Discussion
Do you mean "a history of 'Vanos' related failures"?
If so, it's the S50 engine as fitted to a number of M cars in the main, with a very few instances I'm aware of on other engine types. I stand to be corrected if there's anyone better qualified out there.
The early S54's had some issues with bottom end shell bearings, but seem to have significantly less issues with Vanos, again from what I've heard of.
Most of this can easily be found by searching the many BMW related fora and you may well form the opinion that out of the total number of engines running, the incidence of failure or the remedy may well not prevent a purchase of a car with this engine.
I helped a mate with an S50 engine'd MZ3 sort his Vanos (cracked housing) for a couple of hundred notes and a bit of his labour, even downloading a whole 'how to' from one of the BMW sites.
Edited to add, so in terms of Z3's, most of the MZ3's had S50's, very few S54's and all MZ4's have the S54. HTH
If so, it's the S50 engine as fitted to a number of M cars in the main, with a very few instances I'm aware of on other engine types. I stand to be corrected if there's anyone better qualified out there.
The early S54's had some issues with bottom end shell bearings, but seem to have significantly less issues with Vanos, again from what I've heard of.
Most of this can easily be found by searching the many BMW related fora and you may well form the opinion that out of the total number of engines running, the incidence of failure or the remedy may well not prevent a purchase of a car with this engine.
I helped a mate with an S50 engine'd MZ3 sort his Vanos (cracked housing) for a couple of hundred notes and a bit of his labour, even downloading a whole 'how to' from one of the BMW sites.
Edited to add, so in terms of Z3's, most of the MZ3's had S50's, very few S54's and all MZ4's have the S54. HTH
Edited by StuB on Friday 30th January 13:13
[quote=StuB]Do you mean "a history of 'Vanos' related failures"?
If so, it's the S50 engine as fitted to a number of M cars in the main, with a very few instances I'm aware of on other engine types. I stand to be corrected if there's anyone better qualified out there.
The early S54's had some issues with bottom end shell bearings, but seem to have significantly less issues with Vanos, again from what I've heard of.
Most of this can easily be found by searching the many BMW related fora and you may well form the opinion that out of the total number of engines running, the incidence of failure or the remedy may well not prevent a purchase of a car with this engine.
I helped a mate with an S50 engine'd MZ3 sort his Vanos (cracked housing) for a couple of hundred notes and a bit of his labour, even downloading a whole 'how to' from one of the BMW sites.
Edited to add, so in terms of Z3's, most of the MZ3's had S50's, very few S54's and all MZ4's have the S54. HTH
Thanks for that. Thinking about either a Z3 or Z4 as a weekend toy. Based on what you are saying the Z4 is maybe less likely to suffer from vanos problems than the Z, unless its a Z3 with the later S54.
Z3 = future classic?
If so, it's the S50 engine as fitted to a number of M cars in the main, with a very few instances I'm aware of on other engine types. I stand to be corrected if there's anyone better qualified out there.
The early S54's had some issues with bottom end shell bearings, but seem to have significantly less issues with Vanos, again from what I've heard of.
Most of this can easily be found by searching the many BMW related fora and you may well form the opinion that out of the total number of engines running, the incidence of failure or the remedy may well not prevent a purchase of a car with this engine.
I helped a mate with an S50 engine'd MZ3 sort his Vanos (cracked housing) for a couple of hundred notes and a bit of his labour, even downloading a whole 'how to' from one of the BMW sites.
Edited to add, so in terms of Z3's, most of the MZ3's had S50's, very few S54's and all MZ4's have the S54. HTH
Thanks for that. Thinking about either a Z3 or Z4 as a weekend toy. Based on what you are saying the Z4 is maybe less likely to suffer from vanos problems than the Z, unless its a Z3 with the later S54.
Z3 = future classic?
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