BMW S50 B32 VANOS FAILURE - Prevention and Repair

[slammedM3]

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

All Credit to Neil Mukerji





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some pictures of an s50b32 vanos unit completely separated

http://www.allaw.com.au/vanos.htm













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http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/t...E36%20M3%20EVO

a good read on the vanos failures and issues with the solenoid seals and cover/gaskests

109 different M3 EVO owners responded to this thread and very little people have suffered a complete vanos failure


Found some Torque/Tension settings..






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http://www.drvanos.com/

International repair and service








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[BM AUTOWERKS]

Well done...preventative maintenance the heart and sole of a BMW.

[///MOOVER]

Another good find. I've seen this before when I was looking for information before I had my VANOS replaced. Please include the source if you can

[slammedM3]

Another good find. I've seen this before when I was looking for information before I had my VANOS replaced. Please include the source if you can

the direct link is http://mukerji.co.uk/category/vanos/

http://mukerji.co.uk very useful site indeed

[Ade]

That's a great find, slammed.

[silverbullet]

talcum powder is something i havent herd of before, i would have thought vaseo would have been better as it melts away after.
Good write up tho, thanks for the info and the link.

[Dus_M3]

+1 Good advice, one of the first things I did. The TIS also describes this procedure. The torque is also critical, too much and the system is weakened due to deformed threads, too little and you have vibration failure of the bolts. I believe replacement bolts are also much stronger.
As for the growling etc, I recently stripped down my vanos looking for the source of the noise and any solutions.
This unit is NOT weak in any way other than with the piston seals, and even then only on the exhaust side, which is where I believe the real issue is. Otherwise the contruction (by rolls royce) is very robust.
The piston seals on the inlet side consist of an energizing o-ring with a square section seal over it-standard hydraulics.The good news is that the seal is retained by a separate end peice, the whole piston assy is then retained on the actuating shaft with a nut. The seal is easily replaced, but needs to be specially manufactured, as BMW don't sell them individually.
Now the really bad news is that the exhaust side piston is for all intents a one peice construction. There are two seals of the energiser o-ring type. They cannot be removed without damage. New seals cannot be installed since they can't be bought, and given the depth of the grooves I'm not sure if the piston was a two piece and then assembled.
This is also the side where the seals wear most.
So a solution may be if someone has a spare exhaust piston, it and the seals can be copied on CNC .
Maybe others have more info to share, it would be good to find a reasonable solution, the US have Dr.Vanos.

[morerevsm3]

Dr Vanos now does euros, he recently bought my spare vanos from me

[///MOOVER]

Dr Vanos now does euros, he recently bought my spare vanos from me

This is all very interesting as I have my old VANOS lying around... only the inlet solenoid failed and was noisier than I wanted. A new inlet solenoid is only about US$350.

[neilmukerji]

the direct link is http://mukerji.co.uk/category/vanos/

http://mukerji.co.uk very useful site indeed

Thanks for crediting me.

Really hope it saves people some dollar.

[///MOOVER]

Thanks for crediting me.

Really hope it saves people some dollar.

Hello and welcome.

You have some nice cars and indeed good write-ups on your work

[slammedM3]

Thanks for crediting me.

Really hope it saves people some dollar.

thank you heaps for efforts on the write ups mate

[523I QLD]

Hi all

REPOST

I put up a post with a link to that web site about 6to12 months ago

George

[M Automotive]

After reading this (and chatting to Roland and everyone on the weekend), i went straight to Lyntons and picked up a new Vanos filter! Car just hit 68,120klms. Just serviced my M3 and replaced both filters (Vanos and engine). The old Vanos filter was a little brown in colour, but there was no real "muck" in the filter, that i could see.
Still better to be safe then sorry right!
Was around $80- for both filters from them (dont think they gave me my %10 off!!) plus $70- odd for oil (Castrol Edge 0w40).
Hope the little Vanos filter proves to be a good investment in regards to the Vanos service life... guess time will tell..
Chad..

[///MOOVER]

After reading this (and chatting to Roland and everyone on the weekend), i went straight to Lyntons and picked up a new Vanos filter! Car just hit 68,120klms. Just serviced my M3 and replaced both filters (Vanos and engine). The old Vanos filter was a little brown in colour, but there was no real "muck" in the filter, that i could see.
Still better to be safe then sorry right!
Was around $80- for both filters from them (dont think they gave me my %10 off!!) plus $70- odd for oil (Castrol Edge 0w40).
Hope the little Vanos filter proves to be a good investment in regards to the Vanos service life... guess time will tell..
Chad..

A proactive approach is always the best approach. I certainly don't want to shell out the cash for a new VANOS again so my oil will not see more than 3000km and indeed I have a few VANOS filters in hand "just in case".