VANOS DONE AT LAST

[NigeB]

Hi folks, finally did my Vanos seal this weekend - really straightforward and I have seen an immediate improvement, smooth power now from low revs rather than a sudden surge at 2500 RPM. Thoroughly recommend taking the time to do it.

 

[Sean d]

Hi folks, finally did my Vanos seal this weekend - really straightforward and I have seen an immediate improvement, smooth power now from low revs rather than a sudden surge at 2500 RPM. Thoroughly recommend taking the time to do it.

Awesome mate, its almost on the top of my list,

 

[Lee]

Hi folks, finally did my Vanos seal this weekend - really straightforward and I have seen an immediate improvement, smooth power now from low revs rather than a sudden surge at 2500 RPM. Thoroughly recommend taking the time to do it.

Thats good news. I might have to pick your brains. I've got all the kit ready to go.

 

[NigeB]

Awesome mate, its almost on the top of my list,

hardest bit was getting the bas***d fan off! worth doing your belts whilst you have it off.

 

[NigeB]

Thats good news. I might have to pick your brains. I've got all the kit ready to go.

No problem, there are a few tools its worth getting first but really isn't a big deal, 3 hours to get it all off and new seals fitted - 2 hours to get it all back together.

 

[Lee]

No problem, there are a few tools its worth getting first but really isn't a big deal, 3 hours to get it all off and new seals fitted - 2 hours to get it all back together.

Sweet, what tools do you recommend? I've bought myself the cam lock out kit and vanos turn tool. Also all new orings and seals. My kit is for all M50/52/54 engines.

 

[Sean d]

Sweet, what tools do you recommend? I've bought myself the cam lock out kit and vanos turn tool. Also all new orings and seals. My kit is for all M50/52/54 engines.

Apparently you only need cam lock tool for single VANOS

 

[Lee]

Apparently you only need cam lock tool for single VANOS

That's good to know. I'm thinking ahead about engine rebuilds. I did an engine rebuild last year.

 

[NigeB]

Sweet, what tools do you recommend? I've bought myself the cam lock out kit and vanos turn tool. Also all new orings and seals. My kit is for all M50/52/54 engines.

Mine is the M52, not sure if you have the viscous fan on the z4 but that was the most difficult bit even though I made myself a holding tool when I did the thermostat a couple of years ago. I have a spanner for the fan which is a thin, cranked one specially for fan couplings.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Genui...129094?hash=item56790db5c6:g:dpMAAOSwT6pVt398
Also having read about someone else on here having to cut down his snipe nose pliers, I bought a pair of bent snipe nose to take the plastic plugs out. Would have been difficult without these as the exhaust one is quite deep.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YQ7RS1M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The only other advice would be to use a pointy blade like a scalpel to cut the old seals off rather than a stanley blade. A little bent hook is useful too for getting the seals out.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GN1463-5P...185514?hash=item51d143156a:g:1jEAAOxyRhBS-NHw
I used the X8R kit
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221946288092?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT this has all the seals in it which really need replacing.
The X8R instructions are really good and worth printing out, I just went through them page by page. It is also worth changing your belts while you have the viscous fan off.
Let me know if you want any more advice.
Nige
.

 

[Lee]

Mine is the M52, not sure if you have the viscous fan on the z4 but that was the most difficult bit even though I made myself a holding tool when I did the thermostat a couple of years ago. I have a spanner for the fan which is a thin, cranked one specially for fan couplings.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Genui...129094?hash=item56790db5c6:g:dpMAAOSwT6pVt398
Also having read about someone else on here having to cut down his snipe nose pliers, I bought a pair of bent snipe nose to take the plastic plugs out. Would have been difficult without these as the exhaust one is quite deep.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YQ7RS1M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The only other advice would be to use a pointy blade like a scalpel to cut the old seals off rather than a stanley blade. A little bent hook is useful too for getting the seals out.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GN1463-5P...185514?hash=item51d143156a:g:1jEAAOxyRhBS-NHw
I used the X8R kit
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221946288092?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT this has all the seals in it which really need replacing.
The X8R instructions are really good and worth printing out, I just went through them page by page. It is also worth changing your belts while you have the viscous fan off.
Let me know if you want any more advice.
Nige
.

Cheers @NigeB I'm working on a 2.2 M54 and a M52 2.8 I'm pretty sure I've covered all the bases. Look forward to tinkering.

 

[Althulas]

@Lee do you want to borrow my slim viscous fan spanner and flywheel holding tool? I can pop it down when I collect my bits but not back until first week of April.

 

[Lee]

@Lee do you want to borrow my slim viscous fan spanner and flywheel holding tool? I can pop it down when I collect my bits but not back until first week of April.

Thanks mate but I already have one. I'm pretty sure I'm covered for the tools. Give me a call when you want to pop round.