S54 - valve adjustments

According to the "BIMMER" magazine:

"Since the S54 engine has the mechanical method of valve actuation, which replaced the hydraulic lifters used on the S52 engine, it requires periodic inspection and clearance adjustments every 15,000 miles, depending how the engine is run".

My S54 engine has always had more valve noise than my S52 engine.
It is my understanding that as the S54 valves start to need to be adjusted, they make even more noise. Is this true?

I have 21K miles on my S54 engine and have not had the valves adjusted.

I am interested in hearing from other S54 owners about when they had their valves adjusted.

The BMW dealer talked me into another year of BMW dealer maintenance for $425.
They said that the "Inspection I" on the S54 engine, which I believe includes a valve adjustment, costs over $900, if done without part of the maintenance.

Comments?

Bimmer was the first to report that (I have that issue too) but the information is wrong.

The first valve service is at Inspection One, second at Inspection Two, etc.

Your valves are noisier than in the S-52 because it has "hydraulic lifters" (so to speak) between the cam lobes and valve stems. The S-54 operates the valves from the cam via a small rocker arm and is metal on metal contact or "solid lifter" actuation.

Yes, they will become noisier as wears allows greater lash.

Remember this truth: noisy valves won't cost you money (but tight ones will)!

My 01 hit Insp I at 21,000 miles and the valves were all found to be within spec; no adjustment (made with varying thickness shims) was needed.

Is there a DIY for the valves? What tools do wee need?

Originally Posted by Mpire

Is there a DIY for the valves? What tools do wee need?

Procedure is in the TIS.

Ron has posted the (few and basic) tools required here about three years ago (search function should turn that up).

Most costly aspect of adjusting the valves yourself is to have the correct shim assortment on hand. Alternative would be to tear it down, record the lash (for 24 valves) and then remove/measure the ones out of spec and order the correct replacement shim.

There's about a hundred dollars worth of seals and gaskets required; they are available to the dealer's mechanic as a "kit" but I think we'd have to order all the parts individually. Not a big deal.

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Procedure is in the TIS.

Ron has posted the (few and basic) tools required here about three years ago (search function should turn that up).

Most costly aspect of adjusting the valves yourself is to have the correct shim assortment on hand. Alternative would be to tear it down, record the lash (for 24 valves) and then remove/measure the ones out of spec and order the correct replacement shim.

There's about a hundred dollars worth of seals and gaskets required; they are available to the dealer's mechanic as a "kit" but I think we'd have to order all the parts individually. Not a big deal.

There is a kit for the shims which I never noticed until looking now that gets you 6 each of the 23 different sized shims. 11 34 0 031 525. At the island internet place it is priced at $234.00.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

There is a kit for the shims which I never noticed until looking now that gets you 6 each of the 23 different sized shims. 11 34 0 031 525. At the island internet place it is priced at $234.00.

That's not bad at all.

Who is Island internet? Contact info please?

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

That's not bad at all.

Who is Island internet? Contact info please?

That's that internet EPC site. Some island in the Pacific where ever.
http://rust.mine.nu/bmw/
I'll check the price with Paul Monday.
Will be doing my first check somewhere around 30K after HC.
The gaskets etc. are on order.

We need to get a group of S54 owners to chip in and buy a shim set. It's a waste of money for each owner to have his own set. When you want to do your valves, find out who used them last and have them shipped to you.

One note about Randy's reply to Dennis: The sole purpose of hydraulic lifters is to dampen the valve train noise. Because the oil in the lifter will "compress" slightly, the valve train can be run with zero lash, which eliminates the clacking. But in a high performance, high revving engine, that hydraulic cushioning creates a slight deviation (lag) in valve timing and lift. Plus variations in the hydraulic lifter height adds to the problem. Modern hydraulic valve trains, with variable valve timing and overhead cams, have come a long way, but if an engine has an 8000 rpm redline, you can bet it has mechanical (non-hydraulic) valve actuation.

Originally Posted by QikSilver

We need to get a group of S54 owners to chip in and buy a shim set. It's a waste of money for each owner to have his own set. When you want to do your valves, find out who used them last and have them shipped to you.

I know I'm not alone when I say that I don't want a set of shims that somebody has aleady had their hands in. Let alone several somebodies.

Originally Posted by QikSilver

One note about Randy's reply to Dennis: The sole purpose of hydraulic lifters is to dampen the valve train noise...

I think the "sole purpose" was to eliminate valve adjustments so the manufacturer could claim reduced maintenance costs (or effort) compared to their competition.

I should ask my father about that one, he'd remember who the first engine manufacturer was to introduce them (in America) and why.

Originally Posted by QikSilver

We need to get a group of S54 owners to chip in and buy a shim set. It's a waste of money for each owner to have his own set. When you want to do your valves, find out who used them last and have them shipped to you.

One note about Randy's reply to Dennis: The sole purpose of hydraulic lifters is to dampen the valve train noise. Because the oil in the lifter will "compress" slightly, the valve train can be run with zero lash, which eliminates the clacking. But in a high performance, high revving engine, that hydraulic cushioning creates a slight deviation (lag) in valve timing and lift. Plus variations in the hydraulic lifter height adds to the problem. Modern hydraulic valve trains, with variable valve timing and overhead cams, have come a long way, but if an engine has an 8000 rpm redline, you can bet it has mechanical (non-hydraulic) valve actuation.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...t=valve+adjust

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...t=valve+adjust

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

I know I'm not alone when I say that I don't want a set of shims that somebody has aleady had their hands in. Let alone several somebodies.



I think the "sole purpose" was to eliminate valve adjustments so the manufacturer could claim reduced maintenance costs (or effort) compared to their competition.

I should ask my father about that one, he'd remember who the first engine manufacturer was to introduce them (in America) and why.

My rough recollection is that you're spot-on, it had nothing to do with noise and everything to do with maintenance. You'd have to go way back before my time though, GM engines had hydraulic valve lifters before 1950. So did Harleys. Might have been a wartime development (hard to adjust valves when someone is shooting at you )?

Higher revving engines use mechanical lifter to keep from " floating the valves"
the hydraulic lifter are used for a no maintenance and sound aspect.

I agree that reduced maintenance probably was the biggest reason for the popularity of hydraulic lifters, but to say noise didn't matter? Sorry, don't agree. Whether they were designed to be quiet, or it just turned out to be an additional plus, once hydraulics started making noise, people complained. It was a rare day back in the 60's, when we didn't have a noisy hydraulic lifter to replace in my uncle's shop.

Randy,
In my years of racing cars and motorcycles, I'd like to have a dollar for every time I dug through someone elses shim collection at the track looking for the one I needed. I considered it lucky if I found one, and not once did I ever think, " I can't use this; someone else had their hand on it."

Originally Posted by QikSilver

I agree that reduced maintenance probably was the biggest reason for the popularity of hydraulic lifters, but to say noise didn't matter? Sorry, don't agree. Whether they were designed to be quiet, or it just turned out to be an additional plus, once hydraulics started making noise, people complained. It was a rare day back in the 60's, when we didn't have a noisy hydraulic lifter to replace in my uncle's shop.

Randy,
In my years of racing cars and motorcycles, I'd like to have a dollar for every time I dug through someone elses shim collection at the track looking for the one I needed. I considered it lucky if I found one, and not once did I ever think, " I can't use this; someone else had their hand on it."

Some toys I share and some I don't. I don't consider having what I need, when I need it a waste of money. I already have the tools the S-54 requires to adjust the valves, why not have the shims too?

In your first reply in this thread, you said, and I quote: "The sole purpose of hydraulic lifters is to dampen the valve train noise." Sorry, I don't agree. While noise reduction is a benefit, I doubt it was the motivation for the design. Better sound insulation would've been easier and more profitable.

Where did I say noise didn't matter?

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

I'll check the price with Paul Monday.

The shim kit retails for $355.00.
The ones I purchased separately were less per shim.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

The shim kit retails for $355.00.
The ones I purchased separately were less per shim.

But maybe this one has a neat twenty-three (23) compartment box

I ordered mine through Jay Lilley.

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

But maybe this one has a neat twenty-three (23) compartment box

That would be neat. Let us know what shows up.

Ordered some valve parts to see how the shims fit and how the retaining clips come out, which wasn't clear (to me) in the instructions. It is now.

Anybody know BMW's reason for using shims? My hondas were all adjustable with a bolt and locknut.

Originally Posted by Bill Dance

Anybody know BMW's reason for using shims? My hondas were all adjustable with a bolt and locknut.

So are all of BMW's motorcycle engines.

Originally Posted by Bill Dance

Anybody know BMW's reason for using shims? My hondas were all adjustable with a bolt and locknut.

Where would you put a bolt/nut on the finger-follower shown in Ron's picture?

Jaguar XK & Lotus DOHC valves are adjusted with shims too. Probably Ferraris too, but I haven't had one of those apart yet...

Most DOHC setups require lifting out the cams (well, British anyway) to change the shims, at least the BMW has sidestepped that task.

Edit: As I remember, part of the design criteria for this engine/cylinder head was to reduce valvetrain mass for higher RPM operation. Hence the lighter components (tiny-tiny shims) and hollow gun-drilled camshafts.

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Where would you put a bolt/nut on the finger-follower shown in Ron's picture?

The adjustment bolt is not in contact with the follower, but adjusts the whole assembly vertically. Essentially, it moves the followers away from or closer to the camshaft, you simply check the clearance with a feeler guage.

The different ways of going about doing the same thing are interesting, seeing as how both companies make excellent, high-revving engines.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

That would be neat. Let us know what shows up.

Make that a twenty-four (24) compartment box.

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Make that a twenty-four (24) compartment box.

Looks good.

I like the the kit Randy!p/s to the man that wants to share my freinds do not share tools.