What Exactly Is Vanos Failure, And What Does It Do

[BMW-ATI]

Question? like what exactly is VANOS failure
and wat does it do to your engine, and is it serious etc, .cost alot?

[93 325i]

Basically your engine will lag in the lower RPM's. The vanos will emit a rattling noise when it is shot. To replace i've heard as much as $1000 parts and labor. The part at the dealer is $435..

[BMW-ATI]

oh, does it happen often?

[ILiveToRide]

No not really often.
Was a problem with the first double vanos units in S50's but you didn't even get it if I have understood it correctly.

You don't have to replace the whole unit, but BMW allways do it anyway.

It's is common that it rattles a few seconds after start up, but that isn't a problem.

[ridikuledind]

i think mine rattles when my car is in reverse and then when im starting to go. I'm going to replace it this summer...so if anyone has anymore info on the VANOS let me kjnow...thanks.
ridikuledind@yahoo.com

[triggrhaapi]

Originally posted by 93 325i@May 12 2005, 05:50 AM
Basically your engine will lag in the lower RPM's. The vanos will emit a rattling noise when it is shot. To replace i've heard as much as $1000 parts and labor. The part at the dealer is $435..

[snapback]343631[/snapback]

99% of all failures are caused by a $100 solenoid that a monkey could replace by hand. Some rare cases involve the unit itself, even rarer is the timing chain tensioner failure.

Best bet is to replace the solenoid and see if that remedies the problem. The dealer charges $100 to diagnose a VANOS problem and that doesn't include parts or labor. If it's not the solenoid, no big deal, consider it preventative maintenance.

[dutchbmw]

There is a little filter in the VANOS unit too. It's the left screw in the red circle. When it is almost blocked there can be start a rattling noise. (I don't know if other 6-cylinders have this, maybe it's only for the euro M3 engines)

[triggrhaapi]

US spec E36 motors are single VANOS only.

[ridikuledind]

Where is the solenoid and how do you replace it? If it goes bad will it make a noise?

[triggrhaapi]

too complex to describe, buy a bentley, they have a write up about changing the solenoid and the VANOS unit itself. You're on your own for figuring out how to change the chain tensioner tho.