As some of you are probably aware, a couple of weeks ago I removed the Vanos unit off of my Z3 2.0L.
After being at work and then suffering from man flu, l finally got it all back together on Sunday.
I was intending to do a full write up of the process, but as there are a couple of excellent guides already available (links below), I thought I would just add a couple of tips to help the process.
The process is straightforward, if you know one end of a spanner from the other.
The engine should be cold, preferably stood for a couple of days to allow most of the oil to drain back to the sump.
Special tools not required, unless you need to lock the viscous cooling fan to remove it (left hand thread).
One thing not mentioned in the write-ups - Disconnect the battery before proceeding!
Have plenty of rags to hand, along with a large plastic bag to put the valve cover in.
If you have access to a de-greasing bath, it helps to give the Vanos unit and valve cover a good clean.
With the radiator in place, access to remove the plastic plug (using snipe nose pliers) from the exhaust side Vanos is limited. I had to cut around 30mm off of the handles on my smallest pair to get them in at right angles to the plug. This was the hardest part of the job as they are slippery little buggers and hard to grip on to!
The pistons are aluminium and inevitably when cutting off the old seals you may mark them with the knife. Give them a rub down with some fine grit paper, l used 1000 grade. The bores where the pistons run will have some marking as well and will also benefit from a rub down.
The old o-rings underneath the Teflon seals will be hard to cut, a bit like cutting through a thick plastic cable tie.
If you are doing the piston rattle rings as well, with a nut & bolt and a couple of short pieces of pipe as spacers, you can set the piston up in a vice rather than having to keep putting it back on the engine to check axial play.
When rebuilding use new seals and gaskets.
Pic of stripped unit.
So was it worth It? Definitely. The improvements are instant. No hesitation when putting you foot down, revs easily and smoothly, low down torque restored. It is a must do for higher mileage Zeds. It will put a big smile on your face.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_procedure.htm
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/double_vanos_rattle_procedure.htm
https://x8r.co.uk/instructions/inde...-piston-seal-repair-fix-process-instructions/
https://x8r.co.uk/instructions/inde...vanos-rattle-repair-fix-process-instructions/
After being at work and then suffering from man flu, l finally got it all back together on Sunday.
I was intending to do a full write up of the process, but as there are a couple of excellent guides already available (links below), I thought I would just add a couple of tips to help the process.
The process is straightforward, if you know one end of a spanner from the other.
The engine should be cold, preferably stood for a couple of days to allow most of the oil to drain back to the sump.
Special tools not required, unless you need to lock the viscous cooling fan to remove it (left hand thread).
One thing not mentioned in the write-ups - Disconnect the battery before proceeding!
Have plenty of rags to hand, along with a large plastic bag to put the valve cover in.
If you have access to a de-greasing bath, it helps to give the Vanos unit and valve cover a good clean.
With the radiator in place, access to remove the plastic plug (using snipe nose pliers) from the exhaust side Vanos is limited. I had to cut around 30mm off of the handles on my smallest pair to get them in at right angles to the plug. This was the hardest part of the job as they are slippery little buggers and hard to grip on to!
The pistons are aluminium and inevitably when cutting off the old seals you may mark them with the knife. Give them a rub down with some fine grit paper, l used 1000 grade. The bores where the pistons run will have some marking as well and will also benefit from a rub down.
The old o-rings underneath the Teflon seals will be hard to cut, a bit like cutting through a thick plastic cable tie.
If you are doing the piston rattle rings as well, with a nut & bolt and a couple of short pieces of pipe as spacers, you can set the piston up in a vice rather than having to keep putting it back on the engine to check axial play.
When rebuilding use new seals and gaskets.
Pic of stripped unit.
So was it worth It? Definitely. The improvements are instant. No hesitation when putting you foot down, revs easily and smoothly, low down torque restored. It is a must do for higher mileage Zeds. It will put a big smile on your face.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_procedure.htm
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/double_vanos_rattle_procedure.htm
https://x8r.co.uk/instructions/inde...-piston-seal-repair-fix-process-instructions/
https://x8r.co.uk/instructions/inde...vanos-rattle-repair-fix-process-instructions/
