VANOS - Ways that they fail?
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm heading out to look at an M5 advertised as having a 'noisy VANOS hence price'. Would it be possible for the VANOS experts among you to put down the definitive list of VANOS symptoms and the rough cost for the solutions? Why do they rattle? Is a rattle the same as failure? How do you spot a bad solenoid etc?
Also, anyone who has recently had VANOS work done - what went wrong? What was the cost?
Any info gratefully received!
FF
Footnote: The search function is VERY slow at the moment, so sorry if this has been done to death.
I'm heading out to look at an M5 advertised as having a 'noisy VANOS hence price'. Would it be possible for the VANOS experts among you to put down the definitive list of VANOS symptoms and the rough cost for the solutions? Why do they rattle? Is a rattle the same as failure? How do you spot a bad solenoid etc?
Also, anyone who has recently had VANOS work done - what went wrong? What was the cost?
Any info gratefully received!
FF
Footnote: The search function is VERY slow at the moment, so sorry if this has been done to death.
Some good sensible Vanos advice and knowledge was bearded out in this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Just to add, i should say that E36 M3 evo vanos advice can be cut and pasted for the E39 M5, just double it to account for each cylinder bank. Apart from that, there might be a difference in pre to post facelift cars, but someone a bit more beardworthy should be able to help you there.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Just to add, i should say that E36 M3 evo vanos advice can be cut and pasted for the E39 M5, just double it to account for each cylinder bank. Apart from that, there might be a difference in pre to post facelift cars, but someone a bit more beardworthy should be able to help you there.
Edited by pat_y on Friday 6th August 09:25
Leg-end, cheers.
The guy wants £6k for a 2002 135k car with FBSH and 2 owners. If the VANOS is just a bit rattly then, from my reading, that is more of an annoyance than anything sinister. However, if it isn't working at all then it looks like a more expensive job as one or both banks would need refurbing / exchanging.
I want to see what the rest of the car is like on top of the VANOS issue, as I'm curious as to why this issue hasn't been addressed and wonder if it's indicative of a lack of maintainence on the rest of the car. If, say, it has a leaking diff, needs brakes and an inspection II then probably not a good deal. If, however, there is just the VANOS that *might* need looking at then it might be worth a deal.
Thanks again for your help and I'll let you know how I get on.
FF
The guy wants £6k for a 2002 135k car with FBSH and 2 owners. If the VANOS is just a bit rattly then, from my reading, that is more of an annoyance than anything sinister. However, if it isn't working at all then it looks like a more expensive job as one or both banks would need refurbing / exchanging.
I want to see what the rest of the car is like on top of the VANOS issue, as I'm curious as to why this issue hasn't been addressed and wonder if it's indicative of a lack of maintainence on the rest of the car. If, say, it has a leaking diff, needs brakes and an inspection II then probably not a good deal. If, however, there is just the VANOS that *might* need looking at then it might be worth a deal.
Thanks again for your help and I'll let you know how I get on.
FF
I had one of vanos units go bad a few months ago - it threw out the timing etc.
I had both units stripped and rebuilt and the timing reset and a few other little bits done for under £1500 (inc VAT) by Phil Crouch of CPC Performance Engineering. The guy certainly knows his onions and I'll be taking my cars there for all servicing in the future, even though its a 160 mile round trip!
I had both units stripped and rebuilt and the timing reset and a few other little bits done for under £1500 (inc VAT) by Phil Crouch of CPC Performance Engineering. The guy certainly knows his onions and I'll be taking my cars there for all servicing in the future, even though its a 160 mile round trip!
Facefirst said:
Leg-end, cheers.
The guy wants £6k for a 2002 135k car with FBSH and 2 owners. If the VANOS is just a bit rattly then, from my reading, that is more of an annoyance than anything sinister. However, if it isn't working at all then it looks like a more expensive job as one or both banks would need refurbing / exchanging.
I want to see what the rest of the car is like on top of the VANOS issue, as I'm curious as to why this issue hasn't been addressed and wonder if it's indicative of a lack of maintainence on the rest of the car. If, say, it has a leaking diff, needs brakes and an inspection II then probably not a good deal. If, however, there is just the VANOS that *might* need looking at then it might be worth a deal.
Thanks again for your help and I'll let you know how I get on.
FF
As a minimum, if the rest of it checks out, I'd get a diagnostic check (on the car generally and covering the VANOS) done before you buy. The guy wants £6k for a 2002 135k car with FBSH and 2 owners. If the VANOS is just a bit rattly then, from my reading, that is more of an annoyance than anything sinister. However, if it isn't working at all then it looks like a more expensive job as one or both banks would need refurbing / exchanging.
I want to see what the rest of the car is like on top of the VANOS issue, as I'm curious as to why this issue hasn't been addressed and wonder if it's indicative of a lack of maintainence on the rest of the car. If, say, it has a leaking diff, needs brakes and an inspection II then probably not a good deal. If, however, there is just the VANOS that *might* need looking at then it might be worth a deal.
Thanks again for your help and I'll let you know how I get on.
FF
Right, so I went and saw the car. It's pretty clean, great interior, bit of rust around the boot lid, some bubbling on the wheels. But the VANOS...
Well, the only way to describe it is like a hammer - bang bang bang bang bang - and if I didn't know better I'd have said bottom end rather than top end. However, it does seem to be coming from the drivers side cylinder bank and is prominent around the top of the engine.
I phoned CPC before-hand and they very kindly agreed to come see the car with me if I was interested, but to be honest, I'm not so sure I want to take it on. The history of the car is mainly stamps with only a few reciepts and for non-essential stuff that you can see anyway (tyres, cup holders); no mention of a clutch or anything, although the running in service is stamped. Only a couple of old MOT's, but quite a few of the tax discs.
I guess I could phone all the garages where it was serviced and get copies of the work done, but it seems a lot of work.
The guy selling it was really nice and totally open about things, so that is something I guess.
Ah well, could be a nice car for someone, but alas not for me.
Cheers for all the help.
FF
Well, the only way to describe it is like a hammer - bang bang bang bang bang - and if I didn't know better I'd have said bottom end rather than top end. However, it does seem to be coming from the drivers side cylinder bank and is prominent around the top of the engine.
I phoned CPC before-hand and they very kindly agreed to come see the car with me if I was interested, but to be honest, I'm not so sure I want to take it on. The history of the car is mainly stamps with only a few reciepts and for non-essential stuff that you can see anyway (tyres, cup holders); no mention of a clutch or anything, although the running in service is stamped. Only a couple of old MOT's, but quite a few of the tax discs.
I guess I could phone all the garages where it was serviced and get copies of the work done, but it seems a lot of work.
The guy selling it was really nice and totally open about things, so that is something I guess.
Ah well, could be a nice car for someone, but alas not for me.
Cheers for all the help.
FF
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