Dr Vanos Kit makes a HUGE difference!

**Obioban** · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 03:18:52 PM

A friend of mine (who bought my old daily driver e36 m3 but doesn't post much on here) came over yesterday and installed the Dr. Vanos kit on his (my former) 96 M3 with 156,000 miles on it. This is one of the most impressive changes I've ever seen! I drove the car from ~80,000 to ~115,000 miles and while the vanos rattled a bit, it wasn't any more than any other e36s I came in contact with, and not enough to make me think anything wrong with the car. Turns out... couldn't have been more wrong. With the freshened VANOS (hopefully not to turn bad again) the only way to describe the engine is SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH

Justin (who owns the car now) claim's there's more low/mid torque, but i hadn't really driven it recently enough to feel the difference there. But the way it felt-- unbelievable!

So, yeah... moral of the story: Dr Vanos kit is totally worth it. Install is totally DIYable if you're competent. Do it if you're hearing the rattle, you'll LOVE it

And a pic from mid install, just because i have it:

Pretty wear free for 156,000 miles!

**PurduinaM3** · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 03:22:09 PM

Did he go with stage 1 or stage 2?

This is definitely on my winter list of things that need to be done... just recently mine has started to get noisier, and it really bothers me now.

**Obioban** · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:00:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurduinaM3

Did he go with stage 1 or stage 2?

This is definitely on my winter list of things that need to be done... just recently mine has started to get noisier, and it really bothers me now.

Just stage 1

hencini · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:04:48 PM

Grrrr... Yeah, this is on my list... Another ~$300 that I don't *want* to spend, but probably need to...

Glad to hear it made such a difference!!

shaeff · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 04:56:35 PM

Nice, this is also on my list. (going Stage 2)- If I free- rev the motor, I get a very slight rattle right before it reaches idle. And just idling, it rattles a small amount, most people don't notice.

**Obioban** · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:02:41 PM

Review by him:

Quote:

So I replaced my VANOS unit yesterday with a Dr. VANOS kit, at 156,000 miles.* Thanks to Ian, Brian, and Salif (friend of mine) for teh helps.* Observations thus far:

-* Totally smooth and linear power delivery
-* Better throttle response, so the car is easier to drive smoothly
-* More low-end torque
-* No more vibration at low RPMs under throttle
-* Much less exhaust noise (it sounded kinda boomy before)
-* Engine no longer sounds like a wind-up toy

The repair went really well.* Some of it took care and patience (torquing bolts, finding TDC and locking the engine, etc.), but that's all to be expected.* Aside from a poorly oriented coolant hose clamp, there were no surprises.

The valvetrain looked CLEAN.* There were signs of light cam wear but almost no varnish.* Pics attached, although it actually looked better in person because you can tell where the bronze spots are oil films instead of varnish.

Great success IMO.

///sleeper · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:37:37 PM

I'll vouch for their products as well! Prob one of the best $300-some-odd chunks I've spent on my car...I had the vanos replaced about 5 years ago by a shop in town and they used a bmw refurb vanos, it was making noise immediately after the install, to the point that I took it back and they did it again with another refurb unit and got the same result...This past summer I finally decided to do the Dr. Vanos myself and could not be happier with the results! You wont be bummed by spending the money on this if your vanos is making a racket

edit: Performance-wise, I noticed the power-band was noticeably smoother after the install

M3Works4Me · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:43:54 PM

I noticed mine had more mid & low tq when I did the stage II kit as well.

The thing is, my old vanos was not making any unusual noise, I just changed it as a preemptive strike.

OahuMPower · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 07:48:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Works4Me

I noticed mine had more mid & low tq when I did the stage II kit as well.

The thing is, my old vanos was not making any unusual noise, I just changed it as a preemptive strike.

my plan as well

BleedsBlue · Mon, Oct-05-2009, 08:10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OahuMPower

my plan as well

+2. At almost 160k, I'm disregarding how strong the engine 'feels', and throwing on a kit soon-ish. Not sure whether I'll go I or II.

Mon, Oct-05-2009, 03:18:52 PM	#1
Obioban M3Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 23,575 In the garage: '95 BMW M3 '05 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: SE PA	Dr Vanos Kit makes a HUGE difference! A friend of mine (who bought my old daily driver e36 m3 but doesn't post much on here) came over yesterday and installed the Dr. Vanos kit on his (my former) 96 M3 with 156,000 miles on it. This is one of the most impressive changes I've ever seen! I drove the car from ~80,000 to ~115,000 miles and while the vanos rattled a bit, it wasn't any more than any other e36s I came in contact with, and not enough to make me think anything wrong with the car. Turns out... couldn't have been more wrong. With the freshened VANOS (hopefully not to turn bad again) the only way to describe the engine is SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH Justin (who owns the car now) claim's there's more low/mid torque, but i hadn't really driven it recently enough to feel the difference there. But the way it felt-- unbelievable! So, yeah... moral of the story: Dr Vanos kit is totally worth it. Install is totally DIYable if you're competent. Do it if you're hearing the rattle, you'll LOVE it And a pic from mid install, just because i have it: Pretty wear free for 156,000 miles! __________________ Current Cars: 2005 IR/IR M3, 2003 TiAg M5, 1995 S50 B32 GT3 RS Green M3 Race Car _____Former Cars: 2004 TiAg/IR M3, 1996 TV/black M3, 1995 AW M3 shell Useful stuff: Objective suspension comparison, DIY suspension install VIDEOS (e36 version), Stick Driving Basics, e46 Climate Control, Better Fuel Economy 101, 10W-60 TWS Everything on the car: Mod List __________ HighRes M Wallpapers (Misc collected pics) <--- save target to desktop Selling: Suspensions, brakes, safety equipment, etc (ask away!) Renting: Valve shim adjustment kit, RTAB tool, Ball joint tool Clearing out the garage: Used TCK camber plates, Imperfect fitment Scorza CSL trunk, CHEAP snow tires

Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:04:48 PM	#4
hencini Carlos is My Co-Pilot Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,547 Reputation: 0 Location: Near the Tannhäuser Gate	Grrrr... Yeah, this is on my list... Another ~$300 that I don't want to spend, but probably need to... Glad to hear it made such a difference!! __________________ 75 years and 350,000 miles of fun: 1998 M3/4/5 No mods, just maintenance 1983 CJ-7 No maintenance, just mods 1983 R65LS No intention of modding it, don't know how to maintain it

Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:37:37 PM	#7
///sleeper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,570 Reputation: 0 Location: Denver	I'll vouch for their products as well! Prob one of the best $300-some-odd chunks I've spent on my car...I had the vanos replaced about 5 years ago by a shop in town and they used a bmw refurb vanos, it was making noise immediately after the install, to the point that I took it back and they did it again with another refurb unit and got the same result...This past summer I finally decided to do the Dr. Vanos myself and could not be happier with the results! You wont be bummed by spending the money on this if your vanos is making a racket edit: Performance-wise, I noticed the power-band was noticeably smoother after the install __________________ Mike Last edited by ///sleeper; Mon, Oct-05-2009 at 05:49:29 PM.

Mon, Oct-05-2009, 05:43:54 PM	#8
M3Works4Me learn to drive it or park it! Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,207 Reputation: 0	I noticed mine had more mid & low tq when I did the stage II kit as well. The thing is, my old vanos was not making any unusual noise, I just changed it as a preemptive strike. __________________ '99 Estoril Blue ///M3, A few common mods, lots of driver training track days, a respectful performance driving attitude, and excellent tires. Member of the local car club driver training team.

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Mon, Oct-05-2009, 03:22:09 PM	#2
PurduinaM3 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 27 Posts: 15,677 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '05 AUDI A4 Reputation: 0 Location: White Plains, NY	Did he go with stage 1 or stage 2? This is definitely on my winter list of things that need to be done... just recently mine has started to get noisier, and it really bothers me now.

Mon, Oct-05-2009, 04:56:35 PM	#5
shaeff Maintenance FTW Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 840 Reputation: 0 Location: Tivoli	Nice, this is also on my list. (going Stage 2)- If I free- rev the motor, I get a very slight rattle right before it reaches idle. And just idling, it rattles a small amount, most people don't notice.