Newbie.... Help. Timing chain/VANOS

S

Samuel86

New member
Evening all. I'm a Newbie so please be kind! Basically, I have a 2007 coupe. Couple of weeks back went out early morning and within a mile the orange engine warning light came on. So took it to my local guy (trusted) and he stuck it on his machine. Fault code was 'inlet camshaft correlation'. He said that I need to change the timing chain as it has likely stretched, or possibly vanos failure. No symptoms of either as far as I'm aware but planning on changing the chain this week at a cost of 800 quid. The car has just done 70k. He is also talking about changing the vanos units which will bankrupt me.......

Has anyone else had this fault code? Or any ideas on what else this could be? I'm now afraid to drive it in case of the chain breaking but it seems crazy that it has stretched at that mileage!

Any ideas/help will be welcomed with a huge thankyou.

Cheers guys/girls

Sam
 
My guess would be something in the vanos. A dodgy cam position sensor usually has different codes but you could test that too.
My guess is maybe something wrong with the vanos solenoids (clogged, easy to clean, step 1 of what to do ;))
The vanos on the n52 also has 2 filters I believe, check for clogging)
And otherwise something in the vanos itself. I take it you have an n52 engine 3.0si.

I think a stretched chain is less likely tbh.
 
I'd be amazed at cam chain wear at 70k on one of these engines, surely inlet cam correlation is more likely to be a simple vanos solonoid.
Can the chain replacement & go elsewhere for a second opinion, that's what I would be doing :?
Rob
 
Thankyou both for the reply, it really is appreciated.

That has been my line of thought as well having read through other threads. The problem I have (purely mental) is that the timing chain concern is now in my head..... Would it just snap or would there be significant rattle before?

By the way this forum really is brilliant! Do you know if there is a z4 community in the Basingstoke area?
 
As above, can't see it being the chain. If it was I would have thought they could measure the pitch to be sure. Just like you do on a push bike to check chain stretch.
 
Is the Indy a specific BMW trained one ? Stretched chain on a 70k Si well looked after car would be a real rarity & I would be exploring many avenues before resorting to that as a fix
As said above , could you not get a second opinion
 
Yeah for sure I will now be exploring other avenues. The garage is not a BMW Indy he used to be a vw/Audi man... But generally good with all cars.

I'll get to an Indy before it goes in for the chain on Wednesday. I've only had the car for 6 months, I have a fear that the service history may not be as it seems. On a positive note, changed it from run flats to normal a couple of weeks back and the difference is massive!
 
Samuel86 said:
Yeah for sure I will now be exploring other avenues. The garage is not a BMW Indy he used to be a vw/Audi man... But generally good with all cars.

I'll get to an Indy before it goes in for the chain on Wednesday. I've only had the car for 6 months, I have a fear that the service history may not be as it seems. On a positive note, changed it from run flats to normal a couple of weeks back and the difference is massive!
Click to expand...

The VAG background could go someway to explaining his swiftness to declare timing chain stretch as many of those cars do suffer from it or snapped belts
Second opinion the way forward :thumbsup:
 
Vw/Audi cars have belts not chains for cam drive-he probably saw its not there & thinks it's gone missing! :lol:
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
Vw/Audi cars have belts not chains for cam drive-he probably saw its not there & thinks it's gone missing! :lol:
Rob
Click to expand...

Many VAG cars dropped the belts & are now on chains
When these do stretch camshaft position sensor is often the result on diagnostics
Probably jumping to conclusions with OPs car & hopefully a les expensive repair is ahead for him
 
mr wilks said:
Samuel86 said:
Yeah for sure I will now be exploring other avenues. The garage is not a BMW Indy he used to be a vw/Audi man... But generally good with all cars.

I'll get to an Indy before it goes in for the chain on Wednesday. I've only had the car for 6 months, I have a fear that the service history may not be as it seems. On a positive note, changed it from run flats to normal a couple of weeks back and the difference is massive!
Click to expand...

The VAG background could go someway to explaining his swiftness to declare timing chain stretch as many of those cars do suffer from it or snapped belts
Second opinion the way forward :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

He could also be confusing BMW cam chain issues with the N47 BMW diesel engines were it is quite common for then to go bang
 
mr wilks said:
Smartbear said:
Vw/Audi cars have belts not chains for cam drive-he probably saw its not there & thinks it's gone missing! :lol:
Rob
Click to expand...

Many VAG cars dropped the belts & are now on chains
When these do stretch camshaft position sensor is often the result on diagnostics
Probably jumping to conclusions with OPs car & hopefully a les expensive repair is ahead for him
Click to expand...

Biggest problem with the modern VAG petrols using chains (most diesels are still on belts) I have seen is the early tensioners. They can go with little or no warning. Did the one on my wife's 2.0 TSI Scirocco last year when I started to notice a 1-2 second rattle at cold startup. VAG are on to something like their 5-6 update of the part since the engines started appearing in 2008, fortunately the last update which came out about 3 years ago seems to have done the trick, finger crossed!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom