timing chain tension question

[SwiftE30]

so i just installed a new exhaust set up, OBD2 manifolds -> Y-pipe -> 12" resonator -> single in dual out muffler. all with 3" piping. Once i finished everything and hooked it all up i started getting a weird noise from under the valve cover.

when revving is on the decel there is a very noticable rubbing noise under the valve cover. I'm assuming this is the sound people get when their timing chain tensioner goes out, from what i have read

Is this my problem, and the tensioner needs replacing? and is it just a coincidence that this happened after my new exhaust or could the new exhaust have something to do with it?

[SwiftE30]

anybody?

[!kid]

I don't think it has anything to do with your exhaust. Inspecting your timing chain guides/tensioner rails is very good thing worth checking I replaced all of them on my M52.

[SwiftE30]

i swapped the lower chain tensioner with a known working one and the problem is still there. Should I replace the upper one now? ugh, that seems like such a PITA

[328ijunkie]

Exhaust is rubbing on something.

[SwiftE30]

no, the exhaust is solid, i checked that. So from researching I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the infamous Vanos rattle.

So my first plan i guess is to get the beisan rattle fix kit. Any other suggestions?

[Jand3rson]

I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the infamous Vanos rattle.

Not to jack your thread, but yet another reason why I'm really not too upset that my M50 is an NV. That shit sounds like nothing but problems.

[SwiftE30]

Not to jack your thread, but yet another reason why I'm really not too upset that my M50 is an NV. That shit sounds like nothing but problems.

Haha not a problem man. This is the first time I've had a problem with it, so we'll see how bad it is. I'm also throwing code 1222 which is the lambda control code that deals with a/f ratio, which is common with the vanos rattle from what I read.

[SwiftE30]

anyone have any thoughts?

[ian e30 318is]

http://www.beisansystems.com/products.html

Rebuild your vanos with this kit. Is there a rattle between 2500 and 3500 RPM?

[SwiftE30]

thats what i was planning on doing, thanks. Since my car wasnt drivable without the exhaust, and since i just finished the exhaust and heard it right after i was done, i havent really driven it. I'm afraifd to while it has this problem. But as for the noise, i only hear it after i let off the accelerator, when the rpm's are at about 500-1000

[scottinAZ]

the Beisan kit does the job nicely. I just installed one on my car this weekend. seems to have taken care of the VANOS issues nicely. with a rattle between 500-1000, what type of flywheel are you using, and what transmission, If G260, you may have the Getrag rattle as well. the layshaft bearings exhibit wear, and rattle with the clutch out at idle. not damaging per se, but annoying for sure

[SwiftE30]

im using the southbend stage 3 clutch with dual mass flywheel and zf trans. its pretty obvious that it is the upper chain rattle now. you can almost pinpoint the sound when i rev it.

ive ben told you can drive with this kinf of rattle, but i dont want to since its throwig the 1222 code. once the car warms to temp the cel comes on and starts to have a pretty rough idle. which are symptoms of a bad vanos unit right?

[SwiftE30]

So I read through the beisan vanos repair procedure, it doesn't look to be too hard of a procedure, the only thing that sucks is you need those specialty tools. Is there a way around using those specialty tools? $110 just for tools is pretty expensive to spend on top of the parts for the repair kit.

[scottinAZ]

see if anyone in your area has a set you can rent/borrow. there are enough Bimmer folks around up there you should be able to find someone to assist. Takes about an hour or two to do the seals, start to finish.