Installing chain slide rail guide & VANOS solenoids - BMW N42/N46 Chain Rail Replacement [PART #5]

In this video series I diagnose and repair a broken chain rail guide and jumped chain on a BMW N42/N46 engine in an E46 3 Series car.
PART #5
0:00 Installing bottom slide rail guide
3:07 Installing top slide rail guide
5:17 Installing VANOS solenoids
7:06 Putting back pulley and serpentine belt
Engine had reduced power and rattling noises after acceleration. Fuel consumption was also increased.
INPA software showed these error codes:
- 2782 CDKPH - Nockenwellengeber Auslass, Lage der Phasenflanken oder Einbaulage außerhalb Toleranz (2782 Camshaft Sensor Exhaust)
- 27BB CDKANWS Nockenwellensteuerung Auslass-VANOS, Anschlagadaption außerhalb gültigem Bereich (27BB Exhaust Camshaft Control)
INPA analog value 4 also showed that outlet VANOS unit position was incorrect.
I then removed the valve cover and found that top part of the chain rail guide was broken and the chain jumped two teeth on the exhaust camshaft.
This was most probably because of a combination of weak (still original) chain tensioner and old brittle plastic chain rail guide.
I then proceeded with putting the exhaust camshaft back in to correct position so I could lock the camshafts with the locking tools and remove VANOS bolts. That enabled me to remove VANOS units, VANOS solenoids and finally the broken chain rail guide. I also found the plastic guide was broken in two places and managed to get all the broken pieces out of the engine.
Next I installed new chain guide rail and did the timing. I also replaced the brake booster vacuum pump seals in the process.
Then I put everything back together and confirm the repair with scanning the car wit INPA again.
PARTS (required):
- VANOS bolts: 11367500574
- Chain guide rail: 11317512520
- Chain slide rail: 11317505608
PARTS (optional):
- Chain tensioner: 11318685091
- Seal kit for vacuum pump: 11668626471
- VALVETRONIC sensor connector gasket flange: 11377502022
- Valve cover gasket: 11120032224
TOOLS:
- N42/N46 Timing tool kit: cutt.ly/yhVmCJF
DISCLAIMER:
BimmerZen assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. BimmerZen recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of BimmerZen , no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not BimmerZen.

[@evogta248]

Great thanks for your guide. I succeeded to replace the chain slide rail with almost your procedure. I don’t have a car lift, so much difficult to detach oil pan and locking balance shaft. So I didn’t try procedure in your guide in last year that basically same as BMW maintenance procedure. In this time, I didn’t lock TDC with locking pin with out lifted a car. I used the screwdriver into fist cylinder spark plug hole, It’s very difficult correct TDC, but much easy to handle without accuracy. But I success! So, my BMW 46 318i is working with good camshaft timing and VANOS. Thank you again.

[@BimmerZen]

Really good to hear back from people who managed to get this problem fixed! Feels good to help out a fellow BMW owner:)

[@marekmarecki3883]

Good lesson for me. Thanks

[@benzbenzm646]

#6

[@gstsaver13]

I changed the Valvetronic motor when I installed new valve stem seals - I had bought the car and it wasn't running well and had valvetronic codes. Now it won't even start and same codes have come back. I turned the car on without starting for 10 sec like it says but the valvetronic doesn't move - I even hooked up the old one out of the car to see if it turns and it doesn't. What could it be?

[@BimmerZen]

Well, It depends on the codes of course. What codes do you have, can you scan with INPA? If the engine does not start, check fuel, spark and compression. Maybe you forgot to plug back a sensor or a fuse, maybe the timing is off and the engine does not have the compression.

[@magnus3885]

this guide is a bit diffrent than the one you did a year ago where yoy dropped the pan and also the drive pulley is this only because you didnt change the chain?im about to do this job on tje weekend wish me luck 😅😂

[@BimmerZen]

Yes, no need to remove the oil pan if you are only changing the guide. Good luck:)

[@patrikpatrik3957]

Hi, where are you from? Germany?

[@BimmerZen]

Nope, I'm from Slovenia:)

[@patrikpatrik3957]

@@BimmerZen super imas kak mail kontakt ker imam vprasanje v zvezi za tak motor n 42b20a ker vidim da obvladas hvala

[@BimmerZen]

@@patrikpatrik3957 [e-mail]

[@patrikpatrik3957]

Poskusil sem poslati vendar zavrne

[@BimmerZen]

@@patrikpatrik3957 lahko mi pošlješ tvoj email na IG @bimmerzen