Who's the guy that sells the rebuild vanos?

[maupineda]

I rebuilt a few vanos units and drilled some disks for mike while he he was out of commission from shoulder surgery. the test procedure was spinning the pump disk by hand, if it built pressure it’ll click and if not it’s toast. We’d check the intake/exhaust bores for scoring and slide them in/out to check if they were sticking. Idk what other companies are doing but mikes method seemed to work.

Really, spin by hand? That ain’t a test…

[Cubieman]

I had a conversation over IG with Mike at Naturally Agitated and he said his testing process was bolting the vanos to his "shop engine", I figured S54 on an engine stand when he said that.


Edit:

I rebuilt a few vanos units and drilled some disks for mike while he he was out of commission from shoulder surgery. the test procedure was spinning the pump disk by hand, if it built pressure it’ll click and if not it’s toast. We’d check the intake/exhaust bores for scoring and slide them in/out to check if they were sticking. Idk what other companies are doing but mikes method seemed to work.

I must not be remembering correctly in this case..

[BlAikenstein]

I rebuilt a few vanos units and drilled some disks for mike while he he was out of commission from shoulder surgery. the test procedure was spinning the pump disk by hand, if it built pressure it’ll click and if not it’s toast. We’d check the intake/exhaust bores for scoring and slide them in/out to check if they were sticking. Idk what other companies are doing but mikes method seemed to work.

[02_lsb]

It looked him up. I don’t see any type of test bed description. Please share details.

[maupineda]

Never saw his test rig first hand but Mike was able to bench test these units to working pressure.

My naive view is he was able to plumb the oil inlet and outlet and drove the pump disc with an electrical motor.

How he did it doesnt really concern me as much as having confidence in the unit you’re putting in.

I think you are being naive, how will he test the unit can build 115 bar of pressure and oil +70C? Yeah, i bet if someone has that capability they would be screaming and raving about it.

Function testing could be done with the bmw tool that fcp and ecs sell and a 20lb air supply, but that is not representative of a 115 bar and +70C temp oil.

[eacmen]

Agree… I tested a unit from a low miler (according to the seller) and it could only do 85bar at hot. So it is not only bench testing the seals, but at temperature. Unfortunately, unless you are BMW, i don’t see how anyone could test these units properly. Best course of action is test your car (DIS ISTA and pressure) and if all ok, redrill your disc and keep your own unit, otherwise it is a gamble… ask me how I know.

heck, lesson learned here is do not mess with it unless you must, if all tests are ok and your only concern is disc hole size for the hub, just do that.

and by test I meant putting it on my car and test with ISTA and Pressure

Never saw his test rig first hand but Mike was able to bench test these units to working pressure.

My naive view is he was able to plumb the oil inlet and outlet and drove the pump disc with an electrical motor.

How he did it doesnt really concern me as much as having confidence in the unit you’re putting in.

[maupineda]

Its not poor workmanship on the rebuild or the parts used but wear and tear on the unit that wouldnt be evident unless you’re a machinist.

Agree… I tested a unit from a low miler (according to the seller) and it could only do 85bar at hot. So it is not only bench testing the seals, but at temperature. Unfortunately, unless you are BMW, i don’t see how anyone could test these units properly. Best course of action is test your car (DIS ISTA and pressure) and if all ok, redrill your disc and keep your own unit, otherwise it is a gamble… ask me how I know.

heck, lesson learned here is do not mess with it unless you must, if all tests are ok and your only concern is disc hole size for the hub, just do that.

and by test I meant putting it on my car and test with ISTA and Pressure

[eacmen]

What are other places doing (or not doing) that's causing the pressure loss?

I'm simply trying to understand what the actual process is and services rendered that you are paying for.

Its not poor workmanship on the rebuild or the parts used but wear and tear on the unit that wouldnt be evident unless you’re a machinist.

[jet_dogg]

What are other places doing (or not doing) that's causing the pressure loss?

I'm simply trying to understand what the actual process is and services rendered that you are paying for.

[eacmen]

I've never heard of this problem until now.

Is he performing some sort of black magic that nobody else is capable of on these mysterious units? 🤔

The VANOS units need to hold 2000psi of oil pressure.

Im Not saying Mike is the only one capable of testing the units to this pressure, but anyone selling VANOS rebuilds as a service should be doing it or you should look elsewhere.

If you want to DIY it you need to be prepared remove and replace the VANOS if the tests don’t pass. For me the uncertainty wasnt worth my time.

[jet_dogg]

I would DIY it if I had the equipment to bench test the unit after rebuild. I’ve had 4 VANOS units rebuilt and one of them was not rebuildable and would never hold pressure.

Some defects in these units are not evident until you bench test them.

That is my reasoning why I had mine rebuilt by Mike.

I've never heard of this problem until now.

Is he performing some sort of black magic that nobody else is capable of on these mysterious units? 🤔

[TACOM3EAT]

Mike from Naturally Agitated is a stand-up guy and THE GUY for VANOS on these cars. Not sure about the Aussie incident so i won't speak to it. I can say that he's done right by me (and my car) on at least a dozen occasions over 7+ years. Hit him up on instagram @naturallyagitated He does the VANOS stuff as a service to the community, it's not his day job so sometimes he gets backed up, but I have had nothing but great interactions with him.

[eacmen]

Probably because people want everything done for them in this day and age regardless of the simplicity. Marketers are having a field day raking in the dough based on sheer ignorance.

I would DIY it if I had the equipment to bench test the unit after rebuild. I’ve had 4 VANOS units rebuilt and one of them was not rebuildable and would never hold pressure.

Some defects in these units are not evident until you bench test them.

That is my reasoning why I had mine rebuilt by Mike.

[jet_dogg]

Probably because people want everything done for them in this day and age regardless of the simplicity. Marketers are having a field day raking in the dough based on sheer ignorance.

[02_lsb]

Replacing the gaskets and rings in the vanos unit is the easiest part of the job. Any reason you guys are opposed to this part of the DIY?