e46 dual vanos maintenance kits

[Peter@AEW]

When you get the seals do the following if you not handy with a hammer and chisel .

Go to Beisan and read the instructions
Go to Beisan and read the instructions
Go to Beisan and read the instructions

start working on the car after you have printed the instructions and do it step by step.

Clean all parts thoroughly
Examine all parts for any peculiar wear marks.
Make sure the parts are all clean.

Assemble with oil to ease the seals over the discs and do it slowly.

Make sure you have a torque wrench that will torque as low as 10Nm.

Do not hand feel tighten any bolts or nuts in or around the vanos unit.

Good luck with it you will enjoy yourself.

Did I mention that you should read the instructions?

 

[Philip Foglar]

+1!!!! :thumbs:

I suggest also replacing the rubber grommets that go into the holes of the valve cover.

It is recommended to use an RTV sealant on the half moon edges and between the head and Vanos. Make sure that the RTF is oxygen sensor safe - I had trouble initially but eventually found a good one from Midas.

I also recommend getting new Vanos piston bolts (these are left hand threads, so loosen as if tightening, and vice-versa) - these tend to snap very easily as I learnt.

If you do have a torque wrench capable of going as low as 8 or 10 Nm, just make sure it does measure in both directions - I assumed that mine did, and well, snapped one of the Vanos piston bolts!

Take your time and keep track of all parts and bolts so that nothing gets mixed up. Not sure if it's necessary, but I kept the valve cover bolts in the order that they came off.

Follow the Beisan Systems DIY - it is very well laid out and specifies everything you will need for the job!!

And finally, enjoy!

Good luck! :thumbs:

 

[MariusH]

stupid question but how do you tell if they gone and needs replacing? :fencelook:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

The old seals will be rock hard, yet brittle and have cracks in them.

 

[Philip Foglar]

stupid question but how do you tell if they gone and needs replacing? :fencelook:

The original seals don't last long in terms of mileage and age, so if they are still the original parts, chances are they are worn and affecting the overall engine performance.

But, most noticeably, torque and power at low revs (from idle speed upwards) is usually less than it should be, and sometimes the throttle response around idle speed might be sluggish or delayed causing "jack-rabbit" pull-offs or stalling - this is also related to having a drop in power at these lower revs.

 

[MariusH]

Oh ok.. I read that thet didnt last long something like 30k or so... if mine needs to be replaced I would do it but just have no idea if its needed :fencelook: its got a fsh from the previous owner and when I took it for a service a month ago the garage didnt say anything :fencelook:

 

[Philip Foglar]

They wouldn't be able to tell you unless there was something really wrong, but in any case, they will just want to try and sell you a new Vanos unit which will suffer from the same problem since it has the OEM seals which are not as good as the Beisan Systems seals. Basically, on the M54 engines, it is really worth doing!! :thumbs:

 

[MariusH]

Cool think ill get it done :thumbs:

 

[moranor@axis]

fit the seals you wont regret it :rollsmile:

 

[GPGrobler]

Hallo all,

Thank you for all the info, where would I get a torque wrench that measures 10 nm? Midas?

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I cannot imagine if I'm already this impressed with the car now, how it will be after I fitted the seals! But to add, ever since I started driving BMW's I have never been disappointed.

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About the grommets rubbers clips and other stuff, what will the parts bill be like if I get everything from BMW? Also, can you get these parts elsewhere?

 

[Philip Foglar]

Hallo all,

Thank you for all the info, where would I get a torque wrench that measures 10 nm? Midas?

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I cannot imagine if I'm already this impressed with the car now, how it will be after I fitted the seals! But to add, ever since I started driving BMW's I have never been disappointed.

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About the grommets rubbers clips and other stuff, what will the parts bill be like if I get everything from BMW? Also, can you get these parts elsewhere?

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I bought mine from Adendorff, but it does not measure in reverse (left hand threads). But still handy - I was not able to find a torque wrench capable of measuring in reverse, and in particular for these low values... Ended up have to go according to feel when it came to the Vanos piston bolts, not ideal, but had no choice.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi,

Finally got around installing the VANOS seal kit I got from Moranor last weekend.

The DYI guide was perfect and 100%. The car is also behaving like it should after replacing the seals.

I highly recommend this to anyone with a M52 / M54 motor

 

[GPGrobler]

Thanks Vince,

This coming weekend it is my 320i's turn.

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Sheesh, but those Vanos bolts are small! looks like 8mm or 10mm ... :thinking:

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks Vince,

This coming weekend it is my 320i's turn.

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Sheesh, but those Vanos bolts are small! looks like 8mm or 10mm ... :thinking:

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yeah, they are pretty small. The big thing to remember is they left hand thread. Would have gotten this wrong if not for the DIY guide.

bought a spare set at BMW before I started for incase they broke. Was about R10 each. So myabe be worth getting

 

[Philip Foglar]

My Wife is still thoroughly enjoying the improvement since I fitted the new seals!!

I personally suggest replacing those two Vanos bolts, they are so weak (by design), and as such, it takes very little for them to snap! Knowing now, I probably wouldn't have a problem, but for those doing this DIY for the first time, and especially if you don't have a torque wrench able to measure in reverse, I just think getting new bolts makes the most sense, and they are not very expensive.