Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: s54 valve lash tolerance questions

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Bristolville,ohio
    Posts
    882
    My Cars
    Max PSI STG 1 e46 M3

    s54 valve lash tolerance questions

    Wondering for those of you that DIY and also if there are some technicians out there that have done this a number of times. I understand that the go no-go for the intake is .007"-.009" and the exhaust is .011"-.013".

    My question is at what point do you notice issues in the performance of the vehicle. I spoke with the PO of my car since I've only had it about a year and he mentioned that the valves have not been shimmed in 70k. Which seemed like a fairly long time considering the recommendation is ever 30k however the car still runs as far as I'm concerned pretty well other than it runs a little rough during cold starts.

    After taking the car to operating temp and checking the lash I'm seeming anywhere from .001"-.004" (too loose) outside of spec. I understand that obviously it is important to keep these in tolerance but to what can anyone explain to me what .002" out of spec really means in the scheme of things? Thanks for the help in advance.
    Last edited by Pring; 01-23-2017 at 08:04 PM.
    Alpine White --- E46 M3 --- Maximum PSI --- Precision 6266 --- Custom 3" Exhaust --- Statusgruppe --- Varrstoen ---
    The rest is just smoke and tires
    -Snails- The real reason the tortoise beat the hare.-

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    5,154
    My Cars
    Various junk
    I believe lash is checked dead cold, not at operating temperature.

    Also, lash should be checked around every 30K miles, not 3K miles.

    I don't think being out of spec .002 is a big deal. Shims run in .04mm increments, which is .00157". It does put additional wear on your valvetrain but to be off by one shim isn't going to do much.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Bristolville,ohio
    Posts
    882
    My Cars
    Max PSI STG 1 e46 M3
    sorry I meant 30k. If it was supposed to be checked every 3k and it hadn't been checked in 70k I'd be really concerned. I figured that it wouldn't be that big of a deal but I've also heard these motors are very high maintenance and very tempermental so I was curious as to whether those .002 would cause a big difference in performance or be the cure to my rough cold starting issue.
    Alpine White --- E46 M3 --- Maximum PSI --- Precision 6266 --- Custom 3" Exhaust --- Statusgruppe --- Varrstoen ---
    The rest is just smoke and tires
    -Snails- The real reason the tortoise beat the hare.-

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    West Point, Virginia
    Posts
    959
    My Cars
    2002, 320is, 328is, M3
    I have done this on 4 different engines. Two were purchased out of the junkyard. Easy to do, most valves I found on any of the engines were 4 and they were out by very little. My vote would be no on your issue. Feel free to call 757-784-7474

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    Valves are never adjusted warm, just adjust them then there good for 30k.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Hilliard, ohio
    Posts
    477
    My Cars
    We have 5 BMW's (Cars)
    When I bought my '05, the valves had not been done in @ 50k miles. 20 of the 24 were out. Not by much (largest was .08mm), but they were out.
    That being said, I noticed NO runnability issues, it was just noisy.

    After the adjustment, it was quieter (felt faster, but the placebo effect could have been there).

Similar Threads

  1. No help from google. Valve lash question.
    By draccent in forum 1983 - 1991 (E30)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-27-2011, 07:26 AM
  2. S54 valve adjustment link
    By CaptainPlanet in forum 2001 - 2006 M3 (E46)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-05-2004, 05:19 PM
  3. S54 Euro Headers/Cats Questions
    By ///MTV in forum 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 09-11-2003, 03:05 PM
  4. Urgent: valve cover gasket question
    By kcbraunschweig in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-21-2003, 09:42 AM
  5. Valve Cover Gasket Question
    By umnitza in forum 1995 - 2001 (E38)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-28-2002, 12:18 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •