Vanos Piston Bolt Cap

[Genes1s]

So, I stripped this bolt cap.

I surface ground the 18mm socket flat to get better engagement to the shallow bolt head. I originally used the 12 point which was a dumb idea and it did round the corner a little. Then I bought a brand new stubby 6 point 18mm socket and surface ground it again, still with no luck.The soft jaw idea didn't work and I really didn't want to torque my vise down due to non concentric loading that could bend or deform the aluminum. I did using standard socket wrench then proceeded with impact which didn't help either. I torched them and still wouldn't budge.
IMG_5808.JPG
I could cut the bolt and get it out of there, but I couldn't find just a replacement bolt for it, other than getting another rattle kit from this place below. Since I already bought the rattle kit without the bolt from Beisan, where can I can just the bolt other than calling this outfit to see if they are willing to sell me just the bolt otherwise it's going to be another $60 solution.

https://vanos-bmw.com/repair-kit-vanos-bmw-disa-bmw


Thanks

[TostitoBandito]

I was gonna tell you to ask drvanos, but it doesn't appear that they support E36's anymore. I do see their E36 rebuilt units on ECS though, which is strange. I'd email either ECS or the place you bought your kit from and ask if you can buy just the nut. If they have them they'll probably sell one to you.

[Genes1s]

Thanks.

I'll try it Monday, Man..was really hoping to get this button up this weekend. I was going to mill the 18mm hext bolt to, say, 17mm to clean up the edges so I can use the 17mm socket but I don't have a good way to hold the piston in place, otherwise it would keep spinning.

[bluptgm3]

I was gonna tell you to ask drvanos, but it doesn't appear that they support E36's anymore.

I think you simply overlooked the link

https://drvanos.com/collections/m50-...2-single-vanos

But I don’t recall them offering the nut.

Nor does Beisan
http://www.beisansystems.com/products.html





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[pbonsalb]

We had one like that. The bolt was very difficult to remove and we damaged it in the process. We salvaged a bolt from another vanos unit. It is left hand thread so make sure you are loosening not tightening and the bolt head is so shallow you cannot use a standard chamfered socket, but you can grind or cut the 1/8” or so of chamfer off the bottom of a standard socket.

[Genes1s]

We had one like that. The bolt was very difficult to remove and we damaged it in the process. We salvaged a bolt from another vanos unit. It is left hand thread so make sure you are loosening not tightening and the bolt head is so shallow you cannot use a standard chamfered socket, but you can grind or cut the 1/8” or so of chamfer off the bottom of a standard socket.

Wait, are sure about he left hand tread for the bolt cap though? It is a left hand thread on bolt that tension the trust bearing but I though the bolt cap was standard

[ScotcH]

Wait, are sure about he left hand tread for the bolt cap though? It is a left hand thread on bolt that tension the trust bearing but I though the bolt cap was standard

It's standard ... don't listen to that guy, he knows nothing

[Braymond141]

You’re doing it wrong anyway. HEAT it. Take a propane torch to the aluminum (not the steel nut) until you see oil rise up out of the threads on that cap nut, then remove it.

Even with the soft jaws the Besian guides have failed to include heat as the proper way to do this. This applies to all VANOS rattle fixes.

[TostitoBandito]

I think you simply overlooked the link

https://drvanos.com/collections/m50-...2-single-vanos

But I don’t recall them offering the nut.

Nor does Beisan
http://www.beisansystems.com/products.html





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah, my bad. I guess I'm going blind.

[pbonsalb]

There is a left thread one in there somewhere, but I may be mistaken as to which. Whatever ScotcH says is right 99.9%. I am more like 60%.

[Genes1s]

You’re doing it wrong anyway. HEAT it. Take a propane torch to the aluminum (not the steel nut) until you see oil rise up out of the threads on that cap nut, then remove it.

Even with the soft jaws the Besian guides have failed to include heat as the proper way to do this. This applies to all VANOS rattle fixes.

+1 Thanks for the advice. I did torch the aluminum boss but I guess I didn't apply enough heat. I put more heat this time, hot enough till I saw the oil bubbling with smoke seeping out and you didn't even need to impact, I was able to turn it with just a socket.

IMG_5812.jpg
Any idea where I can get the thrust needle bearings and the washers from?

Found it here..https://www.ebay.com/itm/SINGLE-VANO...5/312430721313

[bluptgm3]

I bought mine from a Ukrainian site w/new cap-nut.


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[Genes1s]

I think you simply overlooked the link

https://drvanos.com/collections/m50-...2-single-vanos

But I don’t recall them offering the nut.


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I think they do. Just talked to them and ordered this. Pretty sweet design and what it looks like a modified socket wrench with a couple of dowel pins.

https://drvanos.com/collections/m50-...eplacement-cap