Just had my VANOS done.

[carreauchompeur]

Jesus Christ, what a difference. That is all. Much, much quieter and less rattly, and massive power all over the place.





Oh, details? It's an E36 M3 Evolution convertible on 109k that I recently bought. Drives beautifully but seriously down on power. Diagnostics found a faulty solenoid. With the choice between paying £680 for a pair of solenoids and fitting, or paying Mr. VANOS £875 to put in a refurbished, uprated unit the choice was clear.

Came today from Doncaster, cracked on whilst I was at work, probably took about 4hrs all in. As a part of the service the valve clearances are checked and re-set, unfortunately mine are completely out so I will need to revisit this, but not a problem since it's going in for an Insp. 2 tomorrow anyway.

Recommended... Not a huge outlay in the scheme of things for a great benefit.

[Saddlebag]

So if he checks and resets the valve clearances, how come you need them doing again?

Just wondering as I am thinking of having the same thing done.

[carreauchompeur]

Saddlebag said:

So if he checks and resets the valve clearances, how come you need them doing again?

Just wondering as I am thinking of having the same thing done.

Basically, he does check and reset them, however having looked at mine all 24 were out, which is somewhat unusual and indicates that they weren't done at the last Insp. 2. He didn't have either the time or the shims to do them... Basically each one needs a specific shim which have to be ordered in from BMW.

[mysteron35]

I've just had an engine rebuild done on my e46 m3 by mr Vanos, I've owned my car nearly eight years and it's never gone this well!

It took him a month or two, and wasn't cheap, but now it's run in I'm so pleased I went ahead, it's like a new car.

[fridgemiester]

Will be giving MR vanos a call quoted me £875 all in, gaskets everything!

[carreauchompeur]

I need to charge him for promotional activities

[fridgemiester]

money well spent?? just converted mine from SMG to manual short of cash but have loss of power and rough idel looks like a divorce. lol.

[carreauchompeur]

Money very well spent. I've just got back from a weekend in Dorset and its transformed a dull, thirsty convertible into a proper, howling rapid M car. Overtakes consistently "on" simply because there's so much powaaah there now! I do have slight sunburn though

Have you had your codes read and is it definitely the VANOS? I did mine because one of the solenoids had gone and it was noisy anyway. When you look at cutaway pictures it's such an integral part of the engine it's criminal not to look after it.

SMG-Manual? Ouch.

[fridgemiester]

No thats the next step. Is it worth buying a code reader are they any good? or is it a trip to the Garage???

Had an e46 330 sport vert sunfactor 15 all the time

[carreauchompeur]

To honest I'd take it to a good Indy. The E36 uses the OBD1 reader which is not as user-friendly as the later ones, and you need to be able to interpret the codes, might be something simple like a sensor...