Locking Down the Vanos

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

We are aware that the Vanos on the S52 Evo engine can be locked down by using the Exhaust Cam Sprockets from the 3.0 Ltr engine.
These Sprockets lock the cams in the 'full' position.

We are currently building a S54 M3 Engine for a Project Car and require that the Vanos is locked down.

Does anybody know what the proceedure is for Locking down the Vanos on the S54 M3 engine ?

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[maxfield]

try www.m3forum.net

[GermanGorilla]

Hi Maxfield,

Thanks for the suggestion, I took a bowse through their Racing Forum, but it was very limited in the sort of content we require.

Thanks all the same.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[jaistanley]

Did the Americans receive the S54 lump? If so you're laughing. There is bound to be a product already.. Try the american M3 forums (whatever they may be!).

Sorry I can't help any further or come up with a nice OEM parts suggestion.

I am interested in your suggestion of using the exhaust sprockets of a 3 litre exhaust (I assume this is because this cam doesn't have vanos and is the correct pitch and fitting for the chain and cams). Is this a well established way of doing this? What are your sources?

I have an S50B32 and am dreading the idea of the vanos failing and having to fork out a fortune on parts. If mine went I think I'd ditch it if possible. Gives the flexibility of using an aftermarket ecu later on too I spose.

Many thanks..

Jai

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

Yes North America did receive the S54 in all its glory, Dual Vanos as well this time, but due to their emissions, it makes 333 BHP, not 345 BHP as in Europe. The E36 S52, which in the N/A M3, was nothing more than a 260 BHP M52 engine, with no Vanos, which was geared so that it could hit 60mph in 5.7 secs but had a top speed of approx 132 mph.

With regard to the S52 Evo engine and using the M3 3.0 ltr Exhaust Cam sprockets to lock out the Vanos, this is a well documeneted and proven conversion.

Taffy at XLMotorsport who posts on this Forum has just done this for a Race engine project.
If you go this route you can also bin the S52 ECU, EWS, and use a good aftermarket ECU, which does then not require to be able to function for Dual Vanos. A lot cheaper.

The trade off is that fuel consumptiom will increase with the Vanos locked down.

On the S54, I have found some neat but expensive Adjustable Cam Sprockets, that will allow the Dual Vanos to be locked down, so that we can tune the engine to our specs.

If you do delete the Vanos on your project engine, I would seriously recommend the ARP Titaniuim Big End Bolts, at high revs the standard bolts stretch, then let go and then its good bye engine. They cost about 220.00 for the set and are easy to do with the sump pan off.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Turbo-Brown]

How much power are the S52 engines making with the cams locked?

Only ask as I've read in a couple of places that the cams revert to the idle position at full revs.

Very interesting this though! I've got an S52 motor and an aftermarket ECU which can control the dual VANOS, but it'd cost mega bucks to get mapped with the cam mapping to do too. If I can still get over 300bhp without the VANOS, I'd be well chuffed! It's only gotta lug 900kgs around so lacking low end torque shouldn't be a problem

[jaistanley]

With the cams locked to the max position the torque (therefore power) will be the same surely? Only the power where the vanos used to increase torque will be affected. ie, low down.

Good point about the con rod bolts. People always drive to their engine's max torque. Move it up the rev range and you'll always be revving higher before changing gear etc, just through habit in the end. Are the bolts a major problem? I ask because I have a standard engine to fit soon, will have the sump off anyway but I can't really afford the uprated bolts. Is it worth me crippling myself now in order to prevent a repair bill or aren't they that bad as standard? I'll be keeping the revs to sensible levels at first anyway, fitting the std 15" wheels until I can afford 17" wheels, tyres and front hubcentric adaptors for brake disks and wheels.

One point of detail: Do you mean the american s52b32 engine or the euro s50b32 (the proper one) when talking about swapping cam sprockets? Stupid american engine designation is throwing me off track. They should have had different engine codes, they're different engines!

Jai

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

With the Torqe [power] you are correct, the increases are lower down, although some Engine Tuners think that the Vanos retardes the engine at full power, only slightly, hence they allege small gains at the top end.

Engine Bolts, if you can afford it, do it, if not, I would rev limit the engine lower than standard.
The standard bolts stretch, and this cure is so easy to do with the engine out of the car.

This engine, the Euro S52, is known for Vanos issues, and thrown rods, due to the bolts stretching, and then letting go.

My reference to the S52 engine is about the Euro version, apart from where I mentioned the Non Vanos version that went to N.A.

The bottom end of the Euros S52 is the same as the S54, its only the head and cams and Vanos design that changed on the S54.
The S54 still suffers Vanos issues, hence why I require to remove it, and has had some issues with a batch of weak Big End Bearings on the Feb 2002 -June 2003 build date engines, something I would check and do before installing anyway.

Hope that helps,

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Turbo-Brown]

Sorry to drag this topic up again but I've suddenly become very interested in the S52 again now I've started redesigning my chassis for it to fit into!

Only really wondered what sort of rev limit you can get away with if you change the rod bolts to the Ti ones.

I quite fancy having an absolute screamer!

Just out of interest, the S54 revs to something like 7900rpm as standard doesn't it? Take it the rod bolts from those don't interchange into the S52 do they?

Cheers!

Alex

[Gunni]

to identify a little

there where no S52 euro´s

you can bolt on a S50B30 head on a B32 block and reverse,

the B30 head it two piece while the B32 is single piece

If you lock the cams you have to decide on the location of the torque curve, wich will then layout the power curve as well, making adjustable cam gear idel for dialiing in the correct location,

[Turbo-Brown]

Pretty sure the B32 head is in two pieces too, there's a line of sealand around it, like it's built up in two layers.

[Gunni]

Pretty sure the B32 head is in two pieces too, there's a line of sealand around it, like it's built up in two layers.

trust me it´s not,

[Turbo-Brown]

Aah, sorry only just realised I'd put S52! Meant S30:



Wonder what this line of sealand around the back of the head's all about then!

Also, back to the original question, does anyone know what these can be revved to with uprated rod bolts?