E85 vanos problem

[Liamd]

Hi all,

I recently purchased myself an E85 project car 2003 plate. One of the issues was oil leaking from the rocker cover gasket. After reading up on the job, I thought I'll have a pop at doing the vanos seals as well. Might as well while the cover is off. I read various guides on this and watched many video on youtube. I felt pretty confident my amatuer (at best) mechanic skills could handle this.

So after taking the rocker cover off I took off the oil line and pulled all the plugs then the front hex covers for the cups came out and then removed the plastic caps behind, unscrewed the torx bolts (nearly forgot about the reverse thread) and then set on taking the nuts from underneath as well as the bolts for the lifting bracket. One thing the videos didn't show was a coolant pipe in the way, so I removed it and took out the three bolts holding on the bracket with the plug in.

After looking round I couldn't see anything else to take off so pulled on the vanos. And nothing happened, it was stuck on as if all the nuts and bolts were still on, not even a little wiggle. I'm just asking if anyone knows if I've missed anything or does it just need a good whack with a hammer?
Sorry for it being a little long winded.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[enuff_zed]

Hi Liam and welcome.
Firstly make sure you do have all those nuts off. It's easy to miss one, particularly the one up under the RH side as you look from the front.
I assume you've unplugged the solenoid connections too?
If you are 100% certain everything is out then get a wooden handle (another hammer maybe) against the edge of the vanos and hit it with a hammer to see if you can break the bond. I've had a couple like that and a good tap does help, but not with anything that could damage the sealing surfaces.
Don't forget you may need to pry the cross member forward or alternatively unbolt the drivers side engine mount and jack the whole engine up an inch or so or the vanos to clear the studs.

A reassembly tip for you too.
All the tutorials suggest you use long-nosed pliers to get the plastic sealing caps back in. It's a right faff lining them up and pushing them into place with their new seals on. Better idea is to get a socket the same diameter as the plastic cap: bit of grease on the end and stick the cap to it. then offer it up square to the hole and push it in with a big screwdriver. It'll go in straight like that.

 

[Liamd]

Hi Liam and welcome.
Firstly make sure you do have all those nuts off. It's easy to miss one, particularly the one up under the RH side as you look from the front.
I assume you've unplugged the solenoid connections too?
If you are 100% certain everything is out then get a wooden handle (another hammer maybe) against the edge of the vanos and hit it with a hammer to see if you can break the bond. I've had a couple like that and a good tap does help, but not with anything that could damage the sealing surfaces.
Don't forget you may need to pry the cross member forward or alternatively unbolt the drivers side engine mount and jack the whole engine up an inch or so or the vanos to clear the studs.

A reassembly tip for you too.
All the tutorials suggest you use long-nosed pliers to get the plastic sealing caps back in. It's a right faff lining them up and pushing them into place with their new seals on. Better idea is to get a socket the same diameter as the plastic cap: bit of grease on the end and stick the cap to it. then offer it up square to the hole and push it in with a big screwdriver. It'll go in straight like that.

Cheers for the advice, much appreciated. Yeah I'm certain I've took all the nuts off, probably even some that aren't to do with the vanos, just to make sure. Yes I unplugged the solenoids, I just took all the plugs out just to make sure, 4 or 5 I took off.

I'll give it a bit of a tap tomorrow, hopefully that'll do it.

 

[bigwinn]

Liam

Enuff zed has given good guidance

I always count off the seven vanos bolts (6x10mm and 1x13mm) against the new gasket to check I have them all

Stuart

 

[enuff_zed]

Liam

Enuff zed has given good guidance

I always count off the seven vanos bolts (6x10mm and 1x13mm) against the new gasket to check I have them all

Stuart

Brilliant!
Was trying to remember the number and that is a great way to do it.

 

[bigwinn]

Credit Liam though- thats proper good DIY you have undertaken there fella!

 

[mac27040]

This might help

 

[mac27040]

also heres the BMW guide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSdkdP8O4Q6WcRYzHWlnSN7_U3u_pDtM/view?usp=sharing

 

[Liamd]

I managed to get it off. Just needed my good old persuader. It was a right faff to get off, but fortunately was easier to get back on.
Thanks everyone for the advice.