M62b44 Vs M62tu looking for opinions

[mebjr12]

I am in the market for a 540i would like everyones opinion on one with the M62 non vanos vs Vanos. Is there really that big of a difference between the two? I currently have a 02 530i. All opinions are welcome

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[dannyzabolotny]

I personally prefer the improved low end torque of the M62tu, but some like the slightly more reliable M62. In addition to the engine, you also get a bunch of other improvements by going with a later E39.

[StRaNgEdAyS]

There's a bit more torque down low, but apart from that it's not a huge difference.
The vanos engines seem to have a shorter timing chain guide life, and are a little more involved to repair them when they happen, and you may need to have the vanos overhauled at some point.
I've just come from a 97 pre vanos M62 to an 01 vanos M62 engine myself.
My planned upgrade to an Frankenengine M62TUB44 bottom end with the M60B40 heads and cams is going to change now because vanos

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[JimLev]

Torque is king, the non vanos cars ended in 98, the vanos cars are 99-03. Get one as new as you can, see if you can find one that has had the chain guides and vanos done. Your in VA, there should be a lot of them in your general vicinity.

[mebjr12]

Torque is king, the non vanos cars ended in 98, the vanos cars are 99-03. Get one as new as you can, see if you can find one that has had the chain guides and vanos done. Your in VA, there should be a lot of them in your general vicinity.

Jim i actually want one where the guides have failed so that i can get it at a decent price and also do all the maintenace while im in there stuff. Near Va i found a 98 but in the boston area i found an 02 that he claims has a blown motor but isnt 100% sure. I want an 01 up but i have heard the pre vanos were faster

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[dannyzabolotny]

The pre-Vanos engines have more power in the top end so they're faster up top, but in day to day driving around town the Vanos engine will feel faster due to the extra torque.

[mebjr12]

The pre-Vanos engines have more power in the top end so they're faster up top, but in day to day driving around town the Vanos engine will feel faster due to the extra torque.

How bad is the timing chain job? I know you have doneit a bunch of times. Is it really that difficult if a job?

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[dannyzabolotny]

How bad is the timing chain job? I know you have doneit a bunch of times. Is it really that difficult if a job?

I've done it 13 times, and about to do it for the 14th time and 15th time in the coming weeks ahead. It's really not that hard of a job, just really time-consuming (easy for me to say, I know).

The key to making it a pleasant job is to have ALL the tools ready to go before you start. You'll need the timing tools (I recommend the GAS tools, they're much more precise), a crankshaft holding tool, a beefy breaker bar (I use a 3/4" drive breaker bar from HF), a big pipe over the breaker bar for leverage, deep and shallow sockets, torx bits, e-torx sockets, and the Vanos press tool if you're doing the Vanos seals. Otherwise you'll spend forever chasing all of those down at the eleventh hour, not fun.

Here's a parts list for all the parts I use on a typical job: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

[JimLev]

I've probably done it as many times as Danny too. If your doing the vanos you also need a good vise (4" or bigger) bolted to a good sturdy bench that won't tip over, possibly bolted to the wall. When you press the vanos back together the 27mm bolt needs to be torqued to 100ft-lbs and then you need to turn the bolt another full 360 deg.
Good plan to find one that needs work, keep looking in your area or further south. I'd avoid the north, I recently moved from the Boston area to the southwest. Almost all of those rust belt area cars will have been daily drivers with rust that is just waiting to eat thru everything, especially the front and rear jack pad areas.
Lots of help available here on doing the guides and timing the vanos engine.
Good luck in you search.