Need help with 99 528i with double Vanos

All, I am trying to replace head gasket on my 99 528i with double Vanos. I am now to the point where I need to pull out the Vanos assembly but I have difficulty doing that. The intake side is out but the exhust intake side does not come out. The camshafts are locked at TDC with a little room to turn back and forth to pull out the Vanos. So when I turn the exhust camshaft a portion of the vanos comes out of the sprocket but not all of it.

Any Ideas? Any good links for removal of double Vanos out of 528i?

Thanks for your help.

Go to Beisan Systems for more info.

While there, order new VANOS seals.

You have removed the two bolts holding the vanos pistons--haven't you?

The bolts do not come off. I put penetranant and let it sit over night and put torque wrench on it and turned clockwise and did not break loose. I used a 8mm make socket which due too much torque messed up the female bolts on the vanos pistons.

Well--they have to come out before the Vanos can be removed---after they are removed the Vanos should just come right off--too add these bolts are easily broken--if you can I would do just that and remove the vanos and then romove the broken parts later from the pistons

Clockwise?........Aren't these LH threaded screws?

Originally Posted by prkst000

..............clockwise and did not break loose.......

Clockwise to remove anticlockwise to install--that is reverse for all the other screws used in the engine----for that matter --you might try and shear the bolts by over tightening them--they are broken all the time by people forgetting the correct direction when removing them.

DUH.......BTBF....BIG Time Brain Fart....CW DOES remove a LH thread

Originally Posted by poolman

Clockwise to remove anticlockwise to install--that is reverse for all the other screws used in the engine----for that matter --you might try and shear the bolts by over tightening them--they are broken all the time by people forgetting the correct direction when removing them.

The piston screws are a T30 torx head, so if you get the right tool you may still be able to remove them.

Link to our Dual VANOS dis-assembly instructions.

BTW - if you don't have the tools to re-time the VANOS, we sell and rent them.

http://germanautosolutions.com/bmw_s..._bmw_tools.php

Good luck,

Gary