Timing the engine - BMW N42/N46 Chain Rail Replacement [PART #6]

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 #6
0:00 Inserting the camshafts and VANOS locking tools
3:52 Inserting the TDC flywheel locking pin
10:12 Inserting pretensioning tool and torquing to 0.6Nm
12:36 Torquing the VANOS bolts
15:37 Installing the chain tensioner
17:19 Checking the timing
19:53 Torquing the pulley bolts
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
- 3D printed 0.6Nm torque wrench for pretensioning: bimmerzen.com/files/stl/BMW_N4...
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.

[@antonionormale3998]

Hi, I just want to thank you for giving me the hope that all will be good. And I finally did it!. But, I want say to everyone that have N46b20 engine (or generally all n46, idk) that the locking pin isn't long enough and don't do his job. So, take something (like a long smooth bolt) that is the same diameter of the pin and cut it 1 cm longer than the original one and it will work perfectly. Thank you again bimmerzen, all your videos are awesome and well explained. Support ❤️

[@RayDavies123]

Thank you for spending the time to do this and to share it with us. I have a 3i8i Touring and replaced the chain guide in the back garden with some friends. This brings back so many memories. Two years on on 30, 000 miles and no issues. I did start getting an oil leak in sparkplug 1 and 4 and replaced the gasket last week. I turned out that the O rings on the two spark plugs tubes where hardened and leaked. This is a very good reference far us all.

[@dj0men666]

The designers must have had a right giggle when choosing where to put the hole for the flywheel locking pin.

[@charlesimasiku1896]

On the pre-tensioner, I personally just hand tighten the bolt and just feel that the chain is tensioned. It works very well for me.

[@renet26091981]

Love the way you explain it 👍🏻

[@charlesimasiku1896]

Loved your explanation on the flywheel locking pin(sex education). Hilarious.

[@greenzen3]

This guy awesome, what is your intro song?

[@wizzywilson]

My god, trying to find that hole....! Took me nearly two hours of messing around trying to find the damn thing. Can I ask what does turning the vanos bolts do turning them to 180 degrees? is that for extra torque?

[@BimmerZen]

Yep... that hole is a PITA:D you absolutely must torque the bolts 20 Nm and then rotate them 180 deg.

[@alanblack1333]

i presume this engine does not have balancer shafts as you did not remove sump pan

[@BimmerZen]

It does have the balancing shafts, but since the main crankbolt was not released, they do not lose timing.

[@vinotec4136]

Zen the bummer best friend thanks much for you videos in full detail and wel explained question the vanos as a oil hole as to line up with the holes on the camshaft I see where you just install you didn't make sure that the holes are inline with each other

[@BimmerZen]

Not sure I understand your question. Orientation of the VANOS units (sprocket gears) relative to the camshafts is not important. There is a recess in the parts so that oil can flow freely from camshafts to the VANOS and vice-versa.

[@vinotec4136]

@@BimmerZen I figured that much I need some more technical info how can reach you am have problems with the e46

[@BimmerZen]

@@vinotec4136You can send me an email to [e-mail]

[@vinotec4136]

@@BimmerZen ok kool I already send u a long messages on ig lol explaining it al I guess

[@vinotec4136]

I got the inpa today just for back up I c where the Delphi got a update to 2018

[@erdemsevgili317]

What about fixing the oil balancer, the öil pan needs to come off for that in all other videos. Thats actually the biggest part of changing the belt. Why did you not fix the öil balancers? does it work without?

[@BimmerZen]

Not needed here because the crankshaft bolt is not removed. Balancing shafts are driven via oil pump sprocket and that is fixed in place by crank bolt. No need to remove the chain in this case.

[@gigimarfa877]

After tightened the sprocket bolts the timing tool can't be removed easy. I have to tap it with a hammer, does that means anything that should concern me ?

[@BimmerZen]

You mean the front vanos locking tool? Its normal for the front tool to be a bit tight after tightening the bolts...

[@robertalexandrescu9975]

Hi! Have you opened the vanos units? I didn't find in your videos... Did you changed the admision unit, the one that did not close?

[@BimmerZen]

I did not replace the intake unit. I disassembled it and cleaned it out. I've put it back because I want to test if cleaning worked. I am editing a video on this as we speak:)

[@robertalexandrescu9975]

@@BimmerZen Looking forward to see it. So after cleaning it runs good, no startup rattle?

[@BimmerZen]

@@robertalexandrescu9975 no startup rattle so far, but i want to use the car a bit longer just to confirm that unreliable vanos locking was the cause...

[@gianlucachetcuti2210]

Hi BimmerZen.Great video series. I am not sure if you have already answered this or discuss it in another video, but how did you decide that the timing chain does not need to be replaced? Why did you replace only the guides? How did you determine the chain is not strectched and can continue being used? Thanks!

[@BimmerZen]

To be honest, I didn't. I assumed that the cause of this problem was weak original tensioner and brittle plastic of the slide rail. And based on the overall condition of the engine, it looked like it was well taken care of. I am daily driving this car at the moment and the engine works great. Good power, no rattling, good idle, good fuel economy, starts every time on cold starts without any hesitation or rattles... There is a special tool for N42/N46 to measure the chain stretch which you screw in instead of chain tensioner but I don't have it.

[@gianlucachetcuti2210]

@@BimmerZen Hi, thanks for quick response. I have an N46B20A, I had used your 3D printed tool for valve stem seal replacements which have worked great by the way! I have replaced the timing chain tensioner 3000 miles ago but I recently bought the complete timing kit in anticipation of having to change the chain. On cold starts i can hear a rattle only for a second or two, but that could be until oil pressure pushes out the tensioner... Engine runs as perfect as an N46 can be but i fear I might have to change the entire chain and guides, no broken plastic as of yet. I will look into the tool and see if it is worth it. Thanks!

[@BimmerZen]

@@gianlucachetcuti2210 Great to hear that! My personal N42 car from chain replacement video also has that 1-2 sec rattle when I start it after it was sittings for a while. I plan to look in to that someday:) I suspect VANOS units or something with oil pressure. Otherwise engine works OK.

[@BimmerZen]

The point is, that I replaced the chain, but the rattle is still there... so this symptoms are probably not due to a stretched chain...

[@Bremen323]

Hi all, Is it possible to do the timing chain without removing oil sump and aretation camshaft at bottom?

[@BimmerZen]

Some people do it without removing oil sump, so I assume it is possible if you are really careful and you know what you are doing. You of course still have to insert the locking pin through the flywheel to remove crankshaft bolt. The problem is, that you risk accidentally rotating balancing shafts when the central bolt is removed because oil pump chain sprocket is disconnected from the crankshaft.

[@Bremen323]

@@BimmerZen It makes sense. Thank you for answer

[@MrACSchnitzer]

Hi All My engine keeps skipping or jump timing when i hand turm the crankshaft bolt 😢

[@BimmerZen]

You have to check if the VANOS units are locked: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6Kbknp_bZJomqc kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ-bZoxjjZ6Zd68

[@MrACSchnitzer]

@@BimmerZen thank you very much will check the link 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@whateverrrrrr123]

ehm there is no hole on my 2004 N42 with GM transmission.....pls help

[@BimmerZen]

There is. Keep calm and keep trying.

[@whateverrrrrr123]

@@BimmerZen

[@whateverrrrrr123]

I have just Completed 1. Replaced Chain Guide 2. Vac Pump gasket change 3. Place Valve cover gasket 4. tuning 5. Changed new rev Tensioner 6. some other o rings Thanks alot your vid save me a lot of $$$$

[@blacku.892]

Hi. My intake cam it does not tighten enough, when I check it is no longer on point 😢 why?

[@BimmerZen]

You mean the front Vanos locking tool? How much is it out of position? It's normal for the front locking tool to be very slightly off after timing and you have to wiggle it a bit to get it back in.

[@blacku.892]

@@BimmerZen more than normal postition.. the cam have a mortal angle and the wheel with chain is rotate and cam she can’t.

[@BimmerZen]

@@blacku.892 Are the vanos units locked in initial position?

[@blacku.892]

@@BimmerZen no

[@BimmerZen]

@@blacku.892 They need to be locked during timing procedure

[@micgamevideos2281]

Hello BimmerZen, I wwant to buy the 3d printed tool

[@BimmerZen]

Please contact me on [e-mail]

[@seasonedtoker]

Sori, ker ti spet tezim z vprasanji, ampak jebiga, dobra vsebina te sili k razmisljanju. Povej mi, ko takole dajes ketno dol, brez da jemljes karter dol in razklapljas spodnji zobnik od oljne pumpe, a se spodaj ketna kaj zatika, ko dajes gor vanos enote? Se da potem, ko so vanos enote gor, videt, ce ketna lepo sedi na spodnjem zobniku? Moral bom tole narest, ketno sem sicer delal 12k nazaj, ampak je bil motor zunaj. Mislim, da me drocnik zafrkava.

[@BimmerZen]

Np. Veriga se lahko malo stakne spodaj, ko snameš VANOS enote. ZELO pomembno je, da pri morebitnem obračanju glavne gredi, držiš verigo napeto, tako da se nalega spodaj v zobnik. Če se "nabere" spodaj se lahko polomi plastično vodilo - to se je zgodilo meni, ko sem prvič to delal. Pri montaži VANOS enot pa je tudi potrebno držati z roko verigo napeto - lahko jo malo potegneš gor dol, da vidiš da lepo naleže ali pa posvetiš s svetilko - Ko sta gor obe VANOS enoti pa verigo že malo napenja vzmet v samem vodilu in napenjalec. Lahko si pogledaš moj video o menjavi vodila, tam mislim, da je vse nekako razloženo.

[@nikosstentoumis3961]

the 3d printed tool is not the list!

[@BimmerZen]

Sorry, I fixed the link and the torque wrench is now available.

[@MrRsteamrS]

@@BimmerZen no, I can't open the link

[@benzbenzm646]

#7