E46 M3 VANOS Failure - Why it happens + how to fix it with Mr VANOS - M3 CSL + Z3 M Coupe S54

Having been around E46 M3's and the S54 engine inside them for a very long time, we've always known of the VANOS issues these cars have such as being noisy, rattle, lazy actuation, broken bolts and leaking oil to name a few, and that a specialist can fix them. But why do they fail and how is it fixed?
We invited Steve from Mr VANOS down to carry out the full service on our M3 CSL and Z3 M Coupe. Steve runs us through the job, tears apart our old VANOS unit and gives us all the info.
And the proof is in the pudding when Imran takes the M3 CSL out for a drive after - It made good power on the dyno, so would we notice any difference?
Get your car booked in for this service here -
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#VANOS #S54 #E46M3 #M3CSL #Z3M #MCoupe #MrVANOS

[@leekindell9937]

Well I had my mint e46 m3 done. Rod bearings were already done and boot floor done, so thought I’d treat it to new vanos. Steve came out to my house and did my car in my garage. Hassle free. Didn’t take too long and the car drives so good I love it.

[@blacknight1003]

I know this guy, Mr Vanos. He was a great help when I had problems with my BMW back in the day. I dont think that there is a more knowledgeable guy when it comes to BMWs. He even builds the engines from bare blocks. Good to see you again.

[@Hcarmad]

A clear difference after Mr Vanos did his thing, definitely worth doing, the engines noticeably more responsive. Great video 👌🏽

[@bobmartin5101]

The joy on your face, says it all.....nice job.

[@Segafishy]

I can fully vouch for these guys, my Cars original Vanos unit shit itself several years back and even though I was happy to try and get it to them the chap made the 150 mile drive down and did it at my home and then did the drive back all in the same day, Cars been stored since but up until the day it rolled into its space it didn't miss a beat even when driven in anger, if you're UK based these are the guys to go to.

[@Peanutdenver]

I wonder when that time will come when mechanical petrol heads will be replaced by programming petrol heads. I thought about this as the vanos was being rebuilt for this CSL and how much I enjoy all of the detailing you guys provide along with Mr Vanos. I'll miss those days when ICE become and ancient relic of the past and programmers, battery scholars and electrical engineers are the ones who you take your car too for more speed and mods. Great vid as always Evolve.

[@shadquirk607]

Never happen, ever. At the end of the day it's a mechanical object, even electric cars are full of mechanical parts, physical parts that wear or break. No programming will ever be able to fix or repair a mechanical object. It's a false belief that programming is somehow taking over mechanical knowledge, the simple fact is cars are getting more complicated. The mechanical expertise needed now is far beyond anything imagined by a standard mechanic in the 1990's. Jesus, just think about a mechanic from 1980, the beginning of widespread computer controlled injection, turning up today to work on an AMG V8 lol. The actual trend is towards more complicated mechanicals, not simpler. Along side this is more programming, but this has become simpler over time while mechanical engineering has got harder and more complicated. You got it backwards mate, check out Haltecs new ecu's, they're literally plug and play, no tuning needed. I'd love to see a modern tuner take on one of the old ecu's like the Magnetti stuff from Ferrari in the 80's, they'd be completely lost lol.

[@matthewpiedt6177]

Really enjoy these type of tech vids.

[@ishhussain2099]

Brilliant video Imran! Kudos to Mr Vanos

[@greezieeez7796]

Great content really enjoyed watching it and mr-vanos himself 👍

[@AnagramAutoclassics]

Thanks, Imran. Very grateful that you've introduced Steve to us - this is fascinating stuff. I'm amazed that BMW used parts that failed in period. That slow decline in power is very difficult to define until the engine is back at 'factory fresh' and you realise how good it can be.

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Thanks for watching! Honestly didn't think it would make as much difference as it did.

[@howarddavies136]

He did mine last Wednesday. The difference is night and day 👌

[@russtaylor4242]

Love this content, thank you guys. I'll certainly take my car to Mr. Vanos for preventative work and to know everything is on the money.

[@zloklau]

This is Epic! I don't own any of these cars with this engine or I am planning to get. BUT I like this content of the deep info about it, after all It's one of the most loved and talked about engine. Which is one of the masterpiece for BMW of all time. I am sure everyone who own these engine want to have mechanic like him!

[@chrisdalton5521]

I did the VAC strengthened Exhaust hub + Mr. Vanos solenoid. Works great

[@williamoakes664]

Enjoyed that thanks 👍🏼

[@BryceBrown1]

Great vid, both the technical side and especially the last minute of having fun enjoying the car. That's what it's all about! 👍

[@EvolveAutomotive]

No point doing the maintenance if you don’t get out and enjoy it! Cars are made to be driven and there isn’t much better than the CSL.

[@BryceBrown1]

@@EvolveAutomotive I'd go so far as to say that driving also is a part of maintenance, the most fun part! 👊

[@claudioagmfilho]

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, Awesome video! And he was correct, talking about Mr. Vanos, as the E46 M3 VANOS system is one of the weak spots on an otherwise fantastic engine. The VANOS is BMW's variable valve timing system that changes camshaft timing to boost low end torque without losing top end power. Awesome video Imran and keep up the good work, you have lots of fans from Brazil.

[@hackengineering5586]

Glad to hear fewer of the discs are being sleeved. Lost count of how many sleeved discs we've had to sort out.

[@Billyjack-Two-Crows]

The sound after 20:15 so nice!

[@roadmantop3769]

Brilliant video proper 👍👏❤️

[@richardpardo8827]

As always great video and noticeable difference …… E46 M3 CSL….. enough said 😎✌🏼

[@RobbieKhan]

Will be booking my VANOS service with them soon, it's time 😎

[@evo5349]

Imran you had a cheeky grin in that CSL.

[@pereldh5741]

Great video. You have to dismantle the whole radiator beam on a Z4M, right..?

[@efthymiosinepekoglou4730]

I hear the Clutch is slipping a lot in gear changes ...... maybe it’s time for replacement. The CSL Vanos before was too loud..now it’s ok! Well done

[@steifan]

Nice stuff! Looking forward to a new dyno test of the CSL :)

[@EvolveAutomotive]

As Steve said not sure we’d see anything obvious on the graph itself, under sustained full throttle like on the dyno (especially one where it is held under load) the ECU has time to adjust for the poor timing and chain stretch.

[@steifan]

@@EvolveAutomotive all right 😁 👍

[@Schnitzer325ci]

Hoonin' at the end. Can't blame you, what a car 👍🏽

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Its so good. Can't help myself!

[@dazsolimani2437]

Love the csl ❤️

[@prettyridesmedia]

Love it great video! I’m a s54 z4m owner here! Just subscribed.

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Welcome! We have some more goodies going on the M Coupe soon.

[@leekindell9937]

my 64,000 m3 feel like it should pick up a bit sooner, but engine sounds smooth no rattles at all from vanos, so not sure if i should splash out or just wait till i notice it sounding a little rougher?

[@pointaDNB]

Bmwflash sw made the car to start? Or does it was an ews aligment? Another doubt mate is the sport button working as with the original mss54 (non HP)? I expect to made this upgrade this year as soon as I have the money for all the parts involved. Nice work and thank you mate!

[@jhrodriguez08]

The Vanos service whether you do seals , replace hubs (cryo treated) , replace spline gears or time chain sprockets is not that difficult, the critical portion is keeping proper timing while torquing hub bolts

[@chrisg4rr377]

If you have the pump disc drilled correctly then there's no need to cryo treat the hubs

[@user-xl5iy1zl1m]

Wiol a bad vanos cause misfires with fuel cut off? I got the m54b30 2001 330ci

[@mrtamster12]

I always changed the vanos filter also, but Mr Vanos never mentioned this ???

[@thomaselli01]

I don’t know much about SMG but this sounds as if the clutch is slipping?

[@robertpassaro4089]

My rebuilt S54 got Mr. Vanos parts after my original MY 2005 engine’s rod bearings failed at 125k miles. Question: Seems the valve cover gasket went on completely dry, when the TIS suggests some sealant at the half moons. Comments? Thanks.

[@dayvid9824]

Off topic but can you guys do a video on the new F8x Evolve x Bilstein B6 dampers?

[@EvolveAutomotive]

We started filming that this week actually, Matt is on holiday for a bit but we’ll get it out when he’s back ✌🏻

[@gianniarduini3644]

Why weren’t the valve adjustments done at the same time

[@andyw30sey6]

Can you do a similar video for this on the e92 please?😊

[@EvolveAutomotive]

E9x M3 S65 has a very different VANOS system to these

[@andyw30sey6]

@@EvolveAutomotive all the more reason for your expertise in producing a video to educate us, Im sure it will go down as great viewing for the e9x community 😊

[@flippy9133]

22:45 sounds like the clutch is slipping?

[@tanvirhussain6106]

Definitely the metallic sound is gone after changing the chain and guides at 3-4k

[@km7101]

Did I see that right, no sealant used on the rocker cover gasket - on the moon shaped areas. These areas are the most likely for oil to leak from.

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Small dabs. Steve knows exactly what he is doing.

[@km7101]

@@EvolveAutomotive Yes indeed, Steve refurbished my VANOS many moons ago.

[@andrewpowell3398]

interesing they didn't show how they replaced the timing chain without removing the head and front timing chain cover, I know Mr Vanos have developed a way of doing it, but I guess its not something they are willing to share. Assume they must have a special tool to break a link and put it back together. I just replaced my timing chain without removing the head. I had the oil pan off to do the rod bearings, and I then removed the front timing chain cover. It was a bit of a concern to get it to seal against the head when putting it back together as it uses the existing head gasket. I used some RTV between the timing chain cover and the head and so far its been OK, no leaks.

[@honestdad8944]

Which is why I would boycott his products. Sharing information is what makes a car community great. But proffitt is king. The downplay on Raj’s solution is also kinda low. At one time Besian was pretty much the only option.

[@anidiotinaracingcar4874]

Overall, would you say the Vanos unit from the S50B32 is better than the one on the S54?

[@raduorban]

As a owner of a s50b32 and having stripped the vanos unit i can say it may be stronger but def more complicated and cost of repairing is almost the same so ... simpler is better 😁

[@Engineer10211]

I've got a 2007 Z4MC with 57k miles. It runs like new, but should the VANOS and timing chain, etc, be done preemptively?

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Totally up to you, as shown in the video we were pleased with the difference even though we thought they were running great! Can often be hard to tell without a fresh car to compare with.

[@rokuplayz464]

So as the M54 and M52tu vanos is fully variable also but it’s a completely different style of changing the cam timing. I wonder why bmw decided to go so completely different even tho both engines were produced during the same years

[@johnmitchell2269]

Because the S engines are higher compression ratio engines with a higher rev limit. Meaning different cam timing.

[@BitcoinKal]

Back in the day when I had a E36. Nobody could tell me what was wrong with it. It’s only now I realise it was most probably the Vanos unit 🤨

[@EvolveAutomotive]

For S50 VANOS you can check the E36 M3 video here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWqWq2tog7aNjJY

[@ShalomBrother]

The CSL sounded like a bag of spanner’s before on the back to back before and after! How come you don’t do the vanos works yourselves? You seem to do everything else

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Yeah until you hear it after you don’t realise quite how bad! It’s something we have never done before. Steve is the expert on this subject and has done hundreds if not thousands of these. Aston was shadowing him learning the process and this is a service we now offer, using a Mr VANOS refurbished unit.

[@luisislas2162]

FreeValve these cars!

[@declanmceleney7429]

The clutch is slipping on that CSL.

[@petereacmen716]

Would you mind pointing out a time index where you heard the clutch slipping? Interested to know what that sounds like.

[@flippy9133]

@@petereacmen716 22:45

[@bag2963]

What car is that on top? Red one.

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Golf Rallye

[@bag2963]

@@EvolveAutomotive Thank you, that's pretty cool, I didn't know about that infamous car...

[@l_f1n379]

5 years on unit? Weird on his site it says 2.. :/

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Website I believe is outdated, worth contacting directly for clarification.

[@Two-Stack]

So thankful I’m not a bmw guy

[@g.dubyou6263]

What happened to the G82, you sell it, already? 🤣last video; “we’re taking out the ECUs” did they get lost going to Russia/ Finland?

[@EvolveAutomotive]

The ECU got stuck in customs for a month 🙃 Tuning development currently in progress, videos soon, then it’s engine build time 😈

[@g.dubyou6263]

@@EvolveAutomotive oh, wow, they did get stuck. That’s crazy! I can’t wait I really want to see the engine build. Loved the M5 build. You guys really do the greatest, most interesting videos. Watching Achilles fit the Intake, now. Thank you for the reply. 🫡

[@meandthefamily1485]

Did anyone notice at 17.58 there is something in the intake that sucked in look at the mouth of intake 👍

[@EvolveAutomotive]

That’s the flap in the CSL airbox, it opens and closes.

[@meandthefamily1485]

Sorry Imran I should no better never knew they had that , thanks .

[@EvolveAutomotive]

No problem, always happy to educate :)

[@matthewnicholas6365]

Be nice if cost was more obvious for this job

[@EvolveAutomotive]

Cost is available on our website - www.evolveautomotive.com/mr-vanos-rebuilt-vanos-timing-chain-bmw-e46-m3-csl-z3m-z4m-s54/ (Also in the video description)

[@matthewnicholas6365]

@@EvolveAutomotive spent too long looking at Mr Vanos' own website for that 🤦😳

[@EMSJEFE1112]

This video might be useful

[@georger1782]

pr໐๓໐Ş๓

[@alecxpro2071]

Mr V won't touch a vanos unit on an E39 540i. So much for an expert 😃. Thanks but no thanks.

[@EvolveAutomotive]

He's an expert on the ones he does touch. That's how you become an expert.

[@asianskywalker]

Hondas VTEC. Literally bulletproof.

[@PixelVogue]

Go home Pizza boy

[@odin5188]

@@PixelVogue Hahaha, he's right though. but i know which one i lust after. Unless it's an NSX Type R

[@ivorproblem1332]

There are loads of failed Vtec videos, yes they probably have less problems than the BMW Vanos because it is a simpler cheaper system. Vanos is constantly varying as apposed to Vtecs on or off setup, vanos is a much better system in terms of power delivery and more complicated. Vtec is also used in much lower power cars on average too so much less strain involved.

[@odin5188]

@@ivorproblem1332 More complicated doesn't always mean better. The power output is irrelevant, i don't know about you but i prefer driving than fixing my car. The M5/M6 V10s are amazing but you know you'd not own one.

[@asianskywalker]

@@ivorproblem1332 where are these videos of the actual vtec system failing?