Worn Cylinder Head Vanos Seals

NickDE

Senior member
 Newcastle upon Tyne
My Z4C has been giving inlet Vanos error codes for the last few months. With it the orange emissions light would come on. If I didn't use the car for a few days the light would go away, and only come back after about 100 miles.
Measures my workshop tried - clean the Vanos solenoids, swap the solenoids over, replace the solenoids. His options to repair:
Try a thicker oil and hope (I already run Mobil 1 0W40). I guess I could try Motul 300V 15W/50.
 
Surely used cylinder heads would have to be less than than half the cost of the repair that may not work, and you get a chance to inspect it for the oil ring/seal groove damage mentioned in the video (another great advert for regular oil changes with good oil!)
 
Is this a common occurrence on the N52? I have to say I've never heard of this fault before.
 
The cost for bmw to replace the head on my old N52 was only £3.5k including labour so if that £4K is just the head I’d be surprised.
 
srhutch said:
The cost for bmw to replace the head on my old N52 was only £3.5k including labour so if that £4K is just the head I’d be surprised.
Why was it replaced ?
 
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