Vanos gone!

Popey

Senior member
So having a nice drive today when I lies power and my engine starts running alike a bag of spanners.

By chance I'm close to my local bmw specialist and as pull in the engine cuts out.

3 hours later I get the call, the exhaust side vanos as failed, cost circa £500 inc labour to sort out.

Once this is sorted the car is going up for sale. Tbh it's given me almost trouble free motoring but just in the process of buying a house I need to cut back.

umanaper.jpg
 
Ouch. Once fixed you should notice a big difference in running, it seems to creep up for a while before causing an issue. There was a car behind me at Duxford (I can't remember the forum name or I'd have contacted them) that when they started up there was a definite VANOS rattle.
 
Had a rattle on start up, just thought I was been paranoid.

Would love to keep it but my commute to work is increasing as our my other outgoings with the purchase of a house.

Disclaimer: once fixed I reserve the the right to change my mind and keep it lol
 
the hub has failed most likely.... on every service i have these inspected and their are now some really good aftermarket beefed up hubs and general vanos systems, i will be doing these mods as preventative maintenance when my mileage creaps up.... another one is rod bearings, their are a few worries with the s54 imo....
 
Beedub said:
the hub has failed most likely.... on every service i have these inspected and their are now some really good aftermarket beefed up hubs and general vanos systems, i will be doing these mods as preventative maintenance when my mileage creaps up.... another one is rod bearings, their are a few worries with the s54 imo....

Given the boost you're running, yours probably warrants a little more proactive maintenance than most Beedub, but I think the rod bearing thing is a rare occurrence whereas VANOS rattle is fairly common.
 
Stuart Truman said:
Beedub said:
the hub has failed most likely.... on every service i have these inspected and their are now some really good aftermarket beefed up hubs and general vanos systems, i will be doing these mods as preventative maintenance when my mileage creaps up.... another one is rod bearings, their are a few worries with the s54 imo....

Given the boost you're running, yours probably warrants a little more proactive maintenance than most Beedub, but I think the rod bearing thing is a rare occurrence whereas VANOS rattle is fairly common.

a quick search show large quantities of even low/ medium miles stock cars with significant rod bearing wear, and vanos is an issue, your car and mine has the old style vanos hub bolts that are very prone to backing out.... keep an eye on them during shim checks and check religiously. However i agree my car needs lots of pro-active work and I'm happy to do so :-)
 
Popey said:
For the record my milage is 24,500 on a 2007 with full BMW service history.

Almost identical mileage as mine... PVR ? :P

*Off to YouTube vanos rattle...*
 
On another note it looks like I might get more for mine than I expected. Maybe start at £15,995 so it takes some time sell ;)
 
Stuart Truman said:
Ouch. Once fixed you should notice a big difference in running, it seems to creep up for a while before causing an issue. There was a car behind me at Duxford (I can't remember the forum name or I'd have contacted them) that when they started up there was a definite VANOS rattle.

It was Andy (AZ4MW)
 
Thought every man, his dog and the dog's collar knew about the VANOS issues with these straight 6 M engines?? Not as big an issue as the internet might tell you. Standard diagnosis from BMW - indicator bulb gone - that'll be the VANOS, mate, can you open your wallet for us please? Had an E36M3 which was rattly and was quite concerned. The answer - water pump. Simiolar issue for BMs as the known cylinder problems with, say, 996 Porsches, just less prevalent. VANOS on the majority of BMW 6 cylinders as well, some have single some have double VANOS.

Poey, you are unlucky to be hit with that issue but £500 doesn't sound that bad in the context of things.

Stevo
 
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