Loose bolt at front of vanos/head - does something else go here? (pics)

[brianc]

So the bolt in the area circled seems to either bottom out and not screw in any more - or the threads on the mating part are stripped. It is loose and will pretty much vibrate loose. I had to take it out while replacing the cooling system. I keep track of all my parts in plastic bags so I'm pretty sure the screw I'm using there is the exact same one I took out. Perhaps I stripped the thread in there but it doesn't seem like it...I only tried to torque it to about 15 ft lbs or so. Is there anything that's supposed to go there aside for the bracket, washer and this bolt? The car is a 98 M3.

[London07]

from the diadgram, it doesnt look like anything else goes there. i have the same year and i dont notice anything amiss.

BTW +1 for a clean ass engine bay!

[HBpredhunter]

well that plugs into the head. so if thats loose then- well.

time to start looking for a new cylinder head. its stripped and now worthless junk








oh you could always helicoil it or tap it out for a bigger one

[brianc]

I just dug up a pic of my engine bay from 3 years ago and it looks the same. There's nothing there aside from that bolt and washer. I've seen pics of 95 M3's and there's a ground strap in that same spot but not on the 98's.

On another note is that bolt just there to hold that bracket in? It doesn't appear to serve any other function aside from holding the bracket steady. I guess if I look at it closely next weekend and find I stripped it I could tap it for a 14mm bolt (I think it's probably 13mm like everything else)

[///M3 CRAZY]

that is just to hold on the "eye" in the pic for lifting the engine for removal. that is also the point on OBD1 cars where the injectors get grounded. i though all the m3 grounded the injectors there but i guess it is only OBD1. if it is loose just tighten it. if it is stripped (i can't see how in god's name it would be) take the bolt out and chuck it. the one on the other end of the "eye" also holds on the thermostat cover.

you (or mechanic) probably didn't snug it when doing a thermostat or vanos.

well that plugs into the head. so if thats loose then- well.

time to start looking for a new cylinder head. its stripped and now worthless junk


oh you could always helicoil it or tap it out for a bigger one

i do truly hope this is sarcasm, cause if not you should not even own a wrench let alone turn one.

[brianc]

thanks. I wonder if I got that bolt and the one underneath mixed up - possibly with the one underneath being shorter. Because it does feel like that bolt is just bottoming out because it's too long. I've still got to install a new radiator and thermostat cover next weekend so I'll be in there anyway and check it out then.

[RRSperry]

Ding, ding, ding... I vote for the 'You got the bolts mixed up, and it's too long." theory... Ask me how I know..lol

[Mekihead]

On the 95's S50 there is a ground wire bolted to it, but I distinctly remember my Mom's S52 not having anything there. It's just to hold the bracket they use to pull the engine.

[vinnymac]

The bolt secures the engine hoist pick up tab on OBD2 cars. The bolt secures the engine hoist pick up tab and the fuel rail ground on OBD1 cars.

[ScotcH]

I also secures the vanos to the head, so you could get an oil leak there.

[///M3 CRAZY]

I also secures the vanos to the head, so you could get an oil leak there.

yes it does hold the corner of the vanos. but i doubt anything will come out of there if the bolt is missing
there is a gasket.

[brianc]

so I was replacing some pulleys & thermostat cover this weekend so I got a closer look at this area. I was being VERY cautious since the bracket actually attaches to the head and secures the vanos assembly in that corner. It ended up being the opposite problem of what I thought.

1. I got the two bolts for this engine lift bracket mixed up. The bottom one also goes through the thermostat cover.
2. The bolt that goes on top - the one I pictured here - should actually be the longer one. The shorter one goes on the bottom point.
3. The hole for the top bolt is actually a through hole. It didn't appear that way from looking at it at first but once I got everything out of the way and squated down and took a close look I found it was.
4. When I initially tried to torque the shorter bolt it only caught about 3 threads so it wouldn't tighten - so when I went to tighten more I stripped those threads. Luckily the bolt goes through the entire thing about an inch or so - so once I put the correct bolt in there it caught plenty of threads and all is well.

[Braymond141]

1. I got the two bolts for this engine lift bracket mixed up. The bottom one also goes through the thermostat cover.
2. The bolt that goes on top - the one I pictured here - should actually be the longer one. The shorter one goes on the bottom point.

WORD.

Longer one on top, shorter on bottom. You effed up.

[RRSperry]

Told ya.

[racer m]

WORD.

Longer one on top, shorter on bottom. You effed up.

now that is some good advice.

[E36M34life]

Ding, ding, ding... I vote for the 'You got the bolts mixed up, and it's too long." theory... Ask me how I know..lol

I concur

[brianc]

You effed up

that about sums it up. I doubt many people will have the same thing happen but maybe someone will read this and pay attention when they remove their thermostat housing.

[Treapon]

I don't know what bolt goes here the guy I brought my 95 m3 from didn't have one there but I know a bolt goes there for sure does any one know the part number

[FrankMM]

Think this guy is still checking this thread?

[egebhardt]

I see the mistake, but I think he'll survive.