Check your Vanos bolts!

[Off Your Marks]

So I took the M out today as the weather was fine. Warmed it up and went for a blast.

At a set of lights the idle was lumpy and pulling away it was stuttering. Anyway I pulled over and checked the engine and noticed the exhaust solenoid cover had a bit of paper gasket protruding. There was no oil loss so I limped home and removed the cover. All was dry so the seals had not failed but I took out the solenoids and replaced all 4 o rings and fitted a new gasket. Now spot on.

I noticed the bolts were easier than they should be to undo (should be torqued to 8Nm) As the solenoids are held fast against the plate, I think the play in the cover was preventing operation.

I just thought its worth everyone checking these bolts as it could have been a lot worse, especially is the seals had failed and pressurised the solenoid cover

 

[HornelZ3M]

Had the same with mine when i had it, got it all done but did you replace the bolts with the stronger ones?

 

[swamper]

iv read about these bolts but wouldnt know where to start...iv only had the M a couple of months?
any pics chaps?

 

[HornelZ3M]

http://mukerji.co.uk/2005/06/17/bmw-s50-b32-vanos/ This is the write up on the vanos. You can order the service kit for the vanos and have it put on but its not cheap, around £450 from a good indie. You get the stronger bolts if they havent already been upgraded by BMW and the seals and gaskets. The other major item is the vanos oil filter which is never changed by garages on a mservice so you can order one and have that replaced as well. Worth doing.

 

[swamper]

cheers Paul...anyway of telling if the bolts have been up rated ?

 

[Off Your Marks]

Had the same with mine when i had it, got it all done but did you replace the bolts with the stronger ones?

Yeah bought new from BMW a while back for another car. Good job I kept them.

Did your seals fail or just the gasket like mine?

 

[HornelZ3M]

The only way is to check with BMW to see if its recorded but probably a waste of time if your not buying anything. I changed mine on the assumption they had not been

 

[swamper]

best get it done then..

 

[Off Your Marks]

I'm based in warrington Swamper if you need any help with the fitting etc

 

[swamper]

thats very kind of you Matt...i may take you up on that and bring butties )
iv been to yours before and bought tyres off you last year..

 

[wonderloaf]

Hi chaps, does this problem apply to all the Vanos engines, including 2.2 litre which I understand to be a double Vanos?
Not having any problems as yet, but just increasing my knowledge base just in case something similar should happen to me.

 

[HornelZ3M]

Did your seals fail or just the gasket like mine?

[/quote]

No the seals were fine, it was just a bit of gasket poking out like yours. I think i was lucky as the gasket was only noticed when i took it into the garage and the mechanic spotted it and showed me, so even though there was in my mind no problem with the vanos and it was just to be on the safe side i was having it done, it was a good job i did. :-ss

 

[Off Your Marks]

Did your seals fail or just the gasket like mine?

No the seals were fine, it was just a bit of gasket poking out like yours. I think i was lucky as the gasket was only noticed when i took it into the garage and the mechanic spotted it and showed me, so even though there was in my mind no problem with the vanos and it was just to be on the safe side i was having it done, it was a good job i did. :-ss [/quote]

Did it affect the running?

Spoke to Mr.Vanos today and he said it sounded like the OEM bolts had stretched

I'm ordering a full kit and going to replace all my bolts and gaskets

 

[HornelZ3M]

No it didnt affect the running it was as it is now ,but i had it done as i had read so much about it on the forum :-s

 

[badman gee]

Did your seals fail or just the gasket like mine?

No the seals were fine, it was just a bit of gasket poking out like yours. I think i was lucky as the gasket was only noticed when i took it into the garage and the mechanic spotted it and showed me, so even though there was in my mind no problem with the vanos and it was just to be on the safe side i was having it done, it was a good job i did. :-ss

Did it affect the running?

Spoke to Mr.Vanos today and he said it sounded like the OEM bolts had stretched

I'm ordering a full kit and going to replace all my bolts and gaskets[/quote]

i did the same, when the car its inspection 2.

new kit bolts 12nm

mark

 

[Jonttt]

I thought the upgraded vanish bolts where longer not stronger. The problem was the original bolts being too short undo with constant vibration. The longer replacements having more thread do not suffer from this so long as they are the correct torque. I've never heard of them stretching which I doubt.

They were done as a warranty recall and carried out as a matter of course at a routine service so almost all will have been changed. You can ask any BMW franchise to print you a warranty report for your VIN and it will show the part no. And description of the bolts (from memory M6 vanos bolt replacement). This report is handy to have anyway.

It's an easy check to ensure the bolts are tight but worth fitting the longer bolts if they were never fitted.

 

[badman gee]

the new bolts are supposed to be stronger and longer i think.

got the kit from mr vanos and had it installed alongside the inspection 2.

 

[HornelZ3M]

You being picky now Mr Jonttt :zap

 

[badman gee]

get the kit from mr vanos and fit it people or get it fitted,

prevention is better than cure.

 

[pete59]

As wonderloaf asked does this also effect the 2.0 and the 2.2 twin vanos engine or does it only apply to the high performance M engine.thanks pete