Double-VANOS on the 330 ci something to be concerned about?

[QWERTY4]

I am viewing a few 330 ci's this weekend, 03 & 04 facelifted models of around 45k - 60k miles

Is the double-VANOS something I should look out for (rattling from the top of the engine bay???) - or expect to replace at some point in the future??

Cheers

[Li'l Pugs]

From what I know of the 330 (had 2 of them, 2nd one was a clubsport bought with 50k on the clock), there are no serious issues with it at all. Engine is not too stressed and as long as it's been looked after will be faultless.

Paul

[QWERTY4]

Thanks very much for your feed back

[MitchT]

It's worth checking the Bi-VANOS to be on the safe side. Search for Bi-VANOS issues on E36 M3s to find out what the symptoms are. That said, I really haven't heard about any cases of the Bi-VANOS failing on E46 cars - Maybe it's an improved design... Hmm, I wonder if it really is a new improved design and if it can be retro-fitted to an E36 M3

[plowy]

On the M54 3.0i engine the Vanos is not problematic in the same way it was on the EVO E36 M3..

[Dino D]

Did allot of digging around when I bought my 50k miler 330i and never found any mention of the Vanos issue anywhere.

[MitchT]

plowy said:

On the M54 3.0i engine the Vanos is not problematic in the same way it was on the EVO E36 M3..

Indeed... which is why I said Bi-VANOS, which is the problematic item fitted to the Evo, as opposed to Single-VANOS which was the reliable unit on the 3.0 M3.

[plowy]

MitchT said:

plowy said:

On the M54 3.0i engine the Vanos is not problematic in the same way it was on the EVO E36 M3..

Indeed... which is why I said Bi-VANOS, which is the problematic item fitted to the Evo, as opposed to Single-VANOS which was the reliable unit on the 3.0 M3.

Different issues, the M54 is 'BI-Vanos' but as I said not problematic like the E36...

[MitchT]

plowy said:

Different issues, the M54 is 'BI-Vanos' but as I said not problematic like the E36...

Ah yes, I see. I thought you were refering to the 3.0 E36 M3 that didn't have VANOS issues - but that's not an M54 engine! Too much wine... that's my excuse!!

Do you know if the Bi-VANOS in the M54 is a different design to the one in the E36 M3 Evo? It seems strange that it's so reliable if it is the same unit. If it's a different unit it would make sense to use it in the E36 M3 Evo if at all possible as it might cure the Bi-VANOS worries that E36 owners have.