BMW S50 B32 VANOS FAILURE - Prevention and Repair

[slammedM3]

Taken From http://www.bmwowner.com

This was reported after fitting Schrek 284 degree cams to a S50B32
In the Process 3 seals on the rear of the unit were replaced

But what I was keen to know was how the vanos unit would sound like after all this work. Ever since I bought the car 6 years ago, it has always been noisy. I even once took it to a specialist (Munich Motors) not long after I bought it, who said my unit was faulty and would need replacing. So I then took it to BMW who tested it on their diagnostics and said there was nothing wrong with it :?

So roll on 6 years and 100k miles later, same vanos unit (still the original unit that came on the car)......and it is now silent :shock:

Before, I could sit in the car and rev the engine and you could hear it growling. It has always been that way and i’d actually learnt to forgot about it :lol: Now though, you can only hear the unit working when you put your ear to it. No growling or rattling. Amazing!

I haven’t driven the car yet, we only ran it at idle and blipped the throttle. Once the valve clearances are done, I will re-tax it and take a trip down to Bexley’s to get it remapped. Then i’ll be able give some proper feedback.

From my perspective, the hoodoo surrounding the Evo double vanos has well and truly been blown out the water. Watching the unit being removed and refitted, and listening to Steve explain how it all works makes you realise that’s its nowhere near as complicated a system as its sometimes made out. The fact is, we changed the cams and vanos using standard tools in less than 6 hours.

Also This Taken From http://www.bmwowner.com

we were discussing exactly this, Steve suggested in his write-up that the vanos became quite (on both mine and his) because the gears go back into different splines. We're also wondered exactly what Dr. Vanos do, as if you ask them, their reply is very vague.