M52 single VANOS seals - worth doing
Discussion
Whether it is worth doing or not depends on whether it is a suspected issue or not.
I have personally done it in 20 min start to finish on my previous car with ease, it is nothing like as hard as the online guides make out.
The only tool required is a 11mm socket plus driver & 10mm spanner.
I have personally done it in 20 min start to finish on my previous car with ease, it is nothing like as hard as the online guides make out.
The only tool required is a 11mm socket plus driver & 10mm spanner.
Car seems to run smoothly enough but what symptoms of failure should I expect?
Allegedly the original seals harden and flatten over time and stop working properly. The engine's on around 75k miles currently and one of the seal manufacturer's seems to state the original seal is likely to be goosed after 60k or less, so I thought it might be time to replace. I figured it would be too difficult to do it myself but is there an easy online guide somewhere?
Allegedly the original seals harden and flatten over time and stop working properly. The engine's on around 75k miles currently and one of the seal manufacturer's seems to state the original seal is likely to be goosed after 60k or less, so I thought it might be time to replace. I figured it would be too difficult to do it myself but is there an easy online guide somewhere?
When the VANOS jammed up on my 328 the first thing I noticed (apart from the lack of power above 2800 rpm) was a rough idle accompanied by the gear shifter shaking quite badly.
When I plugged in my scanner I pulled the code which read 'VANOS mechanical jamming'
According to the specialist i used to fit the new VANOS they all wear out mechanically in the end, mine did quite well getting to 174k.
When I plugged in my scanner I pulled the code which read 'VANOS mechanical jamming'
According to the specialist i used to fit the new VANOS they all wear out mechanically in the end, mine did quite well getting to 174k.
E-bmw said:
Whether it is worth doing or not depends on whether it is a suspected issue or not.
I have personally done it in 20 min start to finish on my previous car with ease, it is nothing like as hard as the online guides make out.
The only tool required is a 11mm socket plus driver & 10mm spanner.
I'd love to know how that's done on the M52 single vanos - to me it doesn't look possible to extract the unit to replace the seal that simply!I have personally done it in 20 min start to finish on my previous car with ease, it is nothing like as hard as the online guides make out.
The only tool required is a 11mm socket plus driver & 10mm spanner.
Actually, thinking about it, I lied, you also need a 13mm socket.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...
It is quite hard to explain, but I will try.
Remove cam cover & front top engine cover bolts.
If you have a look at the pic (cam cover removed) you can see the 10mm bolt heads holding the actuator in place in the foreground.
With care & rag placed underneath for insurance, the 10mm bolts can be removed to allow the actuator housing to be pulled clear to the front ENSURING THE ACTUATOR SPLINES DO NOT LEAVE THE CAM the seals can then easily be replaced & the whole thing put back together.
I have done it myself on 2 cars with no issues, when wanting to do it the first time, I had a good look, didn't have the cam locking tool so decided to loosen things off to see if it was possible, it is, JUST.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...
It is quite hard to explain, but I will try.
Remove cam cover & front top engine cover bolts.
If you have a look at the pic (cam cover removed) you can see the 10mm bolt heads holding the actuator in place in the foreground.
With care & rag placed underneath for insurance, the 10mm bolts can be removed to allow the actuator housing to be pulled clear to the front ENSURING THE ACTUATOR SPLINES DO NOT LEAVE THE CAM the seals can then easily be replaced & the whole thing put back together.
I have done it myself on 2 cars with no issues, when wanting to do it the first time, I had a good look, didn't have the cam locking tool so decided to loosen things off to see if it was possible, it is, JUST.
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