Member
Just picked up a 2004 Z4, 3.0 this past Monday. Has 52K and change, I drove it 530 miles home and it runs just fine.
Of course I have been reading what I can about it and I read a post on E46FANATICS (well a partial post, the entire post is 307 pages long !). anyway the OP has done much research and seems extremely knowledgeable. He recommends upgrading the VANOS seals no matter how low your mileage is. Excellent instructions at beisansystems.com. The job seems detailed and involved but not too difficult.
Just wondering how many of forum members here have done the upgrade and you thoughts/opinions regarding the upgrade.
Member
Have done the VANOS seals on M54 engines 4 times now. All around the 90,000 to 110,000 km range. All had improvements in performance.
1999 2.8L Z3 Roadster,
2000 3.0L Z3 Roadster,
There is only one thing more pleasurable than working on a Z3, that's driving it top down on a fine day.
Member
I've only had my car a few months and have not done the VANOS work based on two inputs: 1. My car does not exhibit any of the symptoms listed on the Beisan website. 2. A long-time M3 owning friend has said his BMW mechanic says don't bother until it's making noise or power is noticeably down. It's likely I'll get curious enough to do it at some point but for now I just want to drive.
Member
Yeah, I'm a new Z4 owner too, coming from a 98 Z3, 1.9...No VANOS of course.
My Z4 also does not exhibit any of the symptoms and I'm glad to hear what your mechanic friend said. I plan on doing the same, drive it till there are any noticeable symptoms. According to the OP on E46FANATICS mileage doesn't much matter as the seals degrade within several thousand miles. Mine has 52K...maybe it ran better when new but currently I'm happy !
Jbird
Having been in the BMW repair world for a very long time we have never needed to do them.
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