You'll need a low range torque wrench that does down to about 6nm, also needs to work for left hand threads.. The two T30 torx bolts fixing the pistons to the cam hubs are LH threads, and their torque is critical as they are easily snapped. If it's the first time you've done one, I would advise buying two spare bolts from BMW/i6/X8r and having them to hand, just in case..oldgitdave wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:37 pmThanks Mike . Yeah, all my covers have gone. I've just bought one off fleabay... they must be there for a reason.Ducklakeview wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:07 pm Glad you sorted it - Mine is on my list as that's what it looks like underneath.. Only had the kit on the shelf since Oct, when I bought one for another car and thought I'd do mine too
I see a LOT of M54 engined cars that look like this underneath, and owners have never even noticed it due to the covers underneath..
Mike
PS - When you do your VANOS, you don't actually need to to do the anti rattle rings, unless there is a lot of play in the hubs - I've done M54 engines with 200k on them and no play.. The consensus seems to be that the wear only really happens if you are running non OEM cams, which a lot of the USA owners do, and I think those rings were developed specifically for their market.
Mike
I only bought the kit with the anti rattle rings as I can hear a slight ticking sound at idle. It's by no means bad but I thought it might be those? Figured that if I had the VANOS apart I might as well fit them, or maybe not now reading your reply? Other than the methods advised on besian systems & x8r is there anything else I need to be aware of? I realise I'll need to jack up the engine to slide the unit off the studs on my 3.0, is it just by a few mm?
Will give you a bell in the summer months, fancy a back box & new key
Dave
I remove the airbox and strut braces, this allows you to raise the engine by about 70mm, which is JUST enough..
Make sure you undo the bottom radiator hose from the thermostat, or you WILL break the thermostat housing, either by raising the engin a fraction too much or by trying to slide the vanos assembly out past it..
Mike