Remapping

[mjennings23]

It still depends on what engine you have OP. That link.is only relevant to the N52 engine fitted in the facelift from 2006 on. 2003-05 cars have the M54 engine which, as mentioned, requires the vanos unit to be physically removed from the engine.

Labour time, my suggestion of a day's work is a DIY job at home. I'd expect a competent indy to do it in 4 hours.

It took me about 6-7 hours on my driveway, having never attempted a job like it before and having to go buy some bent needle nose pliers half way through to get some awkward plastic cap off.

In terms of parts costs, you'd be looking at around £40 or so for vanos parts, and it would be prudent to change the valve cover gasket too as no doubt it will break when removing the cover, what with it being rubber that's been heat cycled many, many times. They're around £40 too.

 

[MACK]

Well if your going to be blunt/rude so will I.

You're more angry that I haven't accepted your opinion on what constitutes wear and tear, or whether a dealer's a fault or indeed the due process in proving the same.

This thread doesn't need anymore replies like this, it doesn't do it any favours at all, and so hopefully a moderator will lock it.

I think youll find it was you that was clearly annoyed that I wouldnt accept your opinion that dealer would just role over and fix a fault that you can't even show exists. The bit about the search function, well to be honest I'm suprised someone else hadn't already pointed that out to you.

 

[eddiemunster]

I think youll find it was you that was clearly annoyed that I wouldnt except your opinion that dealer would just role over and fix a fault that you can't even show exists.

It wasn't an opinion, he'd already accepted the fault before I posted.

Thanks for you help thus far.

 

[MACK]

I think youll find it was you that was clearly annoyed that I wouldnt except your opinion that dealer would just role over and fix a fault that you can't even show exists.

It wasn't an opinion, he'd already accepted the fault before I posted.

Thanks for you help thus far.

Of course he had right I'm done with this BS.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Lol..

For the record, OP, the VANOS seals on pretty much any M54 engined car are toast by about 40k miles, if not sooner. The problem is BMW specified a material for them that just wasn't up to the job. How you are going to prove this to the dealer you bought the car from, and indeed get them to pay for it is a mystery to me.

Faulty seals DON'T throw up any error codes, nor do they normally result in rough running of any sort, you simply "loose" the mid range grunt that the motor had when new. Because even the newest M54 engined cars out there are getting on now, and most will not be with their original owners, drivers assume that this is "just what the engines are like" smooth, powerful, but needing to be revved to get the most from them, ie just like a "normal" non-turbocharged petrol engine.

However, get the job done and the difference will be instantly noticeable. My car pulls like a train throughout the rev range, not just at the top end.

And yes, I speak from experience regarding the seals, as I've replaced them on dozens of M54 engines, not just in Zeds.

Mike

 

[ph001]

Some good clarifications from DLV. So does the M54 not have the solenoids accessible on the outside like the N52?

 

[MACK]

Some good clarifications from DLV. So does the M54 not have the solenoids accessible on the outside like the N52?

It's the pistons and their seals on the m54 that causes the trouble not solenoids as with the later n52. Completely different setup and the m54 takes a while to disassemble to get to them. 3 hour job at an indie/specialist

 

[Ducklakeview]

Some good clarifications from DLV. So does the M54 not have the solenoids accessible on the outside like the N52?

Yes, it has solenoids that can be changed, however their failure rate is very low, so much so that I've not come across one. All the solenoids do is allow the oil into the vanos piston chambers, however when the seals in said chambers "don't" seal, then the oil simply passes them and drops back into the sump. One thing I've been meaning to do is to measure the oil pressure before and after a vanos seal job, as I'm convinced that if the solenoids are open and "calling" for camshaft advance, BUT the seals aren't containing the oil and therefore pressure within the vanos hubs, then I reckon this will have an adverse effect on oil pressure within the engine due to the failed seals effectively acting like two open taps in the oil supply system.

Mike

 

[peteslag]

I had my Z3 3.0 re-mapped. The throttle response was marginally better but to be honest, it just isn't worth it on NA engines. I'll not be bothering with it on my Z4 3.0.

A very good friend of mine owns his own re-mapping company and offered to do mine for next to nothing, I'm still not bothering.

Due to the fact that I'm inherently lazy I'll not be bothering with the vanos seals either!

 

[eddiemunster]

however when the seals in said chambers "don't" seal, then the oil simply passes them and drops back into the sump.

Is it a binary circuit as per VTEC, either on or off, or does the lack of seal prevent the process from completing only in part? Is the fact that it's occuring around 3k rpm simply because there's sufficient pressure to completely open the circuit?

 

[synthedup]

If you're noticing a surge of power over 3k rpm then I'm betting your Vanos seals are gone. Get them sorted and it'll feel like a remap, restores all the lost torque in the low range that you'll never realise you were missing.

HI, does the 2.0 N46 have a Vanos do you know?

 

[Ducklakeview]

The solenoids "pulse" or partially open to vary the valve timing, but obviously if the seals aren't holding pressure it is a wasted exercise.

Mike

 

[MACK]

If you're noticing a surge of power over 3k rpm then I'm betting your Vanos seals are gone. Get them sorted and it'll feel like a remap, restores all the lost torque in the low range that you'll never realise you were missing.

HI, does the 2.0 N46 have a Vanos do you know?

Yes it does. Basically the same setup as other n series engines. A couple of benefits the n series vanos setup has over the m series is that it does flag up codes when its misbehaving and its usually the solenoids which although not cheap, are dead easy to replace. Codes with the m series are rare and its usually only when they are really bad. When they do appear they're usually soft codes in that they dont activate a dash warning light. Hence why most m series engined cars are being driven around oblivious to this.

 

[Smartbear]

however when the seals in said chambers "don't" seal, then the oil simply passes them and drops back into the sump.

Is it a binary circuit as per VTEC, either on or off, or does the lack of seal prevent the process from completing only in part? Is the fact that it's occuring around 3k rpm simply because there's sufficient pressure to completely open the circuit?

its probably "kicking in" at 3k rpm because that's the point where the vanos tails off in filling in the torque hole.
You're feeling the engine come on cam again because the vanos is largely ineffective and no longer gives the engine linear power
Rob

 

[synthedup]

If you're noticing a surge of power over 3k rpm then I'm betting your Vanos seals are gone. Get them sorted and it'll feel like a remap, restores all the lost torque in the low range that you'll never realise you were missing.

HI, does the 2.0 N46 have a Vanos do you know?

Yes it does. Basically the same setup as other n series engines. A couple of benefits the n series vanos setup has over the m series is that it does flag up codes when its misbehaving and its usually the solenoids which although not cheap, are dead easy to replace. Codes with the m series are rare and its usually only when they are really bad. When they do appear they're usually soft codes in that they dont activate a dash warning light. Hence why most m series engined cars are being driven around oblivious to this.

Thanks MACK

No codes here so all good

 

[Rusky]

Mike is doing my Vanos at the end of March and i am looking forward to claiming back that low end grunt, especially out of sliw corners and off roundabouts.

 

[piotrZ4]

Surely everything on the car has worn to a degree because of age and mileage. Personally I'm pretty sure this would be classed as fair wear and tear.. 30% worn tyres etc. Wouldn't expect to get them replaced FOC. Second hand car not classed as new so parts wear. Most parts are not operating as they were when new.
As for price on the Vanos some guys are saying a day. So days labour at local indie at say £45 per hour plus parts plus VAT.

To replace vanos seals takes 1-2 hours .

 

[Anmarube]

Surely everything on the car has worn to a degree because of age and mileage. Personally I'm pretty sure this would be classed as fair wear and tear.. 30% worn tyres etc. Wouldn't expect to get them replaced FOC. Second hand car not classed as new so parts wear. Most parts are not operating as they were when new.
As for price on the Vanos some guys are saying a day. So days labour at local indie at say £45 per hour plus parts plus VAT.

To replace vanos seals takes 1-2 hours .

I've no idea buddy which is why I was quoting somebody else's times. If you say 1-2 hours then that's cool with me.

 

[Smartbear]

Surely everything on the car has worn to a degree because of age and mileage. Personally I'm pretty sure this would be classed as fair wear and tear.. 30% worn tyres etc. Wouldn't expect to get them replaced FOC. Second hand car not classed as new so parts wear. Most parts are not operating as they were when new.
As for price on the Vanos some guys are saying a day. So days labour at local indie at say £45 per hour plus parts plus VAT.

To replace vanos seals takes 1-2 hours .

Are you talking about the vanos solenoid seals?
Rob

 

[Anmarube]

Surely everything on the car has worn to a degree because of age and mileage. Personally I'm pretty sure this would be classed as fair wear and tear.. 30% worn tyres etc. Wouldn't expect to get them replaced FOC. Second hand car not classed as new so parts wear. Most parts are not operating as they were when new.
As for price on the Vanos some guys are saying a day. So days labour at local indie at say £45 per hour plus parts plus VAT.

To replace vanos seals takes 1-2 hours .

Are you talking about the vanos solenoid seals?
Rob

Already been answered Rob. As in my last post I was quoting someone else's estimation.

Cheers