Stephen James Enfield - £2200 Vanos
Discussion
belleair302 said:
Anybody running a car from their own pocket, which is outside its warranty period is much better off seeking an experienced specialist. You will save money, time and more often than not meet interesting enthuastic mechanics and engineers who understand their trade, not just pretend to look at a computer and mumble, 'I dunno, beats me guv!'
The man speaks sense
Happidec, sorry to hear about your woes, but that's the very reason I won't go near a BMW dealer ever.
happidec said:
LATEST(GOOD)NEWS
Spoke to a man at MMR Independent Chelmsford last night about the vanos and his thoughts. He said-
"Get it done. Your Pistons may get stuck in the Cam, if that happens it's 6k"
This left me slightly dejected. He did say to phone a bloke called STUART who's very in the know about VANOS issues, apparently, AND he is nearer to me in North London. Called Stuart up straight after. He asked a few questions talked about the problem and said pop in today he'll listen to it.
Woke up this morning went to AUDI WHETSTONE about the old dears A6 and the power steering fluid, which PETER the Main Technician in there topped up free of change. Good bloke. They wouldn't let me sit in the R7. Anyway got home & took my M3 for a blast this morning. No noise at start up, sounded fantastic, threw it round a few corners and popped into Highams Park Motor Company a specialist BMW near Walthamstow where this STUART bloke works.
Highams Park Motor Company are top blokes, both Stuart and Clive. Mine had to go in unexpectedly last week and they diagnosed the problem straight away from just listening to the car and had it fixed promptly. Used them for years and can't recommend them enough
As I pulled into the garage I saw an m3 E36 coupe N -REG in etoril similar to mine having work done to it and thought 'good sign they get a few older M3's in here'
Spoke to Stuart the owner, bloody nice lad who seems to talk straight, he stuck his head under the bonnet, listened carefully to the engine, pulled the throttle line a few times & gave his opinion.
He said "this sounds very quiet I really don't think you have a problem some of these make a racket but it's something that you need to monitor and obviously I can do it for you but I don't think there's anything wrong at this point in time, I charge 1400-1500" Felt relieved(ish)
Further to this he was gushing at my car saying it was prestine and I was looking forward to getting straight back in it to give it a blast again. Just before I left he took me over to the sick N-REG and showed me some more things about the engine.
Just home now. Thanks whoever gave me Phil's name as I'm going to buzz him and get another opinion from someone who knows and to the others for there advice & opinion, really appreciate it.
Of coarse I will update this if theres a need to
Quick question. The car was warmed up when STUART looked at it. Will this have be taken into account? I didn't ask him that.
Also Why did it sound like someone had thown a spanner in the works when I went up to BMW the other day?
Spoke to a man at MMR Independent Chelmsford last night about the vanos and his thoughts. He said-
"Get it done. Your Pistons may get stuck in the Cam, if that happens it's 6k"
This left me slightly dejected. He did say to phone a bloke called STUART who's very in the know about VANOS issues, apparently, AND he is nearer to me in North London. Called Stuart up straight after. He asked a few questions talked about the problem and said pop in today he'll listen to it.
Woke up this morning went to AUDI WHETSTONE about the old dears A6 and the power steering fluid, which PETER the Main Technician in there topped up free of change. Good bloke. They wouldn't let me sit in the R7. Anyway got home & took my M3 for a blast this morning. No noise at start up, sounded fantastic, threw it round a few corners and popped into Highams Park Motor Company a specialist BMW near Walthamstow where this STUART bloke works.
Highams Park Motor Company are top blokes, both Stuart and Clive. Mine had to go in unexpectedly last week and they diagnosed the problem straight away from just listening to the car and had it fixed promptly. Used them for years and can't recommend them enough
As I pulled into the garage I saw an m3 E36 coupe N -REG in etoril similar to mine having work done to it and thought 'good sign they get a few older M3's in here'
Spoke to Stuart the owner, bloody nice lad who seems to talk straight, he stuck his head under the bonnet, listened carefully to the engine, pulled the throttle line a few times & gave his opinion.
He said "this sounds very quiet I really don't think you have a problem some of these make a racket but it's something that you need to monitor and obviously I can do it for you but I don't think there's anything wrong at this point in time, I charge 1400-1500" Felt relieved(ish)
Further to this he was gushing at my car saying it was prestine and I was looking forward to getting straight back in it to give it a blast again. Just before I left he took me over to the sick N-REG and showed me some more things about the engine.
Just home now. Thanks whoever gave me Phil's name as I'm going to buzz him and get another opinion from someone who knows and to the others for there advice & opinion, really appreciate it.
Of coarse I will update this if theres a need to
Quick question. The car was warmed up when STUART looked at it. Will this have be taken into account? I didn't ask him that.
Also Why did it sound like someone had thown a spanner in the works when I went up to BMW the other day?
On that note, I've use Highams Park since I bought the M3 EVO. They always have a LOT of E36 M3's in and out of there. Labour rates seem reasonable and what they don't know about the cars doesn't seem worth knowing. I took a car to them before I bought it and they told me exactly what was wrong with it (I didn't buy). Then took my current one and they said it was in extremely good condition. Since then, they've done all the servicing and maintenance work on the car and seem to know it inside out.
Level of service has been great, although they are v busy so sometimes hard to get hold of...
Ask M3John, he knows them very well...
Level of service has been great, although they are v busy so sometimes hard to get hold of...
Ask M3John, he knows them very well...
Just scanning through and saw the mention of Highams Park Motor Co. - felt the need to post and add praise.
I was recommended them by a friend who used to work with them at Sytners I believe - our old 540 has been in there ever since for routine work and they are excellent. Never bloody ring me but I've never met a mechanic who does
I was recommended them by a friend who used to work with them at Sytners I believe - our old 540 has been in there ever since for routine work and they are excellent. Never bloody ring me but I've never met a mechanic who does
happidec said:
Finally got round to meeting Phil Crouch today. Phil has a place in Iver Heath (nr 10 O'Clock on the M25) an independent specialist who deals 90% M Power. Once I'd found his workshop I saw 3 M Powers up on the blocks, which was a good sign & one of them being Vixpy1's M5. He was also there! Good to meet you. The other two were an M3 E30 in mint condition and Z4M. Chatted with Phil and VIXPY1 and Phil listened to my engine. On off on off on off. He got out a sort of lap top ran a diagnostics check on my vanos and after 5 minutes confirmed there's pretty much nothing wrong with it, it's normal. At idle the engine needs something minor doing to it but not the VANOS. Hallelujah.
The noise I've been hearing for the past 3 weeks at start up is coming from BELOW the vanos unit and BELOW the fan belt. The plastic which STEPHEN JAMES had drilled up after I went up a curb and asked them to put back has been rubbing up against a belt drive!!! The main dealers did a shoddy job and then tell me it's something else tha costs 2.2k to replace!!
Boiling and fuming inside though I didn't show it at the time I left PHIL ad VIXPY1 and went straight to STEPHEN JAMES ENFIELD. They ramped it and said I'd need a new sump protector costing £60. I watched the young inexperienced technician fiddle with the bottom of my engine block while up on the ramp. After 20 seconds he went he got his coat like he was getting ready to go home and then return to my car to drive it back out into the yard. I walked into the middle of the workshop confronted him and I asked him about the rubbing noise. He said I need a new protector. I said no I don't I said it firstly needs a proper looking at and then taking down as it's probably been bolted up too tight. He said sort it out with the manager. He parked it parked outside and I was sort of shown the exit. I thought this was possibly the worst customer service I'd ever had. Then my key fob wouldn't work so I went in again and asked for my alarm to be sorted as since it's been in the workshop it's stopped working. A more experinced bloke then ramped it again after I asked about the rubbing niose under the fan belt. He looked at it with another techinician who looked like a foetus. Dressed in a suit he who took off the bottom plactic sum protector with a ratchet gun and out from under my bonnet came some alien bit of plastic which doesn't belong to my car!!! This had been wedged into the car to bolt up the bumper I think, by them the last time I went there. They fixed my protector like they should have done first time around and then I spent another hour there while they opened up my dash and sorted the alarm out which misteriously stopped working while in their possession. All in all I've a worrying experience with them. My only regret is giving them business in the past and questioning the diagnostic work they do. It's worrying that they seem to know so little about a car made by their company. There is no substitute to dealing with someone who knows I learnt a valuable lesson today. Sometimes the people who you think know, don't know!
shocking... i'd just copy paste this post and send to BMW Germany copy BMW UK and demand an explanation- what sort of training by BMW UK have these people received and how does BMW UK let them operate in this way????? and charge £XXX per hour???The noise I've been hearing for the past 3 weeks at start up is coming from BELOW the vanos unit and BELOW the fan belt. The plastic which STEPHEN JAMES had drilled up after I went up a curb and asked them to put back has been rubbing up against a belt drive!!! The main dealers did a shoddy job and then tell me it's something else tha costs 2.2k to replace!!
Boiling and fuming inside though I didn't show it at the time I left PHIL ad VIXPY1 and went straight to STEPHEN JAMES ENFIELD. They ramped it and said I'd need a new sump protector costing £60. I watched the young inexperienced technician fiddle with the bottom of my engine block while up on the ramp. After 20 seconds he went he got his coat like he was getting ready to go home and then return to my car to drive it back out into the yard. I walked into the middle of the workshop confronted him and I asked him about the rubbing noise. He said I need a new protector. I said no I don't I said it firstly needs a proper looking at and then taking down as it's probably been bolted up too tight. He said sort it out with the manager. He parked it parked outside and I was sort of shown the exit. I thought this was possibly the worst customer service I'd ever had. Then my key fob wouldn't work so I went in again and asked for my alarm to be sorted as since it's been in the workshop it's stopped working. A more experinced bloke then ramped it again after I asked about the rubbing niose under the fan belt. He looked at it with another techinician who looked like a foetus. Dressed in a suit he who took off the bottom plactic sum protector with a ratchet gun and out from under my bonnet came some alien bit of plastic which doesn't belong to my car!!! This had been wedged into the car to bolt up the bumper I think, by them the last time I went there. They fixed my protector like they should have done first time around and then I spent another hour there while they opened up my dash and sorted the alarm out which misteriously stopped working while in their possession. All in all I've a worrying experience with them. My only regret is giving them business in the past and questioning the diagnostic work they do. It's worrying that they seem to know so little about a car made by their company. There is no substitute to dealing with someone who knows I learnt a valuable lesson today. Sometimes the people who you think know, don't know!
I haven't driven my car since going to Stephen James BMW last Wednesday (26th).
My tax was due to be renewed so I went to the glove box to get my insurance document and MOT yesterday morning, Monday 31st.
GUESS WHAT - They hadn't put my glove box light or wiring back after sorting the alarm, which they disturbed in the first place!! It was just lying there with the bulb shining having not been put back properly. 5 days shining away.
I'm totally dismayed at the way I've been treated and this thread must seem like a whingers forum to vent my anger but I'm past that now. I'm at the disbelieve stage.
I'm seriously thinking about a complaint
Only I'm not sure how seriously they take will take my complaint
My tax was due to be renewed so I went to the glove box to get my insurance document and MOT yesterday morning, Monday 31st.
GUESS WHAT - They hadn't put my glove box light or wiring back after sorting the alarm, which they disturbed in the first place!! It was just lying there with the bulb shining having not been put back properly. 5 days shining away.
I'm totally dismayed at the way I've been treated and this thread must seem like a whingers forum to vent my anger but I'm past that now. I'm at the disbelieve stage.
I'm seriously thinking about a complaint
Only I'm not sure how seriously they take will take my complaint
Stephen James is my local dealer and it seems their customer service hasn't improved since they moved to their multi-million pound new premises. Bunch of muppets.
I've had similar experiences dealing with a Peugeot dealer when my Wife (stupidly) bought a brand new one a few years back.
Anyways - it's nice to hear of a fellow PH'er and M3 owner in the area. Where do you live mate as I might have seen you about? I'm in Winchmore Hill (Techno Violet AC Schnitzer M3 Evo)
I've had similar experiences dealing with a Peugeot dealer when my Wife (stupidly) bought a brand new one a few years back.
Anyways - it's nice to hear of a fellow PH'er and M3 owner in the area. Where do you live mate as I might have seen you about? I'm in Winchmore Hill (Techno Violet AC Schnitzer M3 Evo)
Thanks for that, this is what it said:
VANOS is a combined hydraulic and mechanical camshaft control device managed by the car's DME engine management system.
The VANOS system is based on an adjustment mechanism that can modify the position of the intake camshaft versus the crankshaft. Double-VANOS adds an adjustment of the intake and outlet camshafts.
VANOS operates on the intake camshaft in accordance with engine speed and accelerator pedal position. At the lower end of the engine-speed scale, the intake valves are opened later, which improves idling quality and smoothness. At moderate engine speeds, the intake valves open much earlier, which boosts torque and permits exhaust gas re-circulation inside the combustion chambers, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Finally, at high engine speeds, intake valve opening is once again delayed, so that full power can be developed.
VANOS significantly enhances emission management, increases output and torque, and offers better idling quality and fuel economy. The latest version of VANOS is double-VANOS, used in the new M3.
VANOS was first introduced in 1992 on the BMW M50 engine used in the 5 Series.
VANOS is a combined hydraulic and mechanical camshaft control device managed by the car's DME engine management system.
The VANOS system is based on an adjustment mechanism that can modify the position of the intake camshaft versus the crankshaft. Double-VANOS adds an adjustment of the intake and outlet camshafts.
VANOS operates on the intake camshaft in accordance with engine speed and accelerator pedal position. At the lower end of the engine-speed scale, the intake valves are opened later, which improves idling quality and smoothness. At moderate engine speeds, the intake valves open much earlier, which boosts torque and permits exhaust gas re-circulation inside the combustion chambers, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Finally, at high engine speeds, intake valve opening is once again delayed, so that full power can be developed.
VANOS significantly enhances emission management, increases output and torque, and offers better idling quality and fuel economy. The latest version of VANOS is double-VANOS, used in the new M3.
VANOS was first introduced in 1992 on the BMW M50 engine used in the 5 Series.
Update News.
Wrote a letter of complaint to BMW Bracknell as advised by couple of chaps on here. Received a prompt letter back from them, which was nice!
However, it only said that Stephen James ENFIELD are an independent subsidary of BMW & it would be up to them to investigate, sort out and that I was to expect a call from their service manager Bill.. well I knew what would happen then and sure enough it did.
Bill called me up a day later. I explained my letter verbally and my view on what had happened, sure that there would be his side to the story. He was not as precise and apologetic as I had hoped and instead he stated he was shocked that I hadn't been charged any money for the time I'd been in BMW. He dithered a bit then stated I should find another Dealer to take my car to. I could tell by the intonation of his voice this was the main aim of his phone call.
Oh well- I laughed and hung up as I knew I was being 'diddled'. I think the fact I told him that I didn't appreciate inexperienced 17-20 year old technicians, who don't know what they're doing, working on my car grated him a bit but nonetheless this is my view and I am entitled to it.
End of my story. At least I didn't spend 2k on a problem that wasn't there and I learned somethng from this experience.
Wrote a letter of complaint to BMW Bracknell as advised by couple of chaps on here. Received a prompt letter back from them, which was nice!
However, it only said that Stephen James ENFIELD are an independent subsidary of BMW & it would be up to them to investigate, sort out and that I was to expect a call from their service manager Bill.. well I knew what would happen then and sure enough it did.
Bill called me up a day later. I explained my letter verbally and my view on what had happened, sure that there would be his side to the story. He was not as precise and apologetic as I had hoped and instead he stated he was shocked that I hadn't been charged any money for the time I'd been in BMW. He dithered a bit then stated I should find another Dealer to take my car to. I could tell by the intonation of his voice this was the main aim of his phone call.
Oh well- I laughed and hung up as I knew I was being 'diddled'. I think the fact I told him that I didn't appreciate inexperienced 17-20 year old technicians, who don't know what they're doing, working on my car grated him a bit but nonetheless this is my view and I am entitled to it.
End of my story. At least I didn't spend 2k on a problem that wasn't there and I learned somethng from this experience.
yes the old chestnut Scare them to death "Vanos" issue.
Awhile back I had a 540 that decided to act up, played aound with various sensors & a the Coils packs & in the end admitted defeat & took it to a reputable "Indy" for a diagnostic test.
Hooked it up & told me whilst sucking teeth it has a vanos problem mate, I told it must have a real problem as this E34 540 model does not have any vanos at all??!!
Went the other side of town to another place & they were spot on it was the maf & air temp sensor out, they knew the guy who I had seen before & said that he was there FOREMAN when they alll worked at BMW!!!
Never trust a smiling cat...... epsecially when he's pissing down your back & telling you its raining.
Awhile back I had a 540 that decided to act up, played aound with various sensors & a the Coils packs & in the end admitted defeat & took it to a reputable "Indy" for a diagnostic test.
Hooked it up & told me whilst sucking teeth it has a vanos problem mate, I told it must have a real problem as this E34 540 model does not have any vanos at all??!!
Went the other side of town to another place & they were spot on it was the maf & air temp sensor out, they knew the guy who I had seen before & said that he was there FOREMAN when they alll worked at BMW!!!
Never trust a smiling cat...... epsecially when he's pissing down your back & telling you its raining.
Hi Guys,
Having brought my E46 M3 from Stephen James Enfield I am suprised to see so many negative comments about their service department. My car is still under warranty and requires a service, but I am stuck in terms of knowing where to take my car for the service. Any suggestions?
Also my car is going to be 4 years old this June and I know that a few dealers offer discounts for older cars, does anyone know main dealers within the M25 that will offer discounts and do a decent job.
Thanks in advance
Having brought my E46 M3 from Stephen James Enfield I am suprised to see so many negative comments about their service department. My car is still under warranty and requires a service, but I am stuck in terms of knowing where to take my car for the service. Any suggestions?
Also my car is going to be 4 years old this June and I know that a few dealers offer discounts for older cars, does anyone know main dealers within the M25 that will offer discounts and do a decent job.
Thanks in advance
Have a look here http://www.drvanos.com/ as well, lots of useful information about vanos units. I was worried about a slight noise on my M5 until I read this.
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