FAILING VANOS?

[Dewald_Bark]

Hi guys. I have a 2011 E90 320i. I have been experiencing low power, high fuel consumption and rough idling. I took the vehicle to a BMW workshop. Upon their findings and recommendations the MAF was replaced aswell as a decat. The problem however still remains. Now I'm being told that the Vanos gears and not the solenoids, MIGHT be the issue. Are there any truth in his suspicions or is this the typical trial and error replacement protocol until the problem goes away?

 

[RayMan101]

Have you got any rattle when the car is cold and under load? Then it may be the gears that need replacing.

Mine (2009 320i E90) just started with it now recently. And I'm pretty sure it's the vanos gears. Solenoids are clean, just did oil chance, so I know it's not that.

I just want to know myself if I should repair or replace the gears/seals as I have a rattle.... And if replacement, can I get away with 2nd hand units because Covid have been the devil to my pay so I'm not in the position of buying new.

 

[Peter@AEW]

Sounds like they are changing parts on the off chance that they get it right.
If the vanos units need replacement it is best to get even aftermarket units and new bolts rather than secondhand

 

[trevor_e36m]

why does it seem these 4 cylinders are more trouble-prone than the six-cylinder n52's

 

[DarrylvanNiekerk]

From what I have figured out it could be a myriad problems from failing oil pump or low oil pressure, clogged oil separator, clogged non return valves, dirty solenoids, faulty Vanos sensor to dirty injectors, faulty MAF sensor, failing coil packs, dirty swirl flaps etc., the list is very long.

I don't think the engine is necessarily a bad engine but it does need regular and fastidious maintenance and there are some questionable design concepts which can cause issues if not enough interest is paid. Once the oil gets properly dirty the likelihood is you will have endless problems that most likely won't go away without some sort of rebuild as certain items cannot be accessed in that engine without stripping it.

The fault codes should ideally help point in the right direction to try and rule out the obvious or most likely suspects.