Adjusting M42 cam sprocket

[Cypriotgeeza]

hmm just read this and am now wondering how easy this is to do? has anyone done it if so is there a step by step guide?

"Adjust the cam timing - You know how on the E30 M3 you have to buy a $300 kit with adjustable cam sprockets to tune your cam timing? Not on the 318iS! The M42 is equipped with tunable cam sprockets from the factory. So pull your Cosmoline covered valve cover off and with the proper tools you can tweak your intake and exhaust cams up to 6 degrees +/- to provide more top end horsepower or more low end torque. See, you don’t have to blow a grand on a set of Schrick cams to make your M42’s cams a little hotter. The best setup is to adjust the intake cam to 5 degrees (advanced) and leave the exhaust cam alone. I would recommend having a shop do this work"

[Cypriotgeeza]

so ill take that as a no.. lol

[B15NAC]

yea i did this to my last one before i sold it! it makes it better but 5 degrees seemed to make it bad driving in town! so i would day 3 degrees. i think 5 is the most you can go before bending valves

[asmith88]

i remember reading this myself, but i would imagine the response you will get from most people will be bmw set it at this so its already at optimum.

interesting though and id like to hear if people have done it

[Cypriotgeeza]

yea i did this to my last one before i sold it! it makes it better but 5 degrees seemed to make it bad driving in town! so i would day 3 degrees. i think 5 is the most you can go before bending valves

Thanx for a reply mate! Sounds interesting and definantly something i want to look into.. prob do a step by step if i decide to do it..

How noticable was the improvement?

[Cypriotgeeza]

i remember reading this myself, but i would imagine the response you will get from most people will be bmw set it at this so its already at optimum.

interesting though and id like to hear if people have done it

I was thinking this also, but then im thinking about the stories of them making it slightly underpowered so it wont be able to complete with the more expensive 325i that they were selling

Like i said going to look into this a bit more and maybe do it one sunday..

[Cypriotgeeza]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=98721

hmm interesting

[B15NAC]

well it did make it better but only a tad!! i just took the rocker cover off turnned the crank and locked the flywheel in tdc with a drill bit than looked at the 2 flats on the cams to make sure they were still at factory settings. Next i un did the 11 mm bolts on the sproket then turnned the cam just slightly then locked the 11mm bolts back up took the drill bit out and turn engine over by hand to make sure nothing was hitting then job done!! rocker cover back on and sorted!!

[Tonyy93]

i did mine couldnt tell you by how much but it wasnt alot maybe 4-5 degrees, it does make it run a little lumpy which most people will tell you who have done it. But it did make a noticable differnence not massive but noticable