VANOS rebuild BOooooooo

[darrenforeal]

So it has become apparent that I am going to need to rebuild my VANOS. booooo. I was planning on putting my s50 cams in next month. but I now realize I really should do the VANOS at the same time or before.

I think it may be responsible for some noises I am getting that could be slight pingish type noises. but more relevant it sounds like marbles are in it after I drive the car hard and pop the hood.

Sooo... for you guys that did the whole Dr. VANOS thing, did you get the stage I or II? I think the II comes with fancy sprockets and the upgraded thrust washers. I would need those washers to do for the S50 cams anyways. ugh.... I may have to put this off longer again:( the Dr. VANOS stuff is like $350 to $450 not including core refund. Does anyone have the specific tools I could rent so I don't have to do it through DR. VANOS too? thanks

[johnnye23]

My co-worker just redid his Vanos using this supplier .He was very pleased with the results and the help he received from the website. http://www.beisansystems.com/

[russiankid]

I redid mine using the Beisan seals, turned out great.

[ShapeShifter]

Russiankid helped with my Besian vanos rebuild.
Only took a few hours (mostly cleaning up extra crap). Very easy.
No leaks and works like a charm.
The kit only comes with the needed seals for the vanos drum. So, you'll need to get an extra gasket for the vanos housing from the dealer. I think it was two bucks. .

[darrenforeal]

hmmm ya I saw this. Would this do the same fix as the Dr. VANOS? Eliminate the marbles and potentially other problems its causing? I know the Dr. VANOS is the whole unit with upgraded bearing and bushings right? If the Beisan "kit" does the same things, this would make my F***ing day because its like a fifth of the price.

[sfgearhead]

How do you know if you need a Vaons rebuild, just based on sound alone? Or is there a performance issue that shows up as well?

[darrenforeal]

How do you know if you need a Vaons rebuild, just based on sound alone? Or is there a performance issue that shows up as well?

there are performance issues, such as loss of low end power. And I guess for some people in can cause pinging. But in my case it really only makes the horrible noise after I have driven it hard. And the noise it not normal, it is only a matter of time before it causes bigger issues. And I have to go in there anyways to install the s50 cams and valve cover gasket and thrust washers, so it would be stupid not to rebuild it, especially since the noise its making. I also have another weird clinking noise that if it is pinging it is the quietest ping I have ever heard. But this would eliminate the VANOS portion of the variables from that issue.

But back to the question, does the kit you guys are referring to do the same thing ad the DR. VANOS?

[ShapeShifter]

Yes it does. The difference is, your rebuilding it yourself as opposed to buying their unit.
The only thing replaceable in the vanos is the seals. It's very simple.

If your replacing cams, you won't need any other tools to rebuild the vanos.

[TouringDan]

I bought the Dr Vanos kit and cant say enough positive things about it

[darrenforeal]

Yes it does. The difference is, your rebuilding it yourself as opposed to buying their unit.
The only thing replaceable in the vanos is the seals. It's very simple.

If your replacing cams, you won't need any other tools to rebuild the vanos.

cool. That seems like a no brainier then. around $80 vs. $350+


I bought the Dr Vanos kit and cant say enough positive things about it

Is there a reason you didn't do the rebuild yourself via the other kit?

[MaxSteel]

I think I need to rebuild my vanos. Does your M50 rattle occasionally in 3-3.5K RPM range?

[darrenforeal]

I think I need to rebuild my vanos. Does your M50 rattle occasionally in 3-3.5K RPM range?

yes I have a little weird metallic tinking/clinking/pinging tinging rattle thing going on once the cars heats up and its under load around 2000 to 3000rpms. people seems to think its pinging, but i dunno. I still need to check the sparks and knock sensors. I don't think it is, or at least I don't want to think its pinging.

The VANOS unit sounds like a diesel with marbles in it after I run the car hard. It has never been noticeable to me before. but yesterday when I poped my hood, after driving it real hard to figure out the other noise, it was REALLY LOUD. marbles. So I am hoping the rebuild also fixing the other weird little noise.

I just don't know whether to do the Dr. VANOS or the other one people are talking about. Probaly the besian systems one, because its more than half the price. I just want to make sure it works as well as the Dr. VANOS

[MaxSteel]

I'm not sure what's better about the Dr. Vanos kit but I haven't really looked into it.

The beisan site has a great DIY.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_single_procedure.htm

[ShapeShifter]

Cost me $52 all in.

[darrenforeal]

Cost me $52 all in.

did you have the rattles and marble like sounds in yours? I wonder why the Dr. VANOS is so much more?

[ShapeShifter]

It was starting to make noise, I fixed it before it became a problem.

[darrenforeal]

It was starting to make noise, I fixed it before it became a problem.

gottcha. as long as the beisan systems one does the same job as Dr. VANOS ill get that


I'm not sure what's better about the Dr. Vanos kit but I haven't really looked into it.

The beisan site has a great DIY.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/vanos_single_procedure.htm


and ya this write-up is nothing short of awesome

[MaxSteel]

From the M3 subforum (about Dr Vanos vs Beisan)


They are the same thing. The only difference is DR. Vanos rebuilds the kit and sends it to you. If you can take your vanos off yourself, there is no reason to go Dr.Vanos. It is very easy to replace the vanos seals and do the rattle fix yourself.

Also, apparently Vanos rattle isn't because of a worn seal.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/single_vanos_rattle_procedure.htm

joy

[Tenrac]

Dude....GOOD thread!

[darrenforeal]

From the M3 subforum (about Dr Vanos vs Beisan)



Also, apparently Vanos rattle isn't because of a worn seal.
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/single_vanos_rattle_procedure.htm

joy


Thanks Max, that's what I needed to know!

[TouringDan]

Wow - a lot of misinformation on this thread.. The Dr. Vanos kit has all the thrust bearings, plates, gearing, housing, gaskets, as well as a new solenoid. The wear surfaces are micro polished to provide much less friction and easier swing of the cams.

The polishing is not something that you can, or should, do yourself. This is where the DRV kit shines.

It's a complete, assembled system that you pull out of the box, remove the old stuff and install the new.

[darrenforeal]

Wow - a lot of misinformation on this thread.. The Dr. Vanos kit has all the thrust bearings, plates, gearing, housing, gaskets, as well as a new solenoid. The wear surfaces are micro polished to provide much less friction and easier swing of the cams.

The polishing is not something that you can, or should, do yourself. This is where the DRV kit shines.

It's a complete, assembled system that you pull out of the box, remove the old stuff and install the new.


I was hoping you would finally chime in with your details. Thank you. Doesn't only the stage II Dr. VANOS come with the updated thrust washers and sprockets?

[darrenforeal]

Any more details on why you think the Dr. VANOS is worth hundreds more Dan?

[Tenrac]

I was looking at the Dr. VANOS Stage I kit, but I ended up getting the beisan system kit. Let me also add, that my attitude about my e34 is very different than any other car I have modified/owned and worked on. My goal with this car is to spend as little money as I can and get maximum fun. So, I may be slightly biased to the cheaper solutions.

Like Touring Dan mentioned, the main difference between the two kits is that the Dr. V kit comes as a complete VANOS assembly. The Stage II kit, according to the Dr.V website, is the only kit that has the polished wear surfaces. The Beisan kit you have to do the rebuild yourself. As far as all of the other parts that the Dr. V kit replaces...It just depends on how worn out your VANOS is, mine isn't that bad. I am comfortable reusing the internals. As far as the solinoid is concerned, the VANOS solinoid is not hard to change, if it ain't broke don't fix it...IMO.

He is also right about micro polishing, it is a very nice feature of the Stage II kit...and you shouldn't try that yourself.

If price is a concern, and you are looking at the Stage I Dr. V kit, and you have the skill to do the rebuild, then I think the beisan kit is a worthy alternative. If you are at all considering the Dr. V Stage II kit, or higher, then there is no comparrison...Dr. VANOS wins.

[zubbie]

M30 ftw ;)

[cornflakecwl]

Can a Vanos issue cause a loss of power at around 5000rpm? I sometimes feel like the car just falls off at 5k when I am giving it.

[Meeve]

M30 ftw ;)

+1!

Doh, just bought a 525i -.-

1991 non-VANOS!!

problem solved.

[BoldUlysses]

Related question: Is it possible to eliminate VANOS wear by simply disabling the system? In other words, remove the connector from the solenoid, replace the EMS with a Motronic 3.3 unit (since the 3.3.1 has a map for VANOS).

-Matt

[Tenrac]

Well, I just finished rebuilding a spare VANOS unit for my car. I used the Beisan systems seal kit and rattle repair kit. Went fairly smooth...a few hicups, but overall success! I'll post back when I get it installed...cuz thats when I'll really know if I did a good job or not.

[darrenforeal]

Well, I just finished rebuilding a spare VANOS unit for my car. I used the Beisan systems seal kit and rattle repair kit. Went fairly smooth...a few hicups, but overall success! I'll post back when I get it installed...cuz thats when I'll really know if I did a good job or not.

nice! do check back.

[ShapeShifter]

I did mine Jan. this year, and it's been fine for the 16k miles I've put on it so far.

[MaxSteel]

I did mine Jan. this year, and it's been fine for the 16k miles I've put on it so far.

using the beisan systems kit? did you notice an improvement in performance? how long was the DIY?

[ShapeShifter]

Yes, I used the beisan kit. No more rattle runs awesome. 2 hours start to finish.

[Tenrac]

So, I finally got around to installing my rebuilt VANOS unit yesterday, and she is running great! I used the beisan systems kit, baum speacial tools, and the walkthrough on the beisan systems website, very clear and easy to follow instructions.

When I pulled the old unit off, I was actually surprised to find that the seals still had a good bit of resistence in them. It wasn't as tight as the freshly rebuilt unit that I was installing, but at 280k+ on the car I was expecting the unit to be more worn out than it was. There was tons of radial play in the splined shaft though, which is what was causing all of the rattle.

After the install, not much of a difference performace wise...just slightly better power all the way through the revs, the car doesn't feel quite as tired as it did, and the rattle is completely gone.

Overall, success!

[darrenforeal]

So, I finally got around to installing my rebuilt VANOS unit yesterday, and she is running great! I used the beisan systems kit, baum speacial tools, and the walkthrough on the beisan systems website, very clear and easy to follow instructions.

When I pulled the old unit off, I was actually surprised to find that the seals still had a good bit of resistence in them. It wasn't as tight as the freshly rebuilt unit that I was installing, but at 280k+ on the car I was expecting the unit to be more worn out than it was. There was tons of radial play in the splined shaft though, which is what was causing all of the rattle.

After the install, not much of a difference performace wise...just slightly better power all the way through the revs, the car doesn't feel quite as tired as it did, and the rattle is completely gone.

Overall, success!


cool good to hear. I went the Dr. VANOS stage 2 route and couldn't be happier. If I had had more time I would have just gotten the beisan systems kit and polished all the washers and sprockets myself. The polished stage 2 stuff was very very nice though.