Vanos

[OldDogmeatDan]

I'm new to BMW's with regards their specific mechanicals but am presently on the lookout for a 3 series car to use as a tracktoy and would like to know a little about the Vanos system and what to avoid etc.

Am I right in saying that Vanos is the equivalent of Hondas VTEC system; ie, variable timing and lift of the valves on the inlet for Vanos and inlet/Outlet for double Vanos?

Is Vanos E36 and beyond?

I've read here and there that this system isn't necessarily that reliable? If that's the case what are the pitfalls? What should be avoided etc, bearing in mind this car will be used for track duties as well as the trip to and from the circuit.

Also, The 'Nikasil Issue'; I appreciate this was a liner of nikel plate that was used to harden the alloy block bores and that it can fail catastrophically.

Do people generally recommend avoiding Nikasil blocks and if so which Blocks used this technology?

Ahh, after some interweb sleuthery I found this page
http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/nikasil.htm#what_i...

Thanks
Dan

Edited by OldDogmeatDan on Monday 30th November 15:26

Edited by OldDogmeatDan on Monday 30th November 15:39

[TheEnd]

Vanos is just cam timing, not lift, so it's the same as VVTi or whatever the MG's had, and similar stuff.

It can come in double or single, and the early system was just on the inlet, adjustable to 2 positions, the M3 3.0 had single vanos adjustable to any position within the range, and the M3 3.2 had double fully adjustable Vanos.

The non m3 stuff lasts for ever, some cases of the 3.0 getting noisey, and the 3.2/evo goes noisy pretty common.

[E36GUY]

If you search there will be various threads relating to Vanos. In the main the weaker one was the double Vanos used in the e36 M3 EVO and the e39 M5. But be aware, it is a small and over publicised problem when you compare it to the tens of thousands of the cars produced with this item.

[buggalugs]

e36's started off non-vanos, then went to single vanos, I *think* it was later stuff like e46's that went double vanos. Changeover was in 92 ish. You can tell by looking at the front of the engine, the vanos ones have got a circular protrusion on the inlet side at the front right at the top on the end nearest the radiator, the non-vanos ones haven't.
vanos cars have the same peak power but a better torque curve, great for the road but debate-able for track use since you're buzzing the tits off it all the time anyway - so who cares what happens lower in the rev range.

Edited by buggalugs on Monday 30th November 19:29

[Slurms]

Yeah this is one of those topics thats really over-hyped and turns up on these forums from time to time..

The reason that this system has a bad name is because of the problems experienced when BMW introduced the double vanos system on the E36 M3 Evo.

There are some reliability issues with that car because of it, it's nowhere near as bad as reported but it has to be something you're aware of when buying an E36 M3 Evo.

The Double Vanos system was subsequently used on virtually all of the inline-6 engines BMW produced for the next 10 years.

There have been some failures reported but no more than any other part.

Some reports indicate that the E39 M5 and E46 M3 can have problems but i've not heard of significant numbers of owners reporting it as an issue.

[y2blade]

It is the Vanos issue that has so far stopped me buying an E36 M3, I guess the fact that a good friend of mine bought one and his Vanos units had to be replaced within a couple of months has kinda put me off his bill was around £1500 iirc


I'd love one and do keep looking at them

[buggalugs]

Dr Vanos to the rescue!

[Slurms]

You can also check out an excellent posting for self help double vanos servicing

http://mukerji.co.uk/category/vanos/