well, its winter so i decided to do my vanos on my 99 528i, its amazing!!! feels like brand new. worth every dime. Raj is a genius! i am not a mechanic but i was able to do it, i followed the DIY write up. things to watch out for that 32mm fan clutch bolt was a beast to get off:banghead: i tried whacking with a hammer it was rusted on., i tried wedging a screwdriver, nope . i had to buy the st water pump pulley holder tool from dealer. it came off, but since i tried with the wrong tools i broke the plastic water pump pulley, had to buy a new one. i also rounded off all the edges on the fan clutch bolt, had to buy a new one of these.vuse the right tool!! be careful with the spline shaft screws they break easy
I did a quick search to find out that Raj is Rajaie whose BMW is a 528i 5sp 06/00; searching more, the pointer to the DIYs below were found from this post (Chivas) and lots of information in that post.
+1 on BlueBee's info. Hear is some additional background:
The critical website mentioned is the Beisansystems.com website which provides all the background info, parts ordering and DIY. One stop shopping.
Ignore the Bentley DIY, as it overcomplicates a relatively simple task. Simply follow the Beisan DIY and you are home free.
The VANOS tool package is also not required to replace your VANOS seals. Again, just get the tools identified in the Beisan DIY. Many have everything you need already.
The fan holder tool is a very nice-to-have, as evidenced by the OP experience. You can actually build one fairly easily and this is highly recommend. I was lucky to have Chris (Neversaynever) bring his when we did mine. Very handy!
Dr. Vanos is a source to replace the entire VANOS system (which is more costly), which is not really necessary for most e39s. Most e39s simply need to replace the seals (cheaper). If you have the VANOS "rattling" symptom, then you will need to replace the bearings and you can get the bearings from Beisan or replace the complete system from Dr. VANOS (the easier option).
The VANOS seal replacement is simply the BEST maintenance procedure I have ever performed on any car over 38 years. This is something EVERY e39 owner MUST do to restore their engine to its original valve timing spec. The performance difference is truly unbelieveable. It kills me to read about all the people on this forum who are seeking (& spending big $$ for) that little bit extra performance for their car but ignore this fundamental and mandatory maintenance procedure. This maintenance procedure should be PRIORITY #1 for everyone!!!!
Most read the Beisan DIY and are intimidated by seeing an open engine. However, this is the best well written DIY I have ever encountered. It covers every aspect of the procedure in detail. If you read it, it is simply wrench turning. The hardest part is removing the fan. Upon finishing the job, the ROI satisfaction quotient is the highest possible.
Lastly, Rajaie is there to help if you have ANY issues with the procedure. See his VANOS forum. He defines customer support. He is da MAN! :bow:
Thanks Dave for explaining:
- Rajaie (Beisansystems author apparently)
- Dr. Vanos (complete set, not generally needed)
- Beisansystems.com (best DIY, and all you generally need)
- Bentley (overly complicated, see Beisansystems DIY instead)
- Special tools (mainly the fan-holder tool)
This whole Vanos thing scares me even though you say it shouldn't.
I'm confused about one thing ... do I need it?
For data, I don't seem to have the cold-start "symptoms" and my latest smog inspection shows emissions would have passed with flying colors ... so, given that (and my very little knowedge of Vanos seals other than the searches above) ...
Given that, I'm confused whether I yet need new double Vanos seals at 85K miles?
I agree the fan was the hardest part , but make sure you have the water pump pulley holder tool, I did not have it & it cost me more $ after I broke the water pump pulley, that tool made the whole job easier. Just follow the DIY at Beisansystems and it will be ok.
The VANOS is basically a performance and fuel consumption modification. Your variable valve timing isn't working properly. That means that your power band isn't as smooth as it should be, and top or bottom end performance is negatively affected. You'll also notice some improvements in fuel consumption.
There is a software update for certain engines that addresses the stalling problem (the most noticeable issue) which may have been applied to your car, hence the lack of obvious symptoms.
Do you absolutely need it: Not really. Everyone can easily get by with sub-par engine performance.
Should you do it: ABSOLUTELY YES.
Why? Because this single maintenance step will do more for your car's performance than anything else you spend money on, short of a supercharger. This procedure is not hotrodding your engine. It simply restores it to it's original performance specs. It has higher ROI than anything I can imagine based on the $60 cost for seals. At 85K, you'll need plugs and a VC gasket soon anyway, so you may as well combine these tasks together.
The DIY procedure scared me too but with Chris' help, we made it through both of ours without a hiccup. It helped to read the DIY about twenty times. By the end, you realize it is just simply turning small bolts. I highly recommend finding another B'fester to do it with. It simply reduces the anxiety associated with opening up your engine.
Background: My (pre-VANOS seal change) engine ran so much better than my previous car (4 cyl) that I had no issues about engine performance. My only pre-VANOS seal symptom was a slight engine hesitation when I lifted off the throttle and then dropped my left foot again. The engine hesitated for a split second before engaging. Not a huge problem but kind of annoying for the Ultimate Driving Machine. I did the VANOS seal replacement on a leap of faith at 70K. I read the Beisan website thoroughly and it made total sense. The important thing to know is that the VANOS seal engine timing degrades very gradually. So gradually that the effect is not noticeable to the original car buyer. If you bought your car second (or third) hand, you have never experienced a new e39 I6 (I certainly hadn't) and thus have no baseline for comparison.
AFTERWARDS: Note: I am not a fast driver nor do I push the limits. But I do appreciate having the reserve power & torque when I need it. The VANOS seals transformed my I6. The engine growls now (no kidding, I thought I imagined this but several have said the same). The torque comes on immediately and the engine pulls throughout the rev spectrum. The engine feels completely different. Now I fuly understand why this is called the Ultimate Driving Machine! :roundel:
I know I sound like I am a paid Beisan advocate but I can assure you that I am not. I have simply drunk the Kool Aid and am a total believer. Rarely in life can you give a recommendation, without hesitation. This is one of those times where you can.
He's a night owl---he's not moving till noon--lol--great guy and will spend lots of time talking to you about BMW's :thumbup:
Don't be afraid of this project--read and read again the DIY Rajaie has put forth--read it until you have it memorized--then on the day your going to do the job--read it again then jump on in the waters fine--
it's just turning wrenches--don't let it overwelm you--it's just a good day and will help you alot with other jobs that will need to be done in the furture.
Just one additional note to those above... Fudman had a 1/4" torque wrench (his was a clicker but a bar type is fine) which was very necessary. This is not a tool everyone has, so I recommend doing this with a patient and knowledgable friend (Fudman or equal), and one with a 1/4" torque wrench (Fudman or equal).
My two cents.
YMMV... I did the vanos "upgrade" this summer. I really did not notice a difference in the summer or winter.
I have a 2002 530i with ~80k miles at the time I did the upgrade. Maybe the M54B30 engine is less susceptible to vanos seal issues than the M52 or, perhaps, the earlier M54 engines. Supposedly, folks have seen great results with less mileage than I have. So, vanos issues are probably more closely related to engine vintage and climate than it is to mileage.
I do not have any regrets, though. It was a fun wrenching exercise and I have peace of mind that I will not have vanos seal issues anytime soon.
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