Is it worth to replace Vanos Seals?

Hey friends!

I have been thinking about this for some time now and just cannot make up my mind. The thing is, I have to replace my valve cover gasket very soon and I thought about replacing Vanos Seals... But is it really worth the hustle? I mean, there are so many things I can mess up while doing that lol the timing, the bolts... I have some mechanical experience and watched several DIYs on vanos seals... What do you guys think? Did anyone replace it? Any reasonable improvements? Please share your experience

as far as i know, you dont have to mess with the timing at all on the e46 to do the vanos seals..i say go ahead and do it.

it's not hard. do it
might feel no difference though

Originally Posted by bikeaddict

as far as i know, you dont have to mess with the timing at all on the e46 to do the vanos seals..i say go ahead and do it.

Really? Because I was watching one of the youtube DIYs and the guy was like "ok, carefully unscrew the bolts not to mess up the timing..." lol

read the guide on the offcial site. No youtube video needed

Originally Posted by MercForHire

it's not hard. do it
might feel no difference though

Well, I always listened to my fellow E46fanatics and they never let me down... So I guess I'll do it!

Originally Posted by MercForHire

read the guide on the offcial site. No youtube video needed

You mean the beijian one?

yes

hardest part is cutting the old seals out. I lost a couple of fingers doing that one

Originally Posted by MercForHire

yes

hardest part is cutting the old seals out. I lost a couple of fingers doing that one

Ooooh.... But really, if thats the hardest part... lol Are you happy with the result? Improvement?

Not sure didn't notice much.
But the old seals were clearly plastic when they should be like rubber.
I fixed something I guess.

Originally Posted by MercForHire

Not sure didn't notice much.
But the old seals were clearly plastic when they should be like rubber.
I fixed something I guess.

actually no. the vanos seals are two sets of seals. the rubber goes inside and the teflon hard seal goes outside.


OP, you wont even close to touch timing. dont worry about it.

Originally Posted by jasonbimmer

actually no. the vanos seals are two sets of seals. the rubber goes inside and the teflon hard seal goes outside.


OP, you wont even close to touch timing. dont worry about it.

yes then i guess nothing was fixed at all. i got scammed out of $70

i had the suspicion that someone is riding on million of dollars out of these seals...

Originally Posted by MercForHire

yes then i guess nothing was fixed at all. i got scammed out of $70

lmao that's what I am afraid of!

the Vanos seals in my wife's 330ci hadn't failed yet at 125k but I could definately hear them popping and jerking. The bejian kit was complete and well explained. The car doesn't drive noticeably different because it was still working when I took it apart, but it certainly is a lot quieter!

Originally Posted by MercForHire

yes then i guess nothing was fixed at all. i got scammed out of $70

i had the suspicion that someone is riding on million of dollars out of these seals...

idk what you are saying or being sarcastic cuz I dont like sarcasm.
either you didnt do the job properly or you received the wrong kit.
the dual vanos has four rubber orings and four teflon hard orings.

the timing is fixed by the bolts that are connected to the camshaft taking the vanos bolts out will not mess up the timing. replacing the vanos seals is a good idea just like changing the oil. seals dont last forever and should be changed out to improve overall longgevity of the engine

Originally Posted by MercForHire

hardest part is cutting the old seals out. I lost a couple of fingers doing that one

+1
For me also was hardest part cutting old seals without damaging vanos pistons. I reccomend get some small fishing hook and pull with it old lover seals off.

OP, if you're in NYC and need help let me know. I did the seals about two weeks ago. No idea why the hell I waited so long...

Originally Posted by Solidjake

OP, if you're in NYC and need help let me know. I did the seals about two weeks ago. No idea why the hell I waited so long...

Thanks man, but I am in Florida! How's your car now? You feel improvement?

Yup right away I noticed it. I'm about 400 miles in already.

Slight fuel economy improvement, quieter idle, rpm doesn't bounce back when you're in neutral press the gas hard and let go, definitely more power in the low rpm range. I swear, I don't even push the gas so hard and it can hit 100 like that. Really is worth doing. I'm a believer.