A couple of weeks ago I detected that my car pushes oil out to the air filters. I started the investigation because I read on this excellent forum that if the car is not running well when cold, the MAFs may need cleaning. They did. There were drops of oil in the tube where the MAFs are (on both sides). The air filters were contaminated with oil and I had made an Inspection I just 3.000 km ago! Since this can't have been a sudden problem, the mechanic should have noticed and alerted me.
I talked to the technician who was assigned to my car about the problem when the engine is cold and the fact that it seems to have less power then. He told me that the control unit re-sets the ingition so that the engine will run in such a way that it will get warm as soon as possible
However, I decided to take the car to BMW and have it checked. They hocked it up to the control system and came along with what looked like a fat TFT screen!? That was the test computer. They started the engine and then the test. It was quite fascinating to see that the computer was revving the engine to 1500 RPM, changing and testing the tightness of the Vanos, the Vanos gear boxes (each side) and the emissions. All done via radio link. I was impressed.
On the other hand the only error indicated was a lambda sensor that wanted some attention The technician was a bit puzzled and called for a colleague. This person said "Look in the service bulletins. I think there is a problem with the O-rings in the Vanos magnetic vale on the second cylinder bank (cyls 5 - 8)". There was a service bulletin stating just that. Grate, just an O-ring to change. Well, not quite....
They change the entire magnetic valve!! I of course asked why, and the answer unfortunately made sense. The damaged O-ring will cause scratches on the pistons in the magnetic valve so if we only change the O-ring, you'll be back here soon with the same problem.
Okay, so what will this cost me? About €2000!!! Fortunately I have an insurance that will cover this kind of mechanical damage but I will have to pay 25% of it. Now the insurance company wants to have an emission test because if the emission values are higher than what is allowed, at least here in Sweden it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to repair any problem that causes emissions to be over the limit for 5 years or 80.000 Km. We'll see what happens.
This is extremely bad timing. I have just ordered 4 new tires (Michelin PS2) for the car and I am having my E34 M5 repaired and serviced for too much money. Where is money when you need it
Last edited by ilundber; 1st September 2004 at 21:16.
That's why they invented credit cards with big limits! I understand fully, as for reasons untold, I soon will have to pay for some accident damage out of my own pocket.
Anyway, back on topic, my car, an '01 w/50k miles, recently started sounding "dry" in the VANOS on start up. Just a few seconds, then it sounds fine. Is this something I should be worried about?
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Need4Spd
'01 M5/UUC SSK + Rogue WSR/RE Tranny Mounts+Royal Purple Synchromax/Axxis ULT Pads/StopTech SS Lines/TC Design from BeastPower Anti-roll Bar Brackets/Dinan LtWtFlywheel and Stage 3 suspension/Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics/Vines thrust arms/IATS relocation/10w-60 oil/hardwired Escort 9500i/Euro Armrest/TEC Cupholder/IceLink/PowerChip 91 Gold/TUBIs!/Strong Strut/BSW Stage 1/BT/Angel iBrights 3.0
'05 M3 Imola Cabrio 6MT, Nav, HK
"Is it the sounds that make a BMW a BMW? A BMW is designed to be heard, felt, experienced. So our engines sing. Our steering talks back. And we insist on offering manual transmissions in nearly all our models for drivers who crave them. The result is an almost telepathic oneness with the car. Just as surely as you can hear a BMW, a BMW hears you."
Im not sure, but I would suggest that you talk to a specialist about it. It probably takes a while for the oil pressure to build up, but that should not be more than a second or two.
See this scares me a bit... I've had both the left and right VANOS units replaced under warranty around 25k miles. I recently (~65k miles) changed the MAFS and did notice that there was a very small bit of oil near the end of the housing. I attributed it to my previous VANOS problem. So far no new oil has built up but I will be monitoring this very closely.
Have you had your VANOS units replaced in the past? Also, how many miles do you currently have on your car?
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Johnny
06/2000 Lemans Blue
Last edited by BlueBomber; 1st September 2004 at 21:28.
Being the third owner of the car, I don't know. The first owner was the CEO of BMW Sweden. The second owner had it for a few months and traded it in for an X5 (he had a M3 for racing and wanted something better than a M5 to tow the M3 to the races. Makes sense).
As far as I can trace, the Vanos have not been replaced and according to the test they are ok. It is "just" that little O-ring that is the problem. Unfortunately, the accompanying parts make it somewhat expensive
This problem is known to BMW. While they maintain that it has no effect on driveablility or durability, they have been know to fix it for customers who raised a fuss.
The problem has to do with the oil draining from the high pressure chambers of the VANOS after the car has been parked for a while. The noise goes away very soon after startup and the pressure has built up again.
The fix was to install a pre-charger to get the oil back up there just before the engine is started.
__________________ Founding Member "OBC" Ontario Beastowners Club
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2003 Jet Black / Black Leather Dinan Rear Sway/brackets CG Lock, UUS Big Boy Clutch Stop 2001 740i Jet Black / Black Leather
1995 325 Track Car w 1997 M3 vital organs 87 M3 (track car)
"The White House has always attracted the mentally ill."
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security was hightened around the White House.
My engine started running badly yesterday and my SES light came on....I thought it would be an emmission problem as indicated by my manual..lt turns out that my right VANOS unit has gone bad. I am three months out of warranty.
The total cost will be around $3,100.00 US. The car has only 24,000 miles on it...I am trying to work something out with BMW because this is obviously a factory problem! I let them know that I am **** upset....
I think there should be a recall!!!!!
Bryan
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Gates
Dinan: Chip, Throttle Body, Cold Air Pckg., FreeFlow Exhaust, Stage III Suspension, Differential.
Thanks to the messages on this board I was able to get BMW in Sweden to repair my Vanos at practically no cost (I love this board ).
I did not realise that I had such fit car. It has really surprised me now that all the little bits and pieces in the engine work as they should. Amazing!!
By the way, this is not the only problem this board has helped me solve.
I though that I should let you know what happened on my end...BMW paid for the parts and I paid for the labor...ie. ~$2,500 for the unit and $570 for the labor..
Thanks,
Bryan
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Gates
Dinan: Chip, Throttle Body, Cold Air Pckg., FreeFlow Exhaust, Stage III Suspension, Differential.
Not too bad, I think.
It is very reassuring to have the support of the people on this board so one can tell BMW that there are "financial solutions" in other places of the world, so why not with me?!
Vanos problem
The technician was a bit puzzled and called for a colleague. This person said "Look in the service bulletins. I think there is a problem with the O-rings in the Vanos magnetic vale on the second cylinder bank (cyls 5 - 8)". There was a service bulletin stating just that. Grate, just an O-ring to change. Well, not quite....
I understand fully, as for reasons untold, I soon will have to pay for some accident damage out of my own pocket.
).
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