Member
Anybody else on this forum change there VANOS seals?(obviously) Can you believe the difference from 0 to 4000rpm. I was quite shocked that those little seals could give back some torque. How long did you guys break them in? RAJ says 500 miles. I guess i will gradually break them in. To anybody out there that has not changed them.....DO IT!!! Big improvement in the low end. It is not that big of a job....quite easy actually.Thanks in advance for some feedback......
BMW Purist
how many hours did it take?
Member
hmm I have heard of replacing the VANOS seals before but never knew you would get any power back from it. I will have to look into it. What kind of tools do you need?
Shark Injector. ZHP Exhaust. 3.46 Differential. M-Tech II Bumper. Koni Sport. H&R Race. H&R Front Sway. CDV Delete. Balo Slotted Rotors. Hawk HPS. Hardwired V1. ZHP Knob. Trunk Lip Spoiler. Smoked LED Tails. Smoked Corners/Sides. 35% Tint. O.Z. 35th Anniversary Wheels
Member
Did you change the seals themselves or did you swap the VANOS assembly.
How many miles on your car?
Member
what are u guys talking about again??? lol
Member
Here ya go for those who doesn't have a clue what he's talking about:
http://www.beisansystems.com/procedu..._procedure.htm
Last edited by Zimmy330; 09-16-2008 at 07:54 PM.
Member
VANOS is variable timing on the camshafts. It smooths out the powerband throughout the RPM range, creates more power and better gas mileage. It works with oil pressure and electric solenoids, on a series of gears in the front of the engine. The seals are o-rings around pistons in the assembly. The o-rings loose their elasticisity and let oil bleed by, reducing the pressure.Originally Posted by GIORGI
Member
GOD I love this ppl. thanks for letting me kno... i
Member
did mine three weeks ago along with the thermostat at my inlaws place, its not hard at all just takes long because of all the bolts you have to remove. i did it in a day with lots of breaks starting at 10am then had a big breakfast worked on the car then went it town for a few hours, have some beer worked on it again, have dinner; finished the job..
Member
okay....I have 212000km(120,000miles) on the car. I just changed the seals from BEISAN. It really did not take that long. It took me 50 minutes to take it off. Putting it back on took a bit longer....I can be quite anal....I clean EVERYTHING!! Old oil etc. But just to changed the seals is really easy.As for tools nothing really special......check the link above. Put it this way.....When you take out the vanos cylinders(remove spring on exhaust side).......wipe off the oil and put it back together on the bench....I did this as a test. Then turn the unit over the cylinders just flop back and forth. When you stick in the new seals.....FORGET it....even with oil on the cylinders,you have to push the cylinders to move them.....very snug. I can already feel the difference in the torque.I do not have to rev her up to move her.....Torque is right there.As per RAJ......he says wait until the seals break in....That is when I shall notice the real difference.....Can't wait. Just have to keep driving her easy for now.
Member
Great repair man, sounds like a job well done! From what I have read, cars in signifigantly colder climates are much more susceptable to needing this. I have thought about doing it because I have 183k but I am not experiencing any noticable symptoms. I think as soon as I have to do th VCG I will do it.
Member
Thanks for the informational post Im going to do this soon.
Member
I changed them, the car is way faster feeling, I was shocked as well!
Member
raylightt123.....How long did you break them in for??? 200-300 hundred miles
BMW Purist
did you do yourself? i will look into this myself
Member
I changed them myself and it resolved my idling issue on cold starts and I notice a bit of a smoother power curve. It was not like a nigh and day difference like some people are describing. However it was well worth it for $60. Plus I did my valve cover gasket and spark plugs as well.
Ground Control Street/School coilovers, 19" HRE 441R wheels, ACS exhaust
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Member
It wasn't night and day???? What are you kidding me! How many Km's on your car......LESS than 100,000KM? MAYBE on a 330......I can REALLY feel it because I have slightly more power than your 328???? To me it is night and day.I have 212,000KM. PLUS I have only driven it maybe a thousand clics since I have bought it.
Member
hmm. i may just do this.
BMW Purist
yah man i agree, just to see if i get any torque gains
Wants a 330d :(
Do 4 pot BMW engines have vanos? If so does anyone know were to buy new o-rings and a DIY?
Sean
Last edited by Sean323iSE; 09-19-2008 at 07:04 AM.
'00 Nissan Vannete "Shaggin' Waggon" - Current DD
'95 Peugeot 306 dTurbo "Chucky" - Dead (Blown up!)
'00 BMW 318i SE "Katie" - Sold
'78 Landrover Series III - Rebuild In Progress
'99 Vauxhaul Corsa "Kermit the frog" - Dead (old age)
Member
I have a 328i with 172k km so the seals were long gone. Like I said, it wasn't night and day. It just pulls stronger below 3K RPM. I don't have to slip the clutch as much when taking off in 1st and there is no power surge at 3K RPM like there was before. It just pulls smoothly and evenly across all RPMs
Ground Control Street/School coilovers, 19" HRE 441R wheels, ACS exhaust
2DIN touchscreen carputer, Bimmian CF E-brake handle, Titanium CF Trim, Illuminated ZHP knob, BMW Performance SSK, 2-way Compustar
Clear turn signals, LED license plate lights, LED tails, 3000k HID fogs, angel eyes, matte grills, CF Emblems etc
Member
Maybe it just seemed faster compared to your big slow Buick.
Terry
99 328i
Member
Good one TerryH. You got arise out of me there for a sec. Until I saw that you have a 86 GN.I know and you know how QUICK turbo buicks are when you know how to tweak them PROPERLY! Yes they are 21 year old dinosaurs that can't handle nor brake worth SH@T.......BUT in a straight line hold on. As for toxic0n....You do agree that there was much more torque below 4k rpm. All cars are different......For me a $60 fix and it feels like that..........You can't go wrong.
Member
I was studying the engine bay today in preparation to changee these Vanos seal. Did you guys have to remove the mechanical fan? It looks like a pita to remove with out the BMW fan hold tool. I wonder if I can do this with out removing tha fan.
Member
About 200 miles, drove easy, About 5k on new seals now, Still no problems
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