BMW S50 B32 VANOS FAILURE - Prevention and Repair

[slammedM3]

Was around $80- for both filters from them (dont think they gave me my %10 off!!) plus $70- odd for oil (Castrol Edge 0w40).

are you sure about the 0w40 oil.
from what i been reading, everyone that switches to the 0w40 (mobil1) oil all seem to have vanos problems. castrol may be different


Taken from zroadster.net

The VANOS contains oil control valves and a couple of sliding pistons, which engage between the sprockets and camshafts via one set of straight splines, and another set of parallel splines. These should not be confused with gears, as they have square-profiled splines and do not rotate relative to their mating splines, but are pushed in opposite directions by either hydraulic pressure or a return spring.

Those who glibly claim that their problem was 'the gears' really mean wear between the splined pistons and their mating surfaces. As these splines are (on the 'M' VANOS) in almost constant motion, rather than just being 'in' or 'out' they must cause a very unusual lubrication problem, this probably being the reason for the specified 10-60 oil.

Another cause of odd noises must be the bolts which hold the splines bell to the sprockets, as well as the usual bolts attaching the sprocket to its drive flange.

As the use of splined oscillating pistons lubricated by engine oil is very unusual, I have always wondered if the use of thin base oils such as Mobil 1, rather than the specified TWS 10-60 is the cause of many VANOS failures. I have heard of a few people who take their own Mobil 1 to their Dealer for services, and they all seem to have VANOS problems. I have also heard of some dealers filing S50 engines with Castrol SLX 0-30 . . .

Anyone with a replacement VANOS going to own up to the use of a thinner oil?

Any theories

[M Automotive]

Very interesting read.. i have been using the same oil for around a year now and no problems to report... as yet... I see where they are coming from. Guess i should consult a bmw tech. Pretty sure they will say "you should be using the specified factory oil".. ill keep you posted.
Thanks for that!
Chad..

[M Automotive]

st found this too... sorry about the other forum mention.. i just googled it i swear!
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1003372

[GazM3]

if anything the thinner oil helps the vanos.

i used to use long time ago the 10w60 and with switching to 0w40 i have no noises from the vanos unit whatsoever in 3yrs.

i had the seals replaced a few months ago the rubber was like hard plastic!!

also regular replacer of the vanos filter.
id preferer to spend funds on performace upgrades rather than replacing expenisve stuff that i could have prevented by maintainance

gaz

[slammedM3]

it seems to be a very confusing topic with multiable outcomes
ive spend hours searching the net and got very mixed results

zroadster.net again

Every thread about oil for this engine is full on confusion about what oil is actually in the engine (due to the car being serviced at BMW who vary between 0/40 and 10/60 depending where you go) and the handbook and other source conflicting. The handbook states 0/30 or 0/40.

???????

wouldnt the oil velocity drop (gets thinner) once the oil reaches temp. making the 0w40 to thin at operating temp????


good example of worn vanos

http://media.putfile.com/MOV00327-65

[///MOOVER]

wouldnt the oil velocity drop (gets thinner) once the oil reaches temp. making the 0w40 to thin at operating temp????

0W 40 is the recommended oil. 0W 30 is also used. The quality and more specifically the molecular strength of the oil's chemical make up are what will protect your engine. The "thinness" of the oil is what enable ready passage through the fine oilways in the vanos.

[silverbullet]

Dads M3 had the little Mobil1 Badge on the motor since he got it (it was 2 yrs old mayb, still in warranty). At the time im pretty sure mobil1 was a 15w40 or 50 and at a later date they change the grade to 5w40 and then had there other stuff. Using the 5w40 the motor was noisey, you could here the vanos. Rang mobil and got some of the original 15w40, ran that, it was noticibly quieter. I may be wrong as i wasnt quite as interested in all of it as i am now, but i would have thought that too thin oil ie 0w grades, would have been to thin, they would not have stuck as well to the componentry in the vanos and created wear, not to mention lowering oil pressure. CNC'ing up replacement parts would be a good idea if it can be done tho...

[///MOOVER]

Dads M3 had the little Mobil1 Badge on the motor since he got it (it was 2 yrs old mayb, still in warranty). At the time im pretty sure mobil1 was a 15w40 or 50 and at a later date they change the grade to 5w40 and then had there other stuff. Using the 5w40 the motor was noisey, you could here the vanos. Rang mobil and got some of the original 15w40, ran that, it was noticibly quieter. I may be wrong as i wasnt quite as interested in all of it as i am now, but i would have thought that too thin oil ie 0w grades, would have been to thin, they would not have stuck as well to the componentry in the vanos and created wear, not to mention lowering oil pressure. CNC'ing up replacement parts would be a good idea if it can be done tho...

The 0W/5W/15W etc refers to the cold weight of the oil as part of a multigrade oil. At operating temperature it is the 40 value (these values are weight) that is of significance. Therefore the noise difference should only have been different at start up but not at operating temperature because the 40 stays consistent and indeed it is the 40 grade oil that the M3s need (regardless of S50 B30 or B32).

[morerevsm3]

Dealers are only required to stock lubricants for 2 model series, i.e. E92 and E46 in the case of the M3, so that is what they generally will put in, it is totally wrong oil for the car, E36 M3 should only use XW-40 oil, and preferably, a group 4 or group 5 PAO ester based oil, there are not many of these available, Redline, Royal Purple, Motul, Silkolene pro s, Amsoil, and Castrol edge are the only ones that spring to mind, use 1 of those and you should not have too many worries, also it is imperative that car is serviced more frequently than service lights indicate if you wish to get a long trouble free life out of your car, I would also replace diff and gearbox oils with good synthetics as well

[slammedM3]

Dealers are only required to stock lubricants for 2 model series, i.e. E92 and E46 in the case of the M3, so that is what they generally will put in, it is totally wrong oil for the car, E36 M3 should only use XW-40 oil, and preferably, a group 4 or group 5 PAO ester based oil, there are not many of these available, Redline, Royal Purple, Motul, Silkolene pro s, Amsoil, and Castrol edge are the only ones that spring to mind, use 1 of those and you should not have too many worries, also it is imperative that car is serviced more frequently than service lights indicate if you wish to get a long trouble free life out of your car, I would also replace diff and gearbox oils with good synthetics as well

thanks heaps for your input morerevsm3, i been looking at royal purple oil for a while now. think im gonna go with that mooover is having trouble with his gearbox oil as well

[BM AUTOWERKS]

I am about to try out Motul 300V Chrono 10w40 100% synthetic ester, recommends oil change every 4000km or so.

I will let you all know what i think.

I am sure there will be someone that's not going to like it, but i willing to give it a go.

I'll keep you all posted.

[///MOOVER]

I am about to try out Motul 300V Chrono 10w40 100% synthetic ester, recommends oil change every 4000km or so.

I will let you all know what i think.

I am sure there will be someone that's not going to like it, but i willing to give it a go.

I'll keep you all posted.

I've heard good things about this oil. I used the 8100 Ester (not 8100 Excess, which is NOT ester based... deceptive isn't it!). The oil temp ran 5 degrees lower than the Shell I used before. I will give Mobil 1 0W-40 a go next. I guess between all of us M3 owner we could near assemble a list of oils we have used and our impressions of them. In fact, it may be time to start such a new thread as a resource for the age old question of "which oil?".

[morerevsm3]

I am told the "1" you are going to try is only a group 3, hence is not on the list posted above

[Dus_M3]

Oils I have used other than the castrol tws are-
Motul chono 10w40 - vanos related noise somewhat louder, engine loved it though.
Motul chrono 15w50 - quieter vanos but not as free revving.
I'm currently back on the tws but I don't know for how long.
When I stripped down my vanos unit I found a paper washer fitted to the inlet side piston, apparentley this was done to reduce the vanos noise, this also pushes the front of the piston forward.
I removed this washer because of some rubbish stuck behind it causing the front section to sit at a slight angle. The result is a louder vanos unit-this now confuses my oil comparisons since I used 10w40 straight after, but not the 15w50 since then.
Now where is this noise actually generated? It is also louder when the engine is hot-no noise at startup or with a cold engine.
I also had a u-tube response to a clip of my vanos noise stating that replacing the vanos did not quieten his engine, but replacing the gearsets did.
The other question is how loud is actually too loud and is going to cause grief?

[digger]

, E36 M3 should only use XW-40 oil,

Which authority says this?