camshaft bearing ledge research (N52/330i/130i etc)

[LeonR]

Hi all,

Just trying to conduct some research on the N52B30 regarding any bearing ledge wear issues, hopefully very rare! (thinking of preventative maintenance)

Has it actually ever happened to anybody on here? It's something that has always bugged me, so i'm trying to find some info on it.

Thanks!

[BimmerBreaker]

Never even heard of this issue... N52 has proven to be very reliable

[jclausen]

First you might get check engine light faults for vanos solenoid, say intake side the first thing you would do is swap the exhaust to the intake and intake to the exhaust clear fault, road test. If the fault came back to intake side then maybe you would look into the cam ledge issue or if the fault followed the move the you would install a new vanos solenoid, but it's an expense proposition and there is no reason for this to be preventive maintenance ever.

[LeonR]

Thanks both for the info.

jclausen, yes that makes sense, hopefully just solenoids in most cases though.

What would be good to know is what causes it and why do all engines not do it? So far all I can find is that oil starvation/incorrect usage is the blame?

Thinking logically, surely the seals are circular, so they would always stay flush against the ledge? Is it a case that they some how deform in shape?

The good side is that not may people seem to have this issue

I just want to make sure i'm not sitting on a ticking money pit basically!

Thanks!

[ptarditi]

Before I would replace the solenoids, I'd remove them and clean them with gum cutter. There is actually a test plan in ISTA/d that will purge the solenoids. Also if you changed the oil recently, it is pretty common for the cage in the center of the oil filter cap to get tossed, the center has a seal that helps maintain oil pressure, this leads to vanos faults, particularly cold start, rough running.

[LeonR]

Thanks for the info, but what would actually cause bearing ledge wear at all? Is it purely down to lack of oil? Or is it a design fault?


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[White94RX]

This is the last problem I'd be worried about. You're not sitting on a ticking time bomb. I've been working for BMW for the last 11 years. I have heard of the problem, but I have never, not even once, had to repair an engine for this issue.

[LeonR]

Thanks White94RX


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[LeonR]

Thanks White94RX , puts my mind at rest!


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[ptarditi]

This is the last problem I'd be worried about. You're not sitting on a ticking time bomb. I've been working for BMW for the last 11 years. I have heard of the problem, but I have never, not even once, had to repair an engine for this issue.

+1