Too early for VANOS?

[Washburn]

I know this is a topic with differing opinions, but I am trying to decide so I thought I'd post here.

My indie BMW shop is running a special on VANOS rebuild w/ anti rattle kit+VCG replacement.
As I have reason to believe that I will benefit from ( need ) VCG and especially spark plug well gasket being replaced I know that part will benefit me

Thing is Vanos : my car is at 47k - some ppl think it's not too early; I am not sure if I have any Vanos related symptoms - recently had a cyl misfire code that didn't return after erasing. I have ruled out coil pack - car is back to normal for now. I sometimes have heard some rattling like noise but I don't know if it is Vanos or not.

Is it wasting money to do it this early mileage wise ?
( despite it is bring on a special ? But know I cannot or won't DIY it even later )

WWYD ? I have to decide asap
Your input is very valued- thanks IA!


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[fredo]

If the price is right, I would probably go for it as PM. No need to wait until it fails. What's the special price ? What's the regular price ?

[Washburn]

Regular is $660 for Vanos with rattle kit ( beisian) and VCG
Special is $ 475


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[Vas]

Do keep in mind even though you have 47k miles on the car, the car is 10 years old. And rubber deteriorates over time.

Is $475 with labor included?

[Washburn]

Yeah for everything - and they use BMW VCGs.
They do this special every year for two weeks for their Facebook page fans
I skipped last year because I thought it was too early and the special didn't include rattle kit
( this year it does )


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[Vas]

That is not a bad price actually.

[brettbimmer]

Just a thought - is the rattle which you are hearing the DISA valve? Mine I rebuilt around 70k, and have not yet had any VANOS rattling, so it's still OEM at 73k.

[Washburn]

I have the same suspicion - when I get my head close to the DISA box I think I do hear some rattle that's coming from there - I will inspect it soon- I already have a rebuild kit on the way.

I know that my mileage is low to do Vanos - however I have to consider what members here have pointed out: that even at low mileage the rubber parts are 10 yrs old and that the price on this special is good and that it can be considered PM

( I need to get the VCG done anyway)

A " problem " might be that I won't feel a big improvement compared to someone who gets this done on a car with higher mileage where Vanos has degraded a lot.


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[TheFinanceGuy]

If you need the VCG done anyway, and you are having the shop do it, I'd pay the small extra and get the whole thing done. $475 seems like a really good all in price for a shop to do the repair.

Ask for old parts (the rubber) and you'll be able to see if the rubber was going south or completely fine. Either way, good piece of mind.

[Washburn]

Thanks !
The VCG is also included in the special
So it's $475 for Vanos + VCG


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[WOLFN8TR]

When I did my VANOS at 100K on my ZHP I didn't have the rattle beforehand and it ran noticeably better afterward. The seals were so dam hard it wasn't even funny.

[ELCID86]

Tempting price. Even if one is a DIYer.

[Washburn]

Ok so now is the time I need to see about 5 consecutive posts saying do it do it do it ... [emoji14]


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[ELCID86]

1. Do it ;-}

[LivesNearCostco]

2. Dooooo Eeeeet!

Unless you plan to DIY it, this is a good price and I would do it. Especially since the word from Beisan is the new BMW VCGs use Viton rubber instead of Buna/nitrile rubber so should last much longer than the old VCGs.

[johnrando]

It really is a DIY, but if you don't DIY, that's a good price.

Sent from mobile

[Washburn]

I can do some simple DIYs but that one is above my abilities unless someone is there to guide me


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[ELCID86]

Sometimes it's good to know when to "pay the man".

[danewilson77]

Do keep in mind even though you have 47k miles on the car, the car is 10 years old. And rubber deteriorates over time.

Is $475 with labor included?


If the price is right, I would probably go for it as PM. No need to wait until it fails. What's the special price ? What's the regular price ?

And they say it can happen in as little as 20K miles.

[Vas]

3) do it

[Washburn]

[emoji4] 2 more to go


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[WOLFN8TR]

4) Do It!

[TigerTater]

Do it. 10 year old car = hard cracked plastic VANOS, and soon to be oil leaking from places you can't decide. Eliminate one of the choices. [emoji106]

ETA:

I did mine at 85k

[danewilson77]

5) dhu eet

"No flamesuit required"

[Stewbie]

Maybe u won't notice a difference but neither will you experience the slow loss of performance over time as the vanos slowly fails.

My Indy quoted $225 to do the VCG (did it myself using a members excellent YouTube video). I've been quoted around $400 Labour to re and re the vanos if I supplied a rebuilt unit. So $425 to rebuild ur vanos and install a new vcg is a pretty good deal.

[ELCID86]

...So $425 to rebuild ur vanos and install a new vcg is a pretty good deal.

Makes me think about driving down to Fayette-nam!

[Sockethead]

Yea I agree with everyone else. That's a REALLY good price if you consider that the Dr. Vanos rebuilt unit is $275 plus shipping....and your getting all the gaskets too. Hell, I'd consider getting it done at that price and I've been wrenching for close to 40 years

It is a simple DIY for experienced people but it can be intimidating if you're not.

[WOLFN8TR]

It's not hard just very time consuming. For $475 I would of paid someone to do mine actually. But I don't trust anyone's work anyone so that's why I DIY. [emoji2]

[ELCID86]

BTW, what's the name of the shop in F'ville?

[Washburn]

Sorry it's not in Fayetteville
It's in Cary, NC, but worth the 1 hr 20 min drive to me
It's called Import Motor Werks
They have a website and a nice FB page


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[ELCID86]

Sorry it's not in Fayetteville
It's in Cary, NC, but worth the 1 hr 20 min drive to me
It's called Import Motor Werks
They have a website and a nice FB page


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Thanks. Hmmm. 3.5 hours for me...

[Washburn]

Got it done.
They said my VANOS seals were only JUST starting to deteriorate, so I won't notice a HUGE difference - must drive 200 miles or so for any effect.
At least my engine is really clean :)
No DME updates needed (hope this is correct)
Misfire I had a few weeks ago on cyl 2, which I described in another thread and which couldn't be replicated after code was erased by me, was stored as cyl number FOUR misfire by Autologic. (mystery)

Car has been normal since the air filter change (coincidence??) original filter was NASTY. (and has been in car for its 47k life )
See here for pics :
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=836031

Pics from today: (Techs were full of praise at cleanliness of engine - i know it's a low mile engine, but was still good to see it.)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/image5.jpeg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/nishang/media/image5.jpeg.html)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/image4.jpeg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/nishang/media/image4.jpeg.html)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/image2.jpeg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/nishang/media/image2.jpeg.html)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/image5.jpeg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/nishang/media/image5.jpeg.html)



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/11146068_10155364682600591_556648918_n.jpg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/nishang/media/11146068_10155364682600591_556648918_n.jpg.html)

[TheFinanceGuy]

Damn. They took pictures for you, or let you? Awesome!!
That is a really clean looking valve area.


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[Washburn]

They had taken a bunch during VANOS - and emailed them to me while I was in the shop. I only posted a few.
But they also came and got me to show the engine with the VC off, so I could also take pics. I really didn't post any of mine though - the tech's phone pics were better than the ones I took.

[johnrando]

:thumbsup

Sent from mobile

[Sockethead]

Nice guys to do that for you :)

[ELCID86]

+1. I am tempted to drive down there.

[Hornung418]

+1. I am tempted to drive down there.
Nah, just drive up here and we can do it in three hours.

[ELCID86]

Nah, just drive up here and we can do it in three hours.

Thanks Justin. I need to look at my schedule.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[sum1orotha]

Nah, just drive up here and we can do it in three hours.


Thanks Justin. I need to look at my schedule.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

Can we make it a party? I need to do my Vanos and VCG as well. My car is sitting at 104k miles and I know it's aching to get it done. Besides living in the city (parallel parking) and not really having the tools would be nice to have some guidance.

[Hornung418]

Can we make it a party? I need to do my Vanos and VCG as well. My car is sitting at 104k miles and I know it's aching to get it done. Besides living in the city (parallel parking) and not really having the tools would be nice to have some guidance.


Thanks Justin. I need to look at my schedule.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.
Sure thing guys. Just pick a date and we will block off some time for the garage and maybe even get the car on the lift and inspect other parts of the car.

[zhp05jb]

Can I join the party? My car just went over 80K and I'm pretty sure it's never gotten its VANOS serviced.

[Sockethead]

Let us know the date and Kpro and I will come down and hang out too