I shot her insides and she loved it...

[Rovert]

How did I do that?

Well a thanks for a Bimmer fanatic I was able to get parts to do a quick and painless VANOS swap with a valve cover/spark plug gasket replacement. The refurbished VANOS unit (w/ Besian seals, rattle kit, gaskets, and new screws) that was shipped to me was hot tanked, hand cleaned until it was perfect. Then the piston journals were polished. So a lot more than the tools and hardware I have at home to do this amazing OCD'ish job. :headband

The low end power seems to be a bit more after I did a quick 2 minute drive around the block to circulate oil and get an accurate dip stick reading. Acceleration is much smoother through the rev range although I only went up to 4,000 since she's was cold.

To do this job I had to get some new tools...and I got this 233 piece ratchet/socket set for $76 brand new! normally $280 with lifetime warranty.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WJ4blEqdDYI/UANxbRxuBwI/AAAAAAAAEJA/9fRVjBcJhts/s1024/2012-07-13%252021.52.24.jpg
^Phone Pic

So I opened her up with some prying, doubt, faith and every other emotion going through my head...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Davw-CXWNQs/UANxZEtjTCI/AAAAAAAAEI4/tW_kzZTW5dY/s1024/2012-07-14%252012.53.51.jpg
^Phone Pic I sent to fellow DIY'ers for moral support thinking it was never going to come off. :rofl

I was excited and scared to find out what I'd find under the valve cover. Here is what I found after 153,000 miles of driving:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-McmJfsVoWCE/UANlUzR7VTI/AAAAAAAAEIo/6wTHOlWwC8I/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010201.jpg

A nice clean block compartment:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DY9ONinSido/UANlP7oP8_I/AAAAAAAAEHw/yTMGAKKZPLc/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010185.jpg

A reasonably clean VANOS that was golden from all the golden drives we've been through!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3UIfwm76NfY/UANlO71GRnI/AAAAAAAAEHo/qf57JanRf9Y/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010176.jpg

Chains looked new:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-56d1cOss_0E/UANlOMqSj_I/AAAAAAAAEHg/uTzB7HROmIc/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010178.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mBDgQhLJrws/UANlQRjIT6I/AAAAAAAAEH4/dUHoF11AMNM/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010182.jpg

A nice clean camshaft on the exhaust side:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BV_qwe1GCXc/UANlSP_ddsI/AAAAAAAAEII/zWXOxU6slzw/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010189.jpg

My DIY instruction guide from Besian System and VANOS removed:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w9E99EyYfBk/UANlTEAlJ8I/AAAAAAAAEIU/0AcfQ4M8cAg/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010197.jpg

She's naked without a VANOS to cover her sprockets!! :rofl
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kM7dW4OmKJ4/UANlTHraaYI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/_goc4Sg6nuY/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010194.jpg

Here's the new refurbished VANOS and my old one I will mail back as CORE:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c1T3Zfs8ywA/UANlUeh4tyI/AAAAAAAAEIg/inx1jRLmbIY/s1104/VCG%2520%2526%2520Vanos%2520Repair-1010200.jpg

One thing that was not in the instructions, swap sensors on the VANOS:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EJjW0D8S8t8/UANxnzkDUII/AAAAAAAAEJQ/adRS8xNgdmg/s720/2012-07-14%252017.22.47.jpg
^Phone pic I sent to my BMW Tech/best friend, for help as I rounded off the hex bolt with an imperial hex key...oops!

Another phone pic showing where I added Gasket Maker/sealant to further ensure I have no leaks (follow your product's instructions):
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kq7Lc6S7OSs/UANxbcj3a3I/AAAAAAAAEJE/1ujY589MlFw/s1024/2012-07-15%252012.39.48.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d-lAAltYZ2E/UANxz65eg4I/AAAAAAAAEJY/yPYyR1RJrR4/s1024/2012-07-15%252012.40.26.jpg

All done! Topped her up with oil after a quick drive around the block while letting the gasket maker/sealant cure for the day/night.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gFuUbFMBQDA/UANx9ficD4I/AAAAAAAAEJg/YcSwY6A9_Ps/s720/2012-07-15%252015.05.57.jpg

[danewilson77]

Looks great Trevor.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[cakM3]

Very nice Trevor! Man that refurbished VANOS looks awesome! :thumbsup

[Hornung418]

Hmmm...Last step is a little backwards. Should have waited an hour for the Sealant to cure. Then drive around the block.

Otherwise, looks like everything was in tip top shape! Enjoy the drive after the 500 mile break-in period :)

[Meric]

Looks really good. Clean job! :)

[Rovert]

Hmmm...Last step is a little backwards. Should have waited an hour for the Sealant to cure. Then drive around the block.

Otherwise, looks like everything was in tip top shape! Enjoy the drive after the 500 mile break-in period :)

I did let it set for just over an hour. I put the valve cover on and hand tightened all bolts with the excess sealant oozing out. After an hour I finished tightening then brought the car around the block to give the sealant a nice warm environment to cure in. :D

[johnrando]

Looks really good. Clean job! :)

+1. nice pics

[nike001]

Hmmm...Last step is a little backwards. Should have waited an hour for the Sealant to cure. Then drive around the block.

Otherwise, looks like everything was in tip top shape! Enjoy the drive after the 500 mile break-in period :)

I never really got the whole 'break in period' for the VANOS thing. I just took it as just having to drive a little bit harder than normal..? When I hear break in, I hear "drive moderately"

[Rovert]

My friends say I drive like a Grandpa 98% of the time. But those other 2% when on public roads....I can really hoon it! :D

[Hornung418]

Copy that, Trev. Didn't want you to have to go back and do it again if it leaked on you.

Dalton, the Break-in period of 500 miles should just be activating the VANOS...so city driving with lots of acceleration changes to really seat the seals properly.

[Rovert]

For break in what does each style of driving do? I noticed that one piston of each of my vanos units moves in and out. The other one I wasn't able to move with finger pressure unless I didn't push hard enough.

I'm going to get in just over 100 miles of city this week then leaving on an interstate run 300 miles each way. Will something bad happen?

[Smolck]

The other one I wasn't able to move with finger pressure unless I didn't push hard enough.

The exhaust piston has a large spring holding it in place. That is why it is hard to move. Perfectly normal.

[SoCalZman]

Wow is that all that is required to change the VANOS? It looks almost easy (for non mechanical folks like myself). For some reason I thought there would be a lot more parts coming off (scary tiny ones and so forth).

[JupiterBMW]

Great looking work. I was unaware that a break in period is needed after doing this job. What did the refurb'd unit cost you? And if I read your OP right, you got it from a private seller? If not, can you tell us where you got it? Would love to do a full unit swap so as to minimize any chance of screwing stuff up... Oh, and awesome photos! :thumbup

[danewilson77]

Great looking work. I was unaware that a break in period is needed after doing this job. What did the refurb'd unit cost you? And if I read your OP right, you got it from a private seller? If not, can you tell us where you got it? Would love to do a full unit swap so as to minimize any chance of screwing stuff up... Oh, and awesome photos! :thumbup

Dr. Vanos.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[JupiterBMW]

Dr. Vanos.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Thank you sir! :thumbsup

[Rovert]

I got it from a member of Bimmerfest's forum and I can give you the name in PM if you'd like. The charge is reasonable considering the amount of headache or finicky stuff that you don't have to worry about if your tolerances would make you throw your VANOS into the fire pit...LOL.

[JupiterBMW]

I got it from a member of Bimmerfest's forum and I can give you the name in PM if you'd like. The charge is reasonable considering the amount of headache or finicky stuff that you don't have to worry about if your tolerances would make you throw your VANOS into the fire pit...LOL.

Hmm, sure, drop me a PM... Although, it looks like the Dr. Vanos unit has the same features that yours did. Maybe I'm missing something?!

[328ioc]

I got it from a member of Bimmerfest's forum and I can give you the name in PM if you'd like. The charge is reasonable considering the amount of headache or finicky stuff that you don't have to worry about if your tolerances would make you throw your VANOS into the fire pit...LOL.


Hmm, sure, drop me a PM... Although, it looks like the Dr. Vanos unit has the same features that yours did. Maybe I'm missing something?!

I would be interested in where you got the unit as well.

Also great DIY, honestly if you hadn't said "cell phone pic" after everything I would not have noticed quality was great.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Rovert]

Hahaa....this new Samsung Galaxy thing I have takes decent pics! Even macro shots are pretty nice. But it still suffers from a noisy pic when it's dark. II'm just going to say it out loud because I don't want to hide anything from the family and anyone reading this. It was Smolck from bimmerfest.com who hooked me up. He may have a colourful reputation here at the mafia, but I still respect his DIY skills and he's usually the guy I goto first for anything. Just give him a PM from that site and tell him Trevor sent you. I'm sure he'll take good care of you.

[328ioc]

Yeah my RAZR is the same way with night and day shots lol.

Awesome thanks. I will get in touch with him.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Smolck]

Yea, I sort of decided to remove myself from the fold (at the moment, I don't remember why) But the difference between my kit and the DR. VANOS is money. I don't charge to make money. It was merely a service to the RoverT, but I will gladly extend that to the community. As soon as RoverT sends me back his core I can rebuild one for any of you as well. It isn't anything special, but it makes it a plug and play vs. having to do the internals yourself. Saves time and apprehension, plus, if you don't have a large bench vice it removes that issue when doing the anti-rattle kit.

[328ioc]

Yea, I sort of decided to remove myself from the fold (at the moment, I don't remember why) But the difference between my kit and the DR. VANOS is money. I don't charge to make money. It was merely a service to the RoverT, but I will gladly extend that to the community. As soon as RoverT sends me back his core I can rebuild one for any of you as well. It isn't anything special, but it makes it a plug and play vs. having to do the internals yourself. Saves time and apprehension, plus, if you don't have a large bench vice it removes that issue when doing the anti-rattle kit.

Yep my issue is bench vice and the lack of one. Plus I don't wanna screw it up.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[danewilson77]

So your cost is for the seals and/or anti-rattle kit. That is your cost. So....you charge $60.00 or $120.00 + Shipping....to deliver a fully refurbished unit?

Just asking.

Thanks Smolck

[Smolck]

So your cost is for the seals and/or anti-rattle kit. That is your cost. So....you charge $60.00 or $120.00 + Shipping....to deliver a fully refurbished unit?

Just asking.

Thanks Smolck

Yes, but I actually charge $235 (includes seals and rattle kit set to ZHP spec) plus $10 shipping to help cover the cost of the VANOS should someone not send it back. In this way, I am able to cover my costs (cause I had to buy a VANOS to start this process) and a little of my time. There is no real profit in this when you add hot tanking, polishing, rebuilding, etc.

Dr. VANOS charges $250 plus $150 core PLUS $28 shipping (one way). So instead of coming out of pocket $430 you only pay $245. I think that is fair.

[danewilson77]

Agree that it is fair. Talk to Marcus and see if you can do this through the site. Thanks.

[Smolck]

Agree that it is fair. Talk to Marcus and see if you can do this through the site. Thanks.

Not sure what you mean. I was not really looking to use this site to "sell" these. It makes no difference to me if someone wants one or not. I don't want to get anyone upset and certainly don't want to get involved in some sort of "sale". Anyone who wants one can PM me over at bimmerfest I suppose.

[danewilson77]

No one is upset. Just ask if you can offer it to the members. That's all.

I understand you make nill off this.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Smolck]

Didn't really want to bump this thread, but FYI should you stumble across this thread. Per my conversation with Marcus, you are welcome to contact me via PM at Bimmerfest if you are interested in a Pre-built VANOS. As this forum isn't intended for people to sell things, I will decline any correspondence for VANOS here.

Thanks.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Didn't really want to bump this thread, but FYI should you stumble across this thread. Per my conversation with Marcus, you are welcome to contact me via PM at Bimmerfest if you are interested in a Pre-built VANOS. As this forum isn't intended for people to sell things, I will decline any correspondence for VANOS here.

Thanks.

Clarification: Not intended to sell things without compensating the site's owner (me). Since you don't make a profit, it doesn't make sense for you to pay me to sell your wares.

[Rovert]

So after a week of driving my car 1,000 miles since installation and VANOS break-in, I have discovered a few things.

1. The car goes faster without having to downshift and wind up the RPMs.
2. It's smoother on acceleration throughout the whole rev range.
3. An upshift isn't followed with no torque for a couple seconds.
4. It feels like a newer car to me.
5. Fuel economy is much better because I'm not having to run it higher RPM to go.

My usual route for the week may get me 25-26MPG....maybe 27 if I'm good. This week I was "very good" in my driving. I launched her from 3,000K a couple of times. I did a bounced off the limiter a few times just to go fast and make sure the car was alive. 90% of the time was speed limit or a tad lower. 8% was spent a tad above speed limit. 2% of the time was spent flogging her. The picture below accurately represents the roads I drive on all week along with some stop and go traffic on a major highway every evening. It also shows what my fuel economy is with 20% city/50% suburbia/30% highway. My distance to empty was telling me roughly 480 miles on a full tank. :rockon

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J2iHO26zlds/UBNYmb4JjWI/AAAAAAAAEKU/Iajuefu5zkA/s720/2012-07-27%252016.26.57.jpg

[328ioc]

I am installing mine this weekend.

What gasket sealant did you use for the VCG? The orange stuff that is.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Rovert]

If you were local I'd give this to you! Not sure what to do with so much of this left. Not sure if I could use it as toothpaste... :S

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hNbZpEZMhsI/UAOmdLYzieI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/JJvDlilF8Qw/s720/2012-07-07%252015.31.00.jpg

[328ioc]

Hah yeah no worries I am sure it is a good thing to have.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2