M54 Vanos / Engine question

[kis]

So I've got access to a 2.5i e85 M54 Zed. My car is a 3.0i (e85 and M54 too - just to be clear).

The background, I want to do my vanos seals but I'd much prefer to be able to sort the seals at my leisure. On evenings, a bit at a time (Zed is a daily and can't afford to be off the road).

The question, as they're both 6 cylinder and M54 are they interchangeable?

Can anyone confirm?

 

[patriot66]

Probably, but go on www.realoem.com and enter your car details both in turn and check out the diagrams and relative part numbers.

 

[MACK]

To be honest the actual seal changing is the easy bit. Its the disassembly and access that takes the time. However that said, if you handy with the spanners it can be done in a few hours, especially if you have done it before so allowing say 4 hours on your day off should get it done.

 

[kis]

I was looking for a quick answer at the time, but yeah got the info from Real OEM

They are cross compatible!

 

[mjennings23]

I tried tacking this today and didn't have an appropriately long enough bent nose pliers, so ended up getting stuck at removing the plastic caps...

Got a set of pliers being delivered tomorrow thanks to Amazon Prime so will tackle it again then... aside from that it's just a few bolts left to undo.

The photos in repair guides showing the e39 or 46 make it look easy, the Z has significantly less room due to the front bulkhead being a few inches in front of the vanos

Ah well, on the plus side I did fit my retrimmed wheel after getting frustrated with the engine :rofl:

 

[kis]

Apparently it's the same for a few other cars. i.e. If it's a M54 then a lot of the vanos units are interchangeable.

I've heard what a PITA it can be! Hoping it doesn't take too long... kind of looking forward to the challenge, so long as it's not a stupid one because it's so tight and tedious!

 

[mjennings23]

Apparently it's the same for a few other cars. i.e. If it's a M54 then a lot of the vanos units are interchangeable.

I've heard what a PITA it can be! Hoping it doesn't take too long... kind of looking forward to the challenge, so long as it's not a stupid one because it's so tight and tedious!

Don't make my mistake, have a decent long set of bent nose pliers ready! Only ones I could find at home were small ones, the sort you'd use for jewellery crafting :tumbleweed:

Luckily I have today off and Amazon are delivering my package today. Unluckily its wet and I have to work outside. :thumbsdown:

 

[SonnyA85]

anyone got links to step by step guides? more pics the better too.

i still need to do mine. i have asked 3 garages now and they all said they didn't have the time. :?

 

[MACK]

anyone got links to step by step guides? more pics the better too.

i still need to do mine. i have asked 3 garages now and they all said they didn't have the time. :?

beisan systems website for a good/detailed "how to"

its a couple of years back but if i remember correctly the clearance to the front cross brace is the issue on the E85. Not an issue on the E46 they have a bit more clearance. Cant quite remember how I got around this, I seem to remember I might have jacked up the engine slightly to aid clearance, but dont quote me on that.

 

[kis]

anyone got links to step by step guides? more pics the better too.

i still need to do mine. i have asked 3 garages now and they all said they didn't have the time. :?

I'm using this link mate http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3600

 

[Fishy Dave]

I used the Beisan guide when I changed the seals on my 325ti. I took my time, it was a slightly easier job than I was expecting.

 

[SonnyA85]

i'll need to show the guide to the father in law he has all the tools, etc. all i own is a spanner, a screwdriver and a hammer.

did anyone need to replace any of the gaskets or seals along they way to the vanos seals? my car has roughly 95K miles now. garage did the rocker cover gasket last year. wondering if any of the other gaskets or seals will need replaced along the way. i see the besian guide has a lot of optional parts to do.

 

[kis]

I'd do the vanos gasket too while you're there.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT52-EUR-08_2002_E85_BMW_Z4_30i&diagId=11_2170#11361433817

 

[mjennings23]

Well I finished today! Was very easy with a proper set of bent pliers

I had to remove the radiator hose to the thermostat, as the plug was fouling the bottom of the vanos when I tried to remove it. Also had to remove a bolt from the engine block with vice grips to get it out, slow but easy enough.

Seating those damn reverse threaded bolts was the hardest bit today, with the position of the front crossmember directly in the way of your view, so it was all a bit blind... that and getting the plastic caps back on took some work!

However, took it out for a drive after getting it back together, changed the spark plugs and oil while I was at it, and it's showing a nice improvement in low ranges, so well worth the arduous weekend.

Plus side? Aside from figuring out where the sodding pollen filter is and getting the wheels changed and aligned, my work with it is done!

Just in time for the sun to go away and the rain to arrive eh... :tumbleweed:


In terms of gaskets, it was the valve cover and vanos gaskets I did, nothing more. Then new grommets on the valve cover too

 

[kis]

Well I finished today! Was very easy with a proper set of bent pliers

I had to remove the radiator hose to the thermostat, as the plug was fouling the bottom of the vanos when I tried to remove it. Also had to remove a bolt from the engine block with vice grips to get it out, slow but easy enough.

Very well played Sir! Radiator hose I reckon will be pretty obvious when it gets to that point.

The bolt from the engine block? Was it a particular bolt? I assume it was one of the 6? That sit on the bottom part of the vanos? 10mm nuts? (All from memory, you'll have to forgive if I'm a few out, but should help me verify if we're on the same page). Instead of removing is it possible to screw the thread bit in further (as I'm sure it's actually just threaded bar and not actually a hexagon type bit at the end? Right?).

In terms of gaskets, it was the valve cover and vanos gaskets I did, nothing more. Then new grommets on the valve cover too

Oh right? What grommets are these? Part number?

Cheers!

 

[mjennings23]

Well I finished today! Was very easy with a proper set of bent pliers

I had to remove the radiator hose to the thermostat, as the plug was fouling the bottom of the vanos when I tried to remove it. Also had to remove a bolt from the engine block with vice grips to get it out, slow but easy enough.

Very well played Sir! Radiator hose I reckon will be pretty obvious when it gets to that point.

The bolt from the engine block? Was it a particular bolt? I assume it was one of the 6? That sit on the bottom part of the vanos? 10mm nuts? (All from memory, you'll have to forgive if I'm a few out, but should help me verify if we're on the same page). Instead of removing is it possible to screw the thread bit in further (as I'm sure it's actually just threaded bar and not actually a hexagon type bit at the end? Right?).

In terms of gaskets, it was the valve cover and vanos gaskets I did, nothing more. Then new grommets on the valve cover too

Oh right? What grommets are these? Part number?

Cheers!

The stud I removed was the left side one when looking from the front, it was just sticking out too far to remove the unit from the engine due to the front cross member being where it is so used vice grips to take it out, doesn't matter about slight damage to the middle of the thread as only the two ends of it are used.

I believe he thermostat has been replaced in my car, so maybe the plugs were reinstalled in a slightly different orientation and it won't affect yourself? Either way it's easy to remove and if you move it quick you'll only lose about 2-300ml of coolant.

As a side note for this I kept my belts well covered with towels for the entire job!

The grommets are part nr 11-12-1-437-395, you'll need 15 of them.

Also, don't do what I did and try to do the work with the engine fan in, it's the easiest thing to remove and I was kicking myself after I did it half way through!

Hope this helps, its well worth doing when you take it for a drive after and a job I never plan to do again :rofl:

 

[kis]

The grommets are part nr 11-12-1-437-395, you'll need 15 of them.

Found the grommets, and part number shows 15x come in a pack. So all good. Only I can't find what their purpose is? Where do they go?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT52-EUR---E85-BMW-Z4%203.0i&diagId=11_2172#11121437395

 

[mjennings23]

The grommets are part nr 11-12-1-437-395, you'll need 15 of them.

Found the grommets, and part number shows 15x come in a pack. So all good. Only I can't find what their purpose is? Where do they go?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT52-EUR---E85-BMW-Z4%203.0i&diagId=11_2172#11121437395

Valve cover, underneath the washers on the bolts that attach it to the engine. Apparently it's good practice to replace them with the valve cover gasket and for the sake of a few quid to replace a rubber seal that has to come out anyway, it's daft not to