VANOS solenoid failures

[flybobbie]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201

Useful link. My colleagues car had vanos exhaust solenoid failure at 8k miles.
Something to look out for.
The 23i are easy to get at, not so sure about other versions.

[coupedan]

Just had my VANOS Inlet solenoid replaced at the dealers, was under warranty (AUC) at 67k
Not an E89 but an 86 with the N52 3.0si.

Faults were a hesitation on acceleration.. And felt a bit under powered at times.
No warning lights either.. It was only because I queried the acceleration issue.

Cheers
Dan

[sniffer]

The solenoids get gummed up.

You can visibly see much of the gauze on the solenoid body gets clogged up with varnish oil deposits.

They usually do NOT require replacement and can be sorted by putting in a bowl of petrol and cleaning the fine gauze part of the solenoid body with a paintbrush and the petrol.

Leave them to dry, they are as good as new. Pop them back in and all is well.

[DR-Z]

Fitted a new exhaust vanos a couple of weeks back. I had tried cleaning the valves, and swapping exhaust with inlet (they are the same), but ultimately a new valve (£75) got rid of the frequent warning light and fault code.

Easy job to do, takes maybe 30 minutes.