Is Vanos Bad?

[EllieeM95]

Hey,

Looking on doing a engine conversion in our E30 1.8
As this is our first BMW, We are abit unsure of the pro's and con's.
I've been looking at the M52TUB Engine, 2.8.

It say's it is twin vanos, I'm assuming this is BMW's version of VVC/VVT/V-Tech
However I've heard that BMW Vanos is unreliable? is this the case and if so why?

Also, is the M52TUB Easily Modified? If so, How? what is needed to chase HP?

I've found this one on eBay, if anyone could also tell me if the ecu would just go right into the e30 or not? as in is it plug and play or does it need to be wiped etc?

Cheers guys|?

[P_VIDDY]

Here is everything you need...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Swap_-_M5x

As regards the vanos... Not a problem on m52.

But you need the older single vanos engine. The TUB would be a lot harder to fit

[ross_jsy]

You want an m52b28, not the TUB. It's useable, but a lot of hassle.

VANOS is great, it can have problems with the seals going hard but they are easily fixable.

m52's are easy to get a bit more horsepower from. Fit an m50b25 inlet manifold and a remap and you will see 210-220hp.

The loom will need modifying, along with the manifolds. You can purchase these from a member called DanThe to make it plug and play. He can also sort you out with mapping.

[Kos]

vanos is great thing. Regular servicing ensures they run properly. As said before it is just the seals that pack up which are simple enough to change

look up "Dan_The" as he can supply the relevant parts needed to make is simple bolt in conversion and up graded vans seals for the M52

[HairyScreech]

I think the reason vanos is considered the weak point is everything else on the engine is so damn solid.

A 200k M5x engine is normal and the vanos seals can get grumpy around 100-150k.

Other VVT engines would be long dead by this mileage or have other significant issues to worry about.

They really are no trouble at all and worst case its a seal kit and rebuild.

[daveodonnell]

Cheers guys. Just looking at a 323i e46 it says it's a 2.5 am assuming that it doesn't have vanos? We're as a 325iwould? Is there any other different?

[Brianmoooore]

323i is a M52 engine, 325i is a M54. Both have at least single vanos.

[HairyScreech]

However just to confuse things both are 2.5l engines.

Early E46 is M52B25 323i and M52B28 328i and the later E46 is M54B25 325i and M52B30 330i.

[daveodonnell]

So how is there a power different between the 323i and the 325i?

[Brianmoooore]

For the same reason that the M52B28 (2.8 litre) develops the same power (almost) as the older 2.5 litre M50B25. They are fitted with a restrictive inlet manifold, which increase torque at the expense of peak power.

[tomson]

Any engine from an E46 will be twin vanos, any from an E36 will be single.
Vanos on these old engines is pretty reliable and easy to fix, it is however a completely different ballgame on some of the newer stuff...

[HairyScreech]

Having done an E46 M54 vanos and have to say it was the easiest vanos I have worked on.
Very simple procedure to do.

You can do the vanos on an M54 without even moving the helical adjusters from the cams, so without needing to retime the engine.

http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures ... cedure.htm

[tomson]

The S54 is a glorified M50 though isn't it, wasn't really a huge step forward for BMW imo...

Try replacing the spring plates on a S62 or S85, it's a lot more involved then just swapping the solenoid O rings, as are the potential repair costs if you get it wrong

[DanThe]

The S54 is a glorified M50 though isn't it, wasn't really a huge step forward for BMW imo...

To a blind man at 50 paces maybe, at least you can fix the older stuff with spanners!

[tomson]

My point Dan was its not that much better than an an S50...
... especially when you compare the jump from S54 to S65

An S50 E36 with a lightened flywheel is as quick up to 100 as the S54 E46, I've tried it

Yes agreed on the new things being a different technical level, the S62 isn't too bad though to be fair

[tomson]

And I've just read it again and realised it was an M54 that was mentioned, not an S54

[DanThe]

Lol

S54 is a massive step forward from S50 IMO, the management alone is so much better and more reliable, I'm only really just getting stuck into the S54's but I've already seen a standard engine make 390hp with mapping and just intake and exhaust mods

FYI my M52 track car is quicker than an S50 car on the 1/4 mile, I've not yet seen an S50 conversion do a quicker time and I've been doing the santa pod show since it started! Does this make an M52 better than an S50?

[reggid]

what trapspeed and weight Dan? that tells you the hp, the time is all about traction and driver skills.

S54 seems to respond very well to mods but rod bearings, vanos are potential catastrophes, still well worth it though. there are many aftermarket parts and support compared to the S50. it just makes more power and is one of BMWs best