e36 m3 vanos question

[ben330]

Ive been looking at a few e36m3 evo verts over the last couple of weeks....im a bit worried about the vanos probs with them.whats the best way to check that its ok as a few people have told me different.
Cheers guys.

[Mits]

I use to have an E36 M3 and the vanos went on it.
Theres no way of really telling, unless its about to go...then the engines idling will be very rough and as the revs increase it will smooth out.
You need to look out for a rattling sound from the vanos at the front of the engine.

You could try and find out if its ever been replaced by the dealer.

Mines was ok for 3yrs and then it went...cost just over £1k at a dealer...had to get the part specially made at Rolls Royce.
I think the unit cost £700, labour £150...all the rest vat etc.

[ben330]

I was told by one chap that if you open the bonnet and hold the throttle at around 3k and then let off, if the vanos is knackered it will give a slight rattling noise as the rev drop away. Does this sound right?

[CA Automotive UK]

I was told by one chap that if you open the bonnet and hold the throttle at around 3k and then let off, if the vanos is knackered it will give a slight rattling noise as the rev drop away. Does this sound right?

sounds about right . I thought I had a leaf stuck in the radiator fan at idle , until I realised it was the vanos :) that kind of noise , to me anyway .

My evo had the vanos replaced once and overhauled 30 000 mls later . I did drive her hard , and despite the vanos issues I still loved owning and driving the car . Also , even when the vanos wears it does not initially affect performance hardly at all , just gets noisy .

Important thing is to make sure the vanos filters are changed at specified times or earlier , this will definately prolong life . Many vanos failures were due to techs not bothering to change these filters , they would then wear and start to fragment , bits of filter would enter the vanos system etc, block up oil galleries and the like , and hey presto one f...ed vanos assembly :)

To be super safe , allow for vanos replacement when haggling price if there is even the faintest "chatter" from the front of the engine , especially at idle from cold . Rev to about 4k rpm and see if the vanos "flutters " as revs reach idle .

If you can convince seller that vanos is worn then in my opinion this may be worth up to £1.5 k discount !

good luck

[ben330]

Cheers for that ;)