Bmw vanos specialists?

Cocobongo

Hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you had an issue with vanos and know a mechanic that understands it and is able to fix?

To my knowledge there are lots of people who just avoids using the repair kits for vanos and always offer to go for a complete replacement which is a bit costly

Would be nice if someone else here would share their experiences

The car i'm driving is an E60 523i

Cheers

antodeco

Is it a single or double vanos?

Most of the replacement ones are reconditioned BMW ones.

Have a look here: http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_single_procedure.htm

I want to get the vanos seal replaced on mine but just don't have the technical knowledge how to do it.

Andrewf20

Bloomfield motors in Dublin did my vanos a few years ago without issue. It was getting very rattly. 1200eu to get sorted but a I cant remember the details of what they did as it was around 2008. E36 323i

Cocobongo

antodeco wrote: »

Is it a single or double vanos?

Most of the replacement ones are reconditioned BMW ones.

Have a look here: http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_single_procedure.htm

I want to get the vanos seal replaced on mine but just don't have the technical knowledge how to do it.

Double.. same here to be honest, the thing is that fix kits from, e.g. Drvanos are not that expensive, and, if its a 4 hour job for a mechanic people are asking for waaaaay too much money to fix it

Like Andrewf20 said he got vanos done for 1.2k back
In 2008. This is the similar price everybody is asking. The only reason i want to make 100% sure i can't get it sorted cheaper is that this whole "lets replace your vanos, no point of using fixing kits, just pay us 1200eur" seems a bit odd

mullingar

Good reading on the different types of vanos systems here:

https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjq-OG8wszVAhWSJVAKHc-AAVQQFgg2MAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bimmerfest.com%2Fforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D498260%26d%3D1426736083&usg=AFQjCNEGq1SB4NOpzfyqPlLRDFn_HZQq5w

Cocobongo

mullingar wrote: »

Good reading on the different types of vanos systems here:

https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjq-OG8wszVAhWSJVAKHc-AAVQQFgg2MAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bimmerfest.com%2Fforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D498260%26d%3D1426736083&usg=AFQjCNEGq1SB4NOpzfyqPlLRDFn_HZQq5w

Thanks for that, searched a lot over the internet, but havent come across this doc:rolleyes:

Leonard Hofstadter

Cocobongo wrote: »

Double.. same here to be honest, the thing is that fix kits from, e.g. Drvanos are not that expensive, and, if its a 4 hour job for a mechanic people are asking for waaaaay too much money to fix it

Like Andrewf20 said he got vanos done for 1.2k back
In 2008. This is the similar price everybody is asking. The only reason i want to make 100% sure i can't get it sorted cheaper is that this whole "lets replace your vanos, no point of using fixing kits, just pay us 1200eur" seems a bit odd

The VANOS seal kits are only available for cars with the older M generation engines, if you've got an E60 523i then you'll have either the N52 or N53 engine (depending on year). As far as I know these don't have problems with the VANOS seals like the older cars do, but if you think yours is faulty it looks like you'll have to get the entire system replaced I'm afraid.

Cocobongo

captainspeed wrote: »

The VANOS seal kits are only available for cars with the older M generation engines, if you've got an E60 523i then you'll have either the N52 or N53 engine (depending on year). As far as I know these don't have problems with the VANOS seals like the older cars do, but if you think yours is faulty it looks like you'll have to get the entire system replaced I'm afraid.

I do get a vanos inlet outlet error, rough idle and limp mode from time to time. Although what i don't undertand is why, when the engine is cold car runs perfectly fine without any errors? If i had an issue it should be persistent, although this issue seems to only come back when the engine gets warm (if i drive, lets say more than 20km distance)

I use this car for commute to work, which is only 10km away, so never have any issues unless i drive somewhere else

Leonard Hofstadter

Cocobongo wrote: »

I do get a vanos inlet outlet error, rough idle and limp mode from time to time. Although what i don't undertand is why, when the engine is cold car runs perfectly fine without any errors? If i had an issue it should be persistent, although this issue seems to only come back when the engine gets warm (if i drive, lets say more than 20km distance)

I use this car for commute to work, which is only 10km away, so never have any issues unless i drive somewhere else

I would have thought if it was the VANOS it would do it all the time - but I don't know a whole pile about the newer six pot engines.

What I do know is the symptoms of worn VANOS seals are not what you're experiencing - if the VANOS seals are on the way out you generally won't get any fault codes, but the car would simply be gutless below 3000 rpm (all the time) and would use more fuel, depending on the engine it might also run rough at idle.

Cocobongo

captainspeed wrote: »

I would have thought if it was the VANOS it would do it all the time - but I don't know a whole pile about the newer six pot engines.

What I do know is the symptoms of worn VANOS seals are not what you're experiencing - if the VANOS seals are on the way out you generally won't get any fault codes, but the car would simply be gutless below 3000 rpm (all the time) and would use more fuel, depending on the engine it might also run rough at idle.

That's why i'm not too keen on trowing a 1000eur out, even though 3 different mechanics told me that the fault is vanos - that's why it needs to be replaced. It literally pulls me to the back of the seat without even pushing hard on the cold engine and i am 100% confident the car drives like a healthy engine version as my friend has exact same model

rebel.ranter

What codes are you getting? The Vanos solenoids are notorious for failing in the N52/N53 engine. Especially the exhaust one. They are about €120 each but simple to replace.

The solenoid has a little electronic ram to push the oil to change the profile of the cam.