N52 routine maintenance item

[hoveringuy]

In addition to replacing my valve cover last week (I used Rein which seems to be identical to OEM..) I also performed BMW Service Information Bulletin SI B11 07 14 which says that the VANOS attachment bolts need to be checked and replaced. The original design of the bolt had the security pin in the middle that somehow made it prone to sheering, people would find the bolt heads in their oil pans. The replacement bolts have a new design and are $0.22 each at BMW. GET EXTRAS! They are very shallow and don't always grip. Installation torque is 6NM+60 degrees. They're aluminum, naturally...

None of mine were broken.

Also do your Oil Filter Housing gasket!

[moatilliatta]

Those front head bolts can pop off also. A few which are below the valve cover up front.

[Caperix]

There is a 2nd vanos recall getting ready to drop for the bolts loosening, so checking them is a great idea. As is checking the bolt heads at the front of the cylinder head for breaking off. Cars with the 3 stage intake should check the disa flaps as they can break off as well. The pcv heater has been recalled multiple times, once to replace the elbow under the intake & a second to add a fuse to the circuit. The water pumps are getting better but I would replace the water pump & thermostat on a junkyard engine.

[Striker01]

Too bad I didn't I didn't know to check these when I did the valve cover gasket. Now I wonder if I should order MILVs if I'm going to have the cover off again.

[hoveringuy]

There is a 2nd vanos recall getting ready to drop for the bolts loosening, so checking them is a great idea. As is checking the bolt heads at the front of the cylinder head for breaking off. Cars with the 3 stage intake should check the disa flaps as they can break off as well. The pcv heater has been recalled multiple times, once to replace the elbow under the intake & a second to add a fuse to the circuit. The water pumps are getting better but I would replace the water pump & thermostat on a junkyard engine.

I wasn't clear on the "bolts at the front of the cylinder head". We're not talking about the M10 cylinder head bolts are we, the ones that keep compression where it's supposed to stay? Or are these smaller accessory bolts that clamp it to the timing cover?

I didn't see anything out of place, in any case.

[Caperix]

The e torx bolts that hold the head in the timing cover area. The heads tend to break off, the vanos units need to be removed to get 2 of them.

[Striker01]

hoveringuy, I have the same bolts in your picture but the original recall part number is NLA. Seems BMW doesn't have a solution for these right now. The donor car VIN is in the 23V-707 recall. Another hurdle for this swap.

23V-707.PDF

[hoveringuy]

Striker01 P/N 11368602263 . Looks like they're backordered at Bimmerworld but Pelican and a few other places say they're available. If you have all 8 in place it's not an emergency but something to do later.

[adam.nonis]

Striker01 P/N 11368602263 . Looks like they're backordered at Bimmerworld but Pelican and a few other places say they're available. If you have all 8 in place it's not an emergency but something to do later.

I have a set of (10) of these you can have Guest. Just give me a mailing address. I got a set for my engine, but I have a different rev and don't need them.


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[Striker01]

[QUOTE=adam.nonis;n10117486]
I have a set of (10) of these you can have Striker01. Just give me a mailing address. I got a set for my engine, but I have a different rev and don't need them. /QUOTE]

Thanks,

sent you a PM

[hoveringuy]

I borescoped the motor for absolutely no reason (adam.nonis )

I've got somewhere around 9X,000 miles on it now and 3-4 years of solid track time. I haven't taken any compression or leakdown readings, it does smoke a little on initial start after it's been sitting.

There's light piston scuffing on all cylinders. Valves look good, #6 piston crown looks slightly oilier and has more carbon than the others. Visible oil trail on #6 wall. (from where...?)

Reading the Porsche forums on their Lokasil bore scoring issues, they obsess over this. Some say there is no limit for scoring, some say all Porsche Lokasil engines have some scoring.

I'm not going to worry about it.

[adam.nonis]

This would be the “no reason” he mentions


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[hoveringuy]

This would be the “no reason” he mentions

Here are some better pics....

[DesertBMW]

another proof these engines are "one time use"

[hoveringuy]

another proof these engines are "one time use"

If it gets this bad it's just not economical to rebuild: there are just so many of these motors floating around.

Otherwise the bearings can be replaced, new cam ledges, even the Alusil can be honed and restored easily

The replacement to this one had ~100,000 miles and runs amazing!

(change your oil frequently, kids!)