Finland
I did the VANOS refurb recently and after one month of daily commute and some spirited driving I’d now like to sum up with a short abstract.
BACKGROUND: 2005 3.0i auto M54, 55k miles garage queen with full service history, annual oil service, 1st owner. No sudden loss of power but noticed that year after year more revving was needed to reach the acceleration and feel it once had.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Beisan seals and anti-rattle rings, conventional and mostly uneventful VANOS opening and refurb procedure following Beisan’s instructions and tips from helpful forum members. VANOS covers were incredibly tight to crack open. Only slight bending of the cross member needed. Total oil loss was measured less than 200 ml.
RESULTS: First days of embedding showed instant subjective recovery of power band linearity. Low end torque was fully recovered, however, in the following weeks, resulting in tyre squealing starts from traffic lights. After two weeks of embedding a surprising improvement in fuel consumption (from 12.4 L/100km, 22.7 mpg to 10.6 L/100km, 26.6 mpg) was observed, despite unrestricted and irresponsible throttle behaviour. No oil leaks or any other immediate complications were noted.
DISCUSSION: The gradual development af VANOS failure makes the diagnosis difficult and therefore in most cases the necessity of the refurb procedure remains controversial until the procedure is undertaken. Difficulty level of the refurb procedure was relatively low even for an tinkerer inexperienced in this domain, less than the difficulty of roof motor translocation. Given proper tools and materials, and the fact that the procedure has been documented in detail, it is generally considered safe. Immediate power band effects were noted but the full potential, low end torque and increased fuel economy, were registered only after two weeks post procedure. Possible tyre wear problems and other potential secondary effects require further observation.
BACKGROUND: 2005 3.0i auto M54, 55k miles garage queen with full service history, annual oil service, 1st owner. No sudden loss of power but noticed that year after year more revving was needed to reach the acceleration and feel it once had.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Beisan seals and anti-rattle rings, conventional and mostly uneventful VANOS opening and refurb procedure following Beisan’s instructions and tips from helpful forum members. VANOS covers were incredibly tight to crack open. Only slight bending of the cross member needed. Total oil loss was measured less than 200 ml.
RESULTS: First days of embedding showed instant subjective recovery of power band linearity. Low end torque was fully recovered, however, in the following weeks, resulting in tyre squealing starts from traffic lights. After two weeks of embedding a surprising improvement in fuel consumption (from 12.4 L/100km, 22.7 mpg to 10.6 L/100km, 26.6 mpg) was observed, despite unrestricted and irresponsible throttle behaviour. No oil leaks or any other immediate complications were noted.
DISCUSSION: The gradual development af VANOS failure makes the diagnosis difficult and therefore in most cases the necessity of the refurb procedure remains controversial until the procedure is undertaken. Difficulty level of the refurb procedure was relatively low even for an tinkerer inexperienced in this domain, less than the difficulty of roof motor translocation. Given proper tools and materials, and the fact that the procedure has been documented in detail, it is generally considered safe. Immediate power band effects were noted but the full potential, low end torque and increased fuel economy, were registered only after two weeks post procedure. Possible tyre wear problems and other potential secondary effects require further observation.
Attleborough, Norfolk
