Vanos Solenoid question for the OBD2-OBD1 guys

[Jean]

My m52 needs a vanos solenoid as it's missing it. Since I am converting to OBD1, do I need to get an M50 solenoid or will an M52 plug into the OBD1 m50 harness just fine?

I can't seem to find a factual answer to this. What is the difference between m50/m52 vanos and it's solenoid?

Thanks!

[hugh jass]

i do believe the m50 solenoid has a female plug and the m52 solenoid has a male plug (or the other way around). the long and short of it is the m52 solenoid won't plug into the obd1 harness.

[madjurgen]

doesnt the wiki say otherwise?

[matt]

i do believe the m50 solenoid has a female plug and the m52 solenoid has a male plug (or the other way around). the long and short of it is the m52 solenoid won't plug into the obd1 harness.

Not even close.

They are 95% interchangeable. The only issue is that the cord on the OBDI unit is much longer (~12" vs ~4"). There is a part available to extend it, I can get the number at the shop tomorrow if you need it.

[Jean]

Matt, please do.

Is there any truth to this "You will need an M52 vanos solenoid. The early vanos systems were 3 positon the later ones were constanly variable."

?

[matt]

Uhh, no. That's bullshit.

[e30serg]

They're referring to the early single vanos engines vs the later dual-vanos. The ones in our cars have 3 discrete positions, ( I think 3) and the later, dual vanos engines have infinitely variable positions.

[matt]

M50 - no vanos
M50TU - two position
M52 - two position
M52TU - infinitely variable

The M52TU does have infinitely variable vanos, so I guess that quote meant M52TU but said M52.

[hugh jass]

Not even close.

They are 95% interchangeable. The only issue is that the cord on the OBDI unit is much longer (~12" vs ~4"). There is a part available to extend it, I can get the number at the shop tomorrow if you need it.

i was thinking of the cam sensor not the vanos solenoid, my mistake.

[Jean]

M50 - no vanos
M50TU - two position
M52 - two position
M52TU - infinitely variable

The M52TU does have infinitely variable vanos, so I guess that quote meant M52TU but said M52.

Matt, so what solenoid would work on a 98 m52(or is that m52tu?) with obd1 harness?

Thanks.

[PiercedE30]

M52TU is dual vanos.

[matt]

Matt, so what solenoid would work on a 98 m52(or is that m52tu?) with obd1 harness?

Thanks.

The OBDI solenoid will make your life easier. Or the OBDII solenoid and 1x 12 52 2 274 971

[BeirBrennerE30]

The OBDI solenoid will make your life easier. Or the OBDII solenoid and 1x 12 52 2 274 971

this man speaks the truth in every post in this thread... listen and buy the obd1 solenoid

[Jean]

Ok, so OBD1 solenoid it is. Great. Thank you!