"VANOS rattle"

[Tut]

I did a search on this and came up a couple of threads. Most make reference to a relatively inexpensive kit available from BMA consisting of, among other things, a new tensioner spring, that corrects the rattle. Is it really this simple, stariagtforward, and inexpensive? Does the kit from BMA contain all that is needed to do the job? Looks like I'll be in contact with Patrick again. Any problem with driving the car as I await the goodies? There's been a bit of noise for a while, but has become more pronounced recently.

Thanks.

[everest]

When do you notice your rattle? I think I might have the same problem? I emailed back and forth with Mark D'Sylva when I was buying my EAT chip and he told me I likely had the VANOS rattle. Anyway, my car is an auto and I notice it mostly right before a shift and right after a shift, usually around 2,000 RPM or so. The reason I'm asking you was because I was confused as to whether I had the rattle or my engine was pinging.

[liquidtiger720]

mine is just like yours everest. Right at 2000 rpm. Hopefully somebody will fill us in on what we need to do.

[Jose]

The best thing to do with a vanos rattle is simply changing it.I never heard of a correction set for a Vanos unit, but maybe it´s not available in the Netherlands. I always change these things.The chances are slim, but stories go that small pieces can break of a rattling vanos unit and end up in your engine. Never seen it myself, but most of the problems with vanos unitsI´ve ever seen occured on the M3 E36 engine so they are almost inmediately replaced. If you canj fix it with the mentioned BMA set, it would be great and save you some money. Good luck.

[Don McAdams]

I have the same problem. 2000K to about 2600K :( Any help would be great..

[everest]

I've noticed mine makes a noise in that same RPM range. If I put it in S mode, it doesn't seem to make the noise. Does yours occur after a shift as well as before a shift?

[everest]

Has anyone found out any more info on this topic?

[Brett619310]

Also, is it consistent that everyone with this problem has the EAT chip? I've only heard the pinging once so far.

[RobPatt]

I'll be post #9 to chime in....
- I've got the descrived rattle, chatter, pinging, or whatever it is with that engine at those RPM, with the EAT and an auto, but I don't know what it is. I've had mild but noticable 'noise' relief w/techron, BG44K and a seemingly penny-wise pound foolish hot soak w/SeaFoam - so I wonder if it isn't detonation.

- I also thought the cam began to advance close to 3K , at least that's when I really feel it kick in... and also the speed (RPM) on the highway where my mileage begins to drop off (~80mph).

still wondering! Rob.

[Brett619310]

I'll be post #9 to chime in....
- I've got the descrived rattle, chatter, pinging, or whatever it is with that engine at those RPM, with the EAT and an auto, but I don't know what it is. I've had mild but noticable 'noise' relief w/techron, BG44K and a seemingly penny-wise pound foolish hot soak w/SeaFoam - so I wonder if it isn't detonation.

- I also thought the cam began to advance close to 3K , at least that's when I really feel it kick in... and also the speed (RPM) on the highway where my mileage begins to drop off (~80mph).

still wondering! Rob.
Are you in California or somewhere where you can only get 91 octane? Do you have an M50 VANOS engine? I'm wondering if we can establish a pattern here... EAT Chip + Auto + VANOS M50 + 91 octane = pinging.

[everest]

I'm in FL where we have 93 octane
Auto
VANOS M50
Noise before and after EAT chip installed
Between 1700 and 25-2600 RPM

Also, I seem to get the noise once the engine has warmed to the midway point on the temp gauge.

[billb]

stock chip, EAT chip, doesn't matter. 89 or 91, doesn't matter. Engine temp, matters. Once at operating range, the rattle is consistent. Tried running 0W40, 10W30, and 15W50 Mobil1 with no improvements. Seafoam treatment helped for about 5 days, then it was back. All vacuum hoses have been replaced, as have intake gaskets, O2 sensor, and MAF. I just live with it...

[philbyil]

You may well have a bad case of "VANOS rattle". Simply put, VANOS works with oil pressure via a solenoid to a gear going into the camshaft which advances the timing. A bad case of the rattles may mean a new gear/solenoid - you could need a pro on this one!

HOWEVER - another thing to note, the BMW thermoplastic intake runners are known to "rattle" due to induction pulses.

[Russell]

Everything seems very normal with the EAT chip on 93 octane Chevron or Shell V power. No pinging before or after the chip.

Well maintained, about 20,000 miles on plugs, fresh air filter, Ox sensor about 50,000 miles old. Ocassionally ad a bottle of Chevron Techron and currently use Mobil 1 0w40 oil.


Has anyone found out any more info on this topic?

[RobPatt]

northwest Florida - 93 oc, Chevron or Shell, EAT, auto doesn't matter. not much seems to matter - like billb says seafoam worked for a little while, but mostly I just live with it and wonder if the engine will last 130K and drive as well as it does how'd it be w/o whatever is causing that noise? Like an earlier post, I've used 5w-30 15w-50, 0w-40, simply nothing has made a difference... I've though about changing to a different plug temp, but don't know enough to make a good decision on that, and stick to the basic bosch silvers fldr whatever the same everyone's got and is the oem recommended....

had the car for 2 years in hawaii - gas/climate, whatever out there didn't matter, nor a few months in alabama, tennessee or mississippi.... or miami for that matter! M50TU auto, 133K, regular maint intervals, over last few years replaced coils, CPS, fuel pump, tune-up items.... h2o pump/thermo... and now about ready for a belt tensioner I think...

[Brett619310]

Update: Still no rattle since the first incident. The power increase from the chip seems hardly noticeable though. Can the effects of anti-knock sensors kicking in and changing any parameters decrease performance? Anybody know?

[mac]

I'm in FL where we have 93 octane
Auto
VANOS M50
Between 1700 and 25-2600 RPM

Also, I seem to get the noise once the engine has warmed to the midway point on the temp gauge.
i am having exactly the same problem, i 1st thought it is pinging, using 97 octane & change both knock sensor, doens't help, recently decarbonise the engine by specialist, still the same. i don't think it is pinging.