VANOS question

[break80]

I'm looking at an 05 330i with zhp 1 owner detailed service with carfax and only 32k miles. I wanted to check on what the VANOS is and if this hasn't been done, will this be an expensive fix. keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm hoping I can get this for $20-22k

[johnrando]

It's a DIY (not sure of the cost), but Besian quotes around 4-5 hours of shop time for an Indy to do it, so whatever that cost might be depending on their per hour charge. Check out besian.com. Also, at only 32K miles, it's not likely that was done. Finally, over $20K does seem like a lot these days, but low mileage cars like that are hard to find so maybe that's why. I know others pay way more attention to the ads and the sell prices in our forum and can weigh in on the price (especially if you provide more details). To net it out, Vanos should not be a factor in your car purchase.

[Mr Paul]

I'm looking at an 05 330i with zhp 1 owner detailed service with carfax and only 32k miles. I wanted to check on what the VANOS is and if this hasn't been done, will this be an expensive fix. keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm hoping I can get this for $20-22k

I have not had to do this with my '03 yet, but you can purchase the VANOS seals and DIY for $60, I believe. You can also get the anti-rattle kit for another $60.

http://www.beisansystems.com/

EDIT* You'll also want to replace the valve cover gasket when you are in there. I think that is another $60.

[bimmeryota]

I paid for about 4.5 hrs at euroautospot in SD so that sounds about right. Made a huge difference in sound afterwards... I think even my oil consumption went down but that could be my oil separator that I did soon after that.

[danewilson77]

V A N O S = Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung

VANOS is kind of like the variable speed timimg on an E46. Beisan claims that the seals can degrade after only 20k miles, due to the fact BMW allegedly used an inferior o-ring material on the VANOS pistons.. I think you're safe if you do it at 60k to 80k miles. I have 134k miles on my car, and I haven't done seals yet.....but I can tell. Performance is downgraded a bit.

The DIY would take you around 6 hours as a first timer. Very easy, if you can follow a procedure.

Here are some comparisons....

BMW VANOS - Varies intake and exhaust timing and lift by moving the fulcrum of the camshaft
Ford Variable Cam Timing - Varies valve timing by rotating the camshaft
GM Variable Valve Timing - Varies timing (phase) with hydraulic pressure
Honda VTEC - Varies intake, duration, and lift by using two different sets of cam lobes
Honda i-VTEC - Adds cam phasing (timing) to traditional VTEC
Mazda S-VT - Varies timing by rotating the camshaft
Mitsubishi MIVEC - Varies valve timing and lift
Nissan VVL - Varies intake, duration, and lift by using two different sets of cam lobes
Porsche VarioCam - Varies intake timing by adjusting tension of a cam chain
Porsche VarioCam Plus - Varies intake timing by adjusting tension of a cam chain
Rover VVC - Varies timing and lift with an eccentric disc
Subaru AVCS - Varies timing (phase) with hydraulic pressure
Toyota VVT-i - Varies intake timing by advancing the cam chain
Toyota VVTL-i - Varies timing by advancing the cam chain and switching between two sets of cam lobes

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=11_2170&hg=11&fg=15

This is what it looks like and where it's located.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/VANOS-1.png

[zj96sc]

sounds like the one at a dealer in baltimore based on miles and price?

[danewilson77]

Didn't see it mentioned here, so...also be advised Dr. VANOS is another solution. Also understand dealers won't put the improved seals on your vanos pistons, and most likely will recommend you replace the entire vanos unit with a new one...which still has the same crappy seals.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[zj96sc]

what's the consensus on dr. vanos vs beisan?

[danewilson77]

Beisansystems is cheaper if you can DIY. About $180.00 vice Dr. VANOS price.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[MrMaico]

what's the consensus on dr. vanos vs beisan?

If I had been hearing a Vanos rattle I would have went with Dr Vanos. Since there was no rattle I just did the Beisan seals. I wouldn't have wanted to deal with the procedure for setting the tension on the bearings for the rattle kit. IMO, there's no way to be sure you're getting the correct amount of play.

[danewilson77]

If I had been hearing a Vanos rattle I would have went with Dr Vanos. Since there was no rattle I just did the Beisan seals. I wouldn't have wanted to deal with the procedure for setting the tension on the bearings for the rattle kit. IMO, there's no way to be sure you're getting the correct amount of play.

Are you talking about the inspection and adjustment of piston bearing? It seems straight forward to me, and, it wouldn't surprise me if.....

1. Dr Vanos gets their parts from beisansystems and,

2. There's probably a copy of the beisansystems procedure sitting in the shop when they make the repairs to suspect units.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[break80]

thanks. I did find the previous link dane had posted on beisan systems. Yep, the intel on zhp's is amazing. it is the one at the dealer in MD. I'm going to stay patient. what I have observed during my first week of the"hunt" is that with all the experts reviewing all zhp's for sale, there really isn't much risk of buying a well serviced vehicle with 40-60k miles, especially if it's a mafia member and other members have observed the car first hand.

[danewilson77]

True. I bought mine w/ 98k, no PPI.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[MrMaico]

Are you talking about the inspection and adjustment of piston bearing? It seems straight forward to me, and, it wouldn't surprise me if.....

1. Dr Vanos gets their parts from beisansystems and,

2. There's probably a copy of the beisansystems procedure sitting in the shop when they make the repairs to suspect units.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

I'm not saying it there is anything wrong with the Beisan anti-rattle kit or the procedure but if that's what Dr Vanos uses they have done it many times and know the exact "feel" that the bearings should have but a person doing it for the first time may not have the experience to know if they have it right. For ME, I would rather pay the extra bucks to know it's been done right the first time. That's my opinion, to each their own.

I thought Dr V had their own rattle cure that they were using even before the Beisan anti-rattle kt came out?

[danewilson77]

I'm not saying it there is anything wrong with the Beisan anti-rattle kit or the procedure but if that's what Dr Vanos uses they have done it many times and know the exact "feel" that the bearings should have but a person doing it for the first time may not have the experience to know if they have it right. For ME, I would rather pay the extra bucks to know it's been done right the first time. That's my opinion, to each their own.

I thought Dr V had their own rattle cure that they were using even before the Beisan anti-rattle kt came out?

Ok. Sounds good. Dunno.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[llll1l1ll]

When I do the VANOS fix, I'll probably get the kit from Dr. Vanos. That way, I can just bolt off the old and bolt on the new. Also, I don't want to have to deal with finicky little teeny-tiny, easily-breakable parts or a spring that just flies away in to the abyss of a garage floor.

Edit: And, OP, good luck with that dealer in Baltimore. If it's the car I'm thinking of, they haven't budged on the price. In fact, they raised it after three months.

[zj96sc]

I don't think they ever raised it, just their website had a different price than autotrader did. Been like that since day 1. Either way, good luck. Its a nice car but a crazy price.

I'm pretty torn over the Beisan/Dr Vanos question. I do not like Beisan's preloading procedure with "3 1 second taps of the impact." That is almost comically inaccurate....could be 100lbft or 600lbft depending on what impact you use. Then again, I would be curious what procedure Dr. Vanos uses.

[danewilson77]

When I do the VANOS fix, I'll probably get the kit from Dr. Vanos. That way, I can just bolt off the old and bolt on the new. Also, I don't want to have to deal with finicky little teeny-tiny, easily-breakable parts or a spring that just flies away in to the abyss of a garage floor.

Edit: And, OP, good luck with that dealer in Baltimore. If it's the car I'm thinking of, they haven't budged on the price. In fact, they raised it after three months.

As an FYI...You will do 95% of the maintenance going the Dr. Vanos route. Getting to the vanos is most of the labor.

[llll1l1ll]

Nah, I don't mind taking off the VANOS unit. From my understanding, Dr. Vanos gives you one that they have already redone on the inside. Then you just take yours off, send it back to them, and then put theirs on.

What I am referring to are all these little parts on the inside of the VANOS unit. I mean, they aren't that small, but I have always come across issues on tiny stuff like seals and whatnot. I just don't trust myself working with stuff that takes a lot of fumbling - particularly if it's smaller items like the VANOS pistons. I don't want to get frustrated trying to get the exhaust piston spring to compress and then bend something from the application of my angry frustration force.

[danewilson77]

Ok.

[llll1l1ll]

Hahahaha ugh I don't even know if I'm talking about everything correctly. I'm drowning this Monday morning.

[aurelius]

Read the installation instructions from both Beisan & DrVanos and then decide which one suits you.

The Beisan route involves more work and some specific tools that end up narrowing the net cost.

The ZHP motor (which has different and supposedly Alpina cams) is prone to the rattle, therefore as long as you have all that stuff apart and if you go the Beisan route, spend the extra $60 to address that.