Help changing VANOS cover

mrod · 02-16-2011, 01:58 PM

Hello All.
My cover (98 M3) is dripping oil so I need to get it off.
Does anyone know if I have to do the same as if I was changing the VANOS unit or are there shortcuts?
Thanks in advance
PS If anyone wants to do the change please chime ($) in

ScotcH · 02-16-2011, 02:00 PM

Are you talking about the valve cover? It's just 14 nuts and the coils that need to be removed. 10mm and 8mm sockets is all you need really ... piece of cake. You'll also need some RTV to seal it in a couple of places.

mrod · 02-16-2011, 02:09 PM

I'm talking about the cover at the front of the engine.

**T.Dot_E30** · 02-16-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrod

I'm talking about the cover at the front of the engine.

Be more specific, the valve cover goes all the way to the front of the engine over the vanos unit.

mrod · 02-16-2011, 03:10 PM

Piston housing

**T.Dot_E30** · 02-16-2011, 03:28 PM

Then I guess it would depend on where it is leaking.
There is a gasket to seal where the vanos unit bolts to the cylinder head & the valve cover gasket seals where the valve cover bolts to the vanos unit.

If you are not sure where it is leaking, i would change both.

mrod · 02-16-2011, 03:34 PM

Not for sure, but it appears there is a small crack in the cast by the oil line so I will need to swap the cover

ScotcH · 02-16-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrod

Not for sure, but it appears there is a small crack in the cast by the oil line so I will need to swap the cover

That's not a cover. That IS the vanos unit.

joey79 · 02-20-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotcH

That's not a cover. That IS the vanos unit.

Yup, you'll need to replace the whole vanos unit if the housing is cracked. Hit the junk yards. I picked up a vanos unit with solenoid at pick n pull today for $25.