05 VANOS Failure Opinion

G550PLT · Sun, Oct-24-2010, 07:46:14 PM

The dreaded VANOS failure got me. The other morning, I drove to work, and all seemed perfect in the world. After getting off the interstate, I stopped at the first traffic light, and noticed my car was now idleing like a topfuel dragster! No SES, or other indications on the cluster.. just the idle. Hoping it would clear itself, I parked at work, and turned off the car, hoping this was just a bad dream. That afternoon I came out, and there again was the dragster idle.

SO I hooked up my Peake reader and pulled the codes, they were..

B8 = Intake camshaft position and control
B9 = Exhaust camshaft position and cotrol
CD = Misfire during warup cylinder 1
CE = Misfire during warup cylinder 2
CF = Misfire during warup cylinder 3
D0 = Misfire during warup cylinder 4
D1 = Misfire during warup cylinder 5
D2 = Misfire during warup cylinder 6
D5 = Misfire during warup, multiple cylinders

So right away I suspected VANOS.. the weird part is, I check my car all the time with my scanner, and it has NEVER thrown a single VANOS code!

I took it in to my Indy shop, they are giving me the estimate at appox. $1800 parts and labor to R/R the whole VANOS with a rebuilt unit from Dr. Vanos, and while they are in there replaceing the bad bolts with the newer dash number bolts. They havnt opened it up yet, but the car never made a bad noise at idle, so I guess in the end Im kinda relieved that my "VANOS Failure story" wasn't the one ending with a motor swap. (I think)

You guys all agree with doing the whole unit over, or should I have them just do the solenoid pack first? How does the price sound?

Thanks for the ear guys! It's been a rough few days!

twboy1999 · Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:20:28 PM

$1800 to fix it is not bad at all

**chraostech** · Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:36:07 PM

i talked to raj from beisan systems before i got my vanos issues resolved...apparently, dr.vanos doesn't do much in terms of rebuilding the vanos, just cleans it up and makes it look good and replaces a few seals....from what raj told me, it sounded like he was disappointed that dr. vanos was charging so much for what it is he is actually doing....now, im not trying to knock on dr. vanos, this is just what I heard and would love to be proven wrong

maveric23 · Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:37:56 PM

Your problem could be simply the solenoid. If it is, then it's a waste of money to replace the actuator too.

Therefore, I recommend that you try replacing the solenoid first. If it doesn't work, then you can replace the VANOS actuator only (not the entire unit with the solenoid) with a rebuilt unit.

G550PLT · Mon, Oct-25-2010, 01:52:27 AM

I wonder if anyone reading this maybe could feedback about their VANOS rebuild from Dr. Vanos?

excessive · Mon, Oct-25-2010, 03:59:17 AM

I have a hard time understanding how the shop can give you a price quote for a new actuator install without even opening up the valve cover!?! Must be psychics

Alchemist753 · Mon, Oct-25-2010, 04:23:34 PM

+1 ^

Sounds very $tealerlike... They jump to replace both actuator and solenoid without further investigation.

Those codes the OP posted look AWFULLY familiar (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=292233)... I'd go with the solenoid, which BTW, now goes for $472.63 at Tischer (!!!)

G550PLT · Tue, Oct-26-2010, 12:07:21 AM

I appreciate the input... I wanted to get those high risk bolts replaced anyway.. and Im only 5k away from my Inspection II at 60k. So I decided to go ahead and do the Vanos swap, replace the old bolts with the new ones, and do the valve job while they have it apart. All of that for $2200 seems ok to me.

G550PLT · Tue, Oct-26-2010, 12:12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excessive

I have a hard time understanding how the shop can give you a price quote for a new actuator install without even opening up the valve cover!?! Must be psychics

Your right, they are opening it up on Thursday.. these numbers are based on the assumption its just the Vanos.. with no internal damage.. keeping my fingers crossed!

G550PLT · Wed, Oct-27-2010, 01:55:41 AM

IMG_0110.jpg

IMG_0112.jpgWell guys.. looks like Im not getting off so easy after all... Turns out after opening the motor up today I had the two ends snap off of the part that sits on the spline gear.. and one stayed in the Vanos unit .. the other went for a dive through the motor... no luck finding it.. so we hope it is in the oil pan... not sure yet.. unfortunately ..the part that broke is almost $1000 just for it... so the bill just go much bigger! This sucks

Sun, Oct-24-2010, 07:46:14 PM	#1
G550PLT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 544 Reputation: 0 Location: Lake Worth	05 VANOS Failure Opinion The dreaded VANOS failure got me. The other morning, I drove to work, and all seemed perfect in the world. After getting off the interstate, I stopped at the first traffic light, and noticed my car was now idleing like a topfuel dragster! No SES, or other indications on the cluster.. just the idle. Hoping it would clear itself, I parked at work, and turned off the car, hoping this was just a bad dream. That afternoon I came out, and there again was the dragster idle. SO I hooked up my Peake reader and pulled the codes, they were.. B8 = Intake camshaft position and control B9 = Exhaust camshaft position and cotrol CD = Misfire during warup cylinder 1 CE = Misfire during warup cylinder 2 CF = Misfire during warup cylinder 3 D0 = Misfire during warup cylinder 4 D1 = Misfire during warup cylinder 5 D2 = Misfire during warup cylinder 6 D5 = Misfire during warup, multiple cylinders So right away I suspected VANOS.. the weird part is, I check my car all the time with my scanner, and it has NEVER thrown a single VANOS code! I took it in to my Indy shop, they are giving me the estimate at appox. $1800 parts and labor to R/R the whole VANOS with a rebuilt unit from Dr. Vanos, and while they are in there replaceing the bad bolts with the newer dash number bolts. They havnt opened it up yet, but the car never made a bad noise at idle, so I guess in the end Im kinda relieved that my "VANOS Failure story" wasn't the one ending with a motor swap. (I think) You guys all agree with doing the whole unit over, or should I have them just do the solenoid pack first? How does the price sound? Thanks for the ear guys! It's been a rough few days!

Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:37:56 PM	#4
maveric23 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,527 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Santa Monica	Your problem could be simply the solenoid. If it is, then it's a waste of money to replace the actuator too. Therefore, I recommend that you try replacing the solenoid first. If it doesn't work, then you can replace the VANOS actuator only (not the entire unit with the solenoid) with a rebuilt unit. __________________ Do you wish that Double VANOS never existed? Vote! 2004 Silver Gray/Black M3 Convertible

Mon, Oct-25-2010, 04:23:34 PM	#7
Alchemist753 2003.07 E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 189 Reputation: 0 Location: SC	I'd go with the solenoid +1 ^ Sounds very $tealerlike... They jump to replace both actuator and solenoid without further investigation. Those codes the OP posted look AWFULLY familiar (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=292233)... I'd go with the solenoid, which BTW, now goes for $472.63 at Tischer (!!!) Last edited by Alchemist753; Mon, Oct-25-2010 at 04:39:39 PM.

Wed, Oct-27-2010, 01:55:41 AM	#10
G550PLT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 544 Reputation: 0 Location: Lake Worth	IMG_0110.jpg IMG_0112.jpgWell guys.. looks like Im not getting off so easy after all... Turns out after opening the motor up today I had the two ends snap off of the part that sits on the spline gear.. and one stayed in the Vanos unit .. the other went for a dive through the motor... no luck finding it.. so we hope it is in the oil pan... not sure yet.. unfortunately ..the part that broke is almost $1000 just for it... so the bill just go much bigger! This sucks Last edited by G550PLT; Wed, Oct-27-2010 at 03:05:04 AM.

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Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:20:28 PM	#2
twboy1999 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,305 Reputation: 0 Location: Toronto	$1800 to fix it is not bad at all

Sun, Oct-24-2010, 08:36:07 PM	#3
chraostech Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Age: 27 Posts: 179 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Rocky Top	i talked to raj from beisan systems before i got my vanos issues resolved...apparently, dr.vanos doesn't do much in terms of rebuilding the vanos, just cleans it up and makes it look good and replaces a few seals....from what raj told me, it sounded like he was disappointed that dr. vanos was charging so much for what it is he is actually doing....now, im not trying to knock on dr. vanos, this is just what I heard and would love to be proven wrong

Mon, Oct-25-2010, 01:52:27 AM	#5
G550PLT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 544 Reputation: 0 Location: Lake Worth	I wonder if anyone reading this maybe could feedback about their VANOS rebuild from Dr. Vanos?

Mon, Oct-25-2010, 03:59:17 AM	#6
excessive Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 705 Reputation: 0	I have a hard time understanding how the shop can give you a price quote for a new actuator install without even opening up the valve cover!?! Must be psychics

Tue, Oct-26-2010, 12:07:21 AM	#8
G550PLT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 544 Reputation: 0 Location: Lake Worth	I appreciate the input... I wanted to get those high risk bolts replaced anyway.. and Im only 5k away from my Inspection II at 60k. So I decided to go ahead and do the Vanos swap, replace the old bolts with the new ones, and do the valve job while they have it apart. All of that for $2200 seems ok to me.