phoenixcsl]

Has anyone here experienced vanos troubles?

I had the dreaded cam gear rattle back at the beginning of the year, which I duly had fixed, thought everything was hunky dory etc.

Since Feb i've battled with Engine light coming on, car feeling sluggish, to be told that the Vanos is broken, fault codes point at the Vanos.

So, finally had authorisation to get things replaced by my 3rd party warranty co.

Yesterday I had fitted: new Intake and Exhaust Camshaft Sensors and a new Vanos Solenoid / Gasket etc on the car...no change, recurring engine management light, failed Vanos test.

Today, had a vanos unit from another M3 fitted to the car, again no change, again enginge managment light, again failing Vanos test, apparently the same vanos codes were thrown.

It's so disappointing, I am truly gutted, I've hardly driven the car since I bought it, probably around 2k miles which is rubbish.

Anyone got any bright ideas on what could be potentially the problem? I'm thinking that when the CAM Gears were changed the CAM timing has been totally spooned, this is the next thing to check, apart from that i'm completetly stumped

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

When the ''replacement' Vanos was fitted
even though they may have 'locked''
the engine, did they re-check Cam Timing
etc ?

Fitting a replacement Vanos is no good
if its not timed correctly.

From what you have said it does point to
Cam timing.

As a quick approx check, if you bring No 1 cylinder
to TDC, you can check this with the timing marks
on the front Crank Damper, or remove no 1
plug and use a blunt rod to feel for the top of the
piston for TDC, then both the Intake Cam and Exhasut Cam
lobes at on No 1 cylinder at TDC should be pointing
horizontally inwards to each other.

If there not then your cam timing is out.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[phoenixcsl]

Originally Posted by The Gorilla

did they re-check Cam Timing
etc ?

Fitting a replacement Vanos is no good
if its not timed correctly.

Funnily enough I don't think they did re-check the timing, I instructed the garage to check the timing prior to changing the vanos, but they didn't as they did not have the timing tool!!

I'm thinking the timing has been out since the cam gears were replaced and maybe, just maybe I didn't need the 2nd vanos...

[sailorbaz]

I had Vanos issues about a year into ownership (2007) and it was sorted under BMW Warranty. Don't think they changed the whole unit, just a part of it which I can't remember.

Haven't heard of many Vanos issues on the S54 engine though.

[shimmy]

I had replacement vanos last year after getting louder front end tapping noise, no other symptoms.

[shane@mbtech]

As my primate friend says, check the timing.
Sounds to me like it's out a tooth or 2.

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by sailorbaz

I had Vanos issues about a year into ownership (2007) and it was sorted under BMW Warranty. Don't think they changed the whole unit, just a part of it which I can't remember.

Haven't heard of many Vanos issues on the S54 engine though.

More common then you think Baz especially in the CSL Yours, mine, Shimmy's ... I'm sure there are others

[phoenixcsl]

Just had some good news, the cam timing was miles out, clearly from when i had the gears changed!

Vanos now operating as it should, no fault codes and has passed vanos tests!

What a palava, can't wait to go ge the car now...and to top it off..its lovely and sunny

[phoenixcsl]

It does make me wonder if the timing is actually completely out when I sit back and think about the whole chain of events.

I had the cam gears / bolts replaced at the beginning of the year due to rattling/knocking noise from the vanos (which is now cured).

I'm wondering if when the gears were replaced, the cam timing has been reset to a normal e46 m3 profile rather than a CSL profile? I am of course assuming that the E46 M3 has a different cam timing profile to the CSL?

This could have in turn led to complete misdiagnosis (from BMW and specialists) of what is wrong with the car, i.e. new solenoids, new vanos etc etc.

Anyway, the timing is being checked by a specialist today, though they didn't have the correct timing tool, which is a little worrying considering how well known they are.