E46 M3 S54 Vanos pressure tests

[Schnout]

It shouldn't take long for the vanos pump to build up pressure in the ACC before driving, so I'm not sure why the need to have shut off solenoid. This is useful for the SMG as it save the electric pump wear and tear, but vanos pump runs all the time anyway.

FYI... the SMG system will always initiate an accumulator charge cycle when you unlock a door, open a door, or even look at the car ;-) - unless, for some strange reason the accumulator has held pressure during engine shutdown. Having run my SMG for 80,000 miles...fifteen years... and several thousand starts... I've heard that pump cycle every single time it thought I might want to drive it...

[George Hill]

Have prices on new units fallen? Out of curiosity I checked what one cost - seeing $1400ish? I thought these were $3k. I might buy one as an investment, sell it for $10k in 10 years. 🤣

Beisan Systems has a good deal on them, I buy them 3x at a time.

[George Hill]

Was that once oil is up to temp?

Of course

[bigjae46]

I put a brand new unit on a car a couple weeks ago, made 115bar.

Have prices on new units fallen? Out of curiosity I checked what one cost - seeing $1400ish? I thought these were $3k. I might buy one as an investment, sell it for $10k in 10 years. 🤣

[Shonky]

I put a brand new unit on a car a couple weeks ago, made 115bar.

Was that once oil is up to temp?

[George Hill]

I put a brand new unit on a car a couple weeks ago, made 115bar.

[ATB88]

I have just also noticed something peculiar, didn't happen before I retimed the engine and rebuilt vanos...

When I start my car now after a long drive and when the car is still warm. It still takes the 3 turns of the starter motor, and then ignites. But sometimes the 3rd turn of the starter stutters before the engine starts, sometimes it's nice and smooth, I wonder what that could be and if any impact?

normal start:

https://youtube.com/shorts/4xA2IifkcOo?feature=share

Strange start just before the engine starts properly it can be heard (2/3 seconds):

https://youtu.be/EOrgV3eI7pc

I had a new starter 2000miles ago
also above are my adaptations and fuel trims I assume they could not be causing issue to either the vanos test or the start issue I mention here?

I've had a very similar experience -- after re-timing my VANOS a few years ago, suddenly the car would sometimes occasionally struggle on a warm start. Never happened before then, and I went on a very detailed campaign of replacing everything in the fuel system and all engine sensors. Never went away.

[chris719]

Mine gets up around 110-115 when stone cold but drops to more like 100 when warmed up enough to do the VANOS test. General consensus I thought was to not fiddle with it. I have a couple of videos from cold, I'll check if you like.

No need to check, but much appreciated. Thanks!

[maupineda]

On my old unit it measured 105 when cold, I adjusted to 115 but since the unit had pressure issues it dropped to 40.

with a used spare I had, the same valve (adjusted to 115) would go as high as 90 on a hot engine.

with the new unit I just left it alone. It was also around 107.

[Shonky]

So what's the correct setting for the vanos pressure regulator? 100 or 115? It seems like 100 since I've never seen anyone measure 115 before adjusting the regulator.

Mine gets up around 110-115 when stone cold but drops to more like 100 when warmed up enough to do the VANOS test. General consensus I thought was to not fiddle with it. I have a couple of videos from cold, I'll check if you like.

[chris719]

So what’s the correct setting for the vanos pressure regulator? 100 or 115? It seems like 100 since I’ve never seen anyone measure 115 before adjusting the regulator.

[Arinb12]

I have just also noticed something peculiar, didn't happen before I retimed the engine and rebuilt vanos...

When I start my car now after a long drive and when the car is still warm. It still takes the 3 turns of the starter motor, and then ignites. But sometimes the 3rd turn of the starter stutters before the engine starts, sometimes it's nice and smooth, I wonder what that could be and if any impact?

normal start:

https://youtube.com/shorts/4xA2IifkcOo?feature=share

Strange start just before the engine starts properly it can be heard (2/3 seconds):

https://youtu.be/EOrgV3eI7pc

I had a new starter 2000miles ago
also above are my adaptations and fuel trims I assume they could not be causing issue to either the vanos test or the start issue I mention here?

[Santino]

I'd like to also try this, could you please let me know where I can connect the oil pressure guage? Is it under the oil filter housing? Is there a special thread sensor I need?

Santino what did you use?

Is this the location?

On the oil filter housing You have the original oil presssure sensor pictured on the photo above, and a blank screw M12 right next to it, i used that place to screw in the banjo bolt for the gauge

[sapote]

What about the oil regulator valve on the vanos body that is in the centre? Could that also be causing low pressure?

Video of warm oil: the vanos pressure was about 50 bar at idling, and it increased with higher rpm. This means the low P is not caused by regulator but due to not enough supply oil, either from engine pump or the vanos disk pump. Also, during cold oil, the P was about 114 bar so this again proves the regulator is not the problem, but you had adjusted it and now it may not be set correctly.

The leak down seems to be a little fast. This could be due to a near empty ACC.

Yes, measure engine oil pressure then go from here.

[maupineda]

You remove your vanos line and the gauge goes there. Here is a few links to what you will need. Raj (Besain) recommend to use red loctite to seal the gauge/fitting. Buy some vanos line crush washers as well because you will use 4 every time you test/re-install vanos line.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/M10-x-1-0-S...-127635-2958-0



https://www.ebay.com/itm/201L-158O-1...-127632-2357-0


PS: Looks like the gauge my no longer be sold by the same eBay person, look at the specs. Contact Raj at Beisan if you have trouble getting the right gauge.

He is asking about engine oil pressure.

BMW attaches the gage to the filter housing, where the cap bolt is.



Spec