DIY: N54 Hydraulic Lifter (and Cam Bearing Ledge) replacement

The Spoon · 01-19-2015, 08:32 AM

This isn't my video, but it's pretty much what a bad lifter sounds like.

Let me preface this by saying that I wouldn't recommend tackling this job unless you're a somewhat seasoned backyard mechanic, or at the very least don't have a tendency to crank on things with a gorilla grip when things don't go as expected.

Parts

Strut brace bolt: 07146954965 (Mounts to chasis)
Strut brace bolt: 07146963730 (Mounts to strut tower)
Valve cover gasket: 11127565286
Camshaft Rectangring: 11317587757 (4 total; 2 for each cam)
Camshaft gear bolts: 11367524954 (2 total; 1 for each cam)
Timing chain tensioner washer: 11317534251

If you're replacing hydraulic lifters:

Hydraulic Lifter: 11337548690 (12 on intake side, 12 on exhaust)
As far as I know there isn't a high failure rate for these on the N54, and every failure case I've read has been on the exhaust side (including my own), so you'll probably be fine just replacing the failed ones. I ended up replacing all 12 on the exhaust side to be safe. Use your own discretion.

If you're replacing bearing ledges:

Intake Cam Bearing Ledge: 11127550913
Exhaust Cam Bearing Ledge: 11127531224

Tools

6-point/12-point

Torx

Misc

Optional

Disclaimer
As always, when you're in backyard mechanic mode, expect to break things. It's like leveling up in an RPG except instead of victory music and bonus stats, you get dread, anger, and great feelings of ambivalence. It's better than it sounds, really. You follow this guide and your car goes snap crackle and pop, I'm not responsible. I've done my share of crying already. You can do your own.

Procedure
-Remove valve cover. Robc has an excellent in-depth guide here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=775317

-So. Valve cover's off and you're looking at a slightly less blurry version of this. The fun begins.

-Remove the radiator fan by first removing the mounting screw on the left side.

-Remove and set aside the connector and two tubes.

-Undo lower chargepipe clip (I forgot how to do this; I have an aftermarket one), and radiator fan clip on the right side.

-Now you're ready to pull out the fan. If you have an oil cooler it'll need some coaxing, but it'll fit. Trust me, I'm a backyard mechanic. Pay close attention to the tabs at the top of the bumper. As far as I know, their only purpose is to obstruct the radiator fan from coming out smoothly, but I'm also kind of ignorant so I don't really know much.

-So now you're looking at something like this, except probably with the oil cooler line still attached. I did this process before I developed the fearlessness that every backyard mechanic should have and removed the line to be safe. I also spilled oil all over my serpentine belt and alternator clutch pulley in the process, which may or may not have lead to it binding. But hey, my ineptitude is your gain. I wrote a DIY on the pulley replacement. Happy endings are the best.

-Time to lock the motor in the TDC position. Jack up the car, throw some jack stands underneath, and remove the underbelly pan (otherwise known as the void in which dropped screws and tools never return from) of the car. There's about 21 or 23 or eleventy-nine 8mm screws holding it on. Power tools are your best friend here.

-Get your flywheel locking pin from the timing kit. Hopefully you didn't cheap out on this part. It's a real pain in the ass to both locate the flywheel lockpin receptacle and determine whether or not the pin needs to be modified at the same time.

-The locking pin goes in the location of number 16 in this diagram.

-Locate this connector underneath the car.

-Assuming you're lying with your legs toward the passenger side and your head toward the driver's side, look into the engine bay above the connector. You should see something like this.

-Reach into that dark scary hole and feel around the corners of the engine block for something thin and rubbery. Yes, like a small penis, you juvenile. What you're looking for is the rubber plug that blocks the receptacle for the locking pin.

-I had to use a small screwdriver to pull it out.

-Insert your locking pin into the hole.

***DO NOT ROTATE THE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERCLOCKWISE***
-Let's go back up top. Locate the crankshaft pulley at the front of the engine bay. Throw a 22mm socket on a big ratchet and get ready to turn the crankshaft clockwise.

-Before you turn, take a look at the opening at the front of your bearing ledges. What you're looking for is a QR code on both cams, like this:

-When both cams show the QR code, you'll be at TDC. The holes on your Vanos plates should be in this orientation:

-Alternatively, you can remove the spark plug in cylinder 1 and place a screwdriver in it. When it reaches its highest point, you'll be at TDC.

-To be safe, use your telescoping mirror to look at the back of the engine, as detailed here: http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...n54)/page_339/

-Now go back underneath the car and see if you can press the flywheel locking pin through the flywheel to lock it. You may need to jiggle it a bit. If not...

-Find this plastic cover. The center jack point is at the top of the picture for reference. Pop this cover off to reveal the flywheel.

-Take a look inside and you should see a raised plate with a blue dot (assuming you have the stock flywheel), like so:

-When the end edge of that specific raised plate is in the center of the peephole, the flywheel hole will be aligned with the locking pin position. If the flywheel is past that point, you'll have to rotate it two full rotations before attempting it again. Trial and error, my friend. Trial and error.

-When the lock pin is in position, you'll be unable to turn crankshaft. Verify that the engine is at TDC. If so, you're ready to lock the camshafts into position with the locking tool.

-Now we need to remove the cam chain tensioner, but not before unbolting some stuff to make room, of course. First, unbolt your coolant overflow reservoir and vacuum canister bracket (3 bolts and 1 nut).

-Removing the right vacuum canister reveals two nuts at the bottom. You know the drill. Set them free.

-Now you should be looking at a very well-endowed silver nut. That's the cam chain tensioner.

-Place a paper towel underneath the tensioner nut. A small amount of oil will trickle out once it's loose. If you have a 27mm wrench, it should come off without hassle. If not, you should be able to fit a socket over it using a u-joint and some perseverance.

-Tensioner out. Give it two slow compressions to drain the oil out.

-Take your marker and mark the cam chain position for reference.

-Now you're ready to break those cam bolts loose. 16mm. Do it. Also, discard these bolts.

-Vanos plates should come off with little resistance.

-As an added safety measure, you should probably zip tie the cam gear to the cam chain so they don't separate. Or, like me, you can put an immense amount of faith in the marker you used and hope that they don't accidentally get wiped off. Safety is overrated. Sometimes.

-Separate the cam gears from the cams. They're held on by friction and may need some coaxing if they're tilted off-axis with respect to the cams.

-At this point, you'd normally need a special tool to depress the valve springs to take tension off the cams, but there's a workaround for you cheapasses thanks to bimmertoolrental:

You'll be able to tell when there's no pressure on the valves by wiggling their respective rocker arms. If they don't wiggle, then there's tension on the valve spring.

-Evidently I forgot to take pictures up to this point. Oops. Now you're ready to unbolt the bearing ledges. I always hear about how delicate these hollow cams are, so I elected to loosen each bolt a half turn at time. Service manual states that you should loosen them outward to inward. 14 bolts on the intake side, 17 (including 2 in the front that hold the cam chain guide) on the exhaust side. The two cams are not interchangeable, so keep track of them. When removing exhaust, start with the two in the front.

-Intake side out. And drunk, apparently. Apologies.

-Lifters slide out with the rockers. They're clipped on and separate with little effort. It's good practice to keep track of where they came from so you can put them back where they came. If not, well, that's okay... but you'll bring shame upon your family. Compare your existing lifters with new ones. They should be at full extension and rock solid (aww yeah). If they're mushy, they most likely have a faulty check-valve and should be replaced. If they're solid but shorter than others, then they're probably stuck. Replace those, too.

Alternatively (in this case, the smarter choice), you can drain them by sticking the end of a paperclip down the top hole to release the check valve. They should be springy and compressible by hand. If not, they're seized. If you're the meticulous type, you can soak them in some solvent to clean them up a bit. Submerge them in oil and give them a few pumps and they should fill back up. Well... in theory, anyway. That didn't work too well for me so instead I just rotated the crank a few times by hand after everything was bolted up, which worked out better.

I tried opening one to clean out but had a hell of a time trying to get it back together without mangling the retaining rings. At $20 a pop, it's probably not worth the effort unless a large number of them have failed.

-Remove the two metal rings at the end of each camshaft. They unclip pretty easily by hand. Replace them with the new softer, gentler rings. You'll have to stretch them slightly to get them to fit, but they'll shrink back and be flush after a heat cycle or two.

-Inspect your bearing ledges for indentations made by the camshaft rings. Here's what mine looked like after 60k.

-So now you're ready to put things back together. First off, in case you goofed and didn't keep track of which cam goes where, here's a reference:
http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...n54)/page_341/

A = Exhaust (left side)

E = Intake (right side)

-Assembly lube. Hey... if some is good, then more is better right?! Put some on the rockers, too.

-Install the new bearing ledges and cams. Make sure the QR code on both cams are facing upwards, and lock them down with the cam tool.

-Make sure the rockers are seated on top of the valve stems. They're magnetically attached so they're pretty easy to knock off. Give them a slight wiggle. Careful when you get to cylinder 6, they fall off pretty easily if you nudge them the wrong way. Ask me how I know.

-So you're probably pretty spent by now. Your back aches, you may have cried a few manly tears, thrown some wrenches, shouted some profanities, and your neighbors probably think you're some sort of psychopath, so you'll be glad to know that this is where things start to get tense. After threading down the bearing ledge bolts by hand, you'll want to tighten them evenly (criss-cross) or you risk snapping a cam. I did them a quarter turn at a time. Some bolts will give you more resistance than others. An 8mm 12-point wrench works well here since you run no risk of rounding off the torx heads with the force you're exerting. If you start to feel greater-than-normal resistance, move on to the next bolt. When you come back next round they'll be easier to turn. Stay strong, friends.

-When you've gotten all the bolts finger-tight, check and make sure the sides of the bearing ledges are flush with each other horizontally (i.e. no sideways protrusions). Tolerances are pretty tight so they should be perfectly aligned since they're new. Torque the bolts to 8 Nm or 71 in-lbs. Follow them up with your angle torque meter with an additional 60 degrees. Mark the torqued bolts with a marker in case you lose your spot, since you can't go back to check existing angle torque.

-Remove the cam locking tool and torque the previously-obstructed bolts.

-Now that your bearing ledges are properly torqued, thread the cam chain guide rail bolts and torque them to 8.5 Nm or 75 in-lbs.

-Install the cam gear and timing chain back onto the cam. If you were smart and used zip ties, remove them. If you were less smart and didn't, you're still a winner because this is America. Just make sure the marks you made previously match up.

-Install Vanos plates and thread the new camshaft collar bolts. Do not tighten them yet.

-Install the timing chain tensioner tool. The service manual calls for 0.6 Nm or 5.3 in-lb torque against the chain. If you have a tool to do this, you are a god amongst backyard mechanics. For us plebeians, tighten the center rod until you begin to feel resistance, then turn it an additional 15 to 20 degrees. There should be about 2mm of movement when lightly pulling on the chain section between the two cam gears -- positive tension. Try this a few times while checking the tension on the chain to get a feel for it. If you have to tug on it with any amount of force to get it to move, it's too tight. I suppose the surefire way to tell whether the chain is properly tensioned is if the you're driving your car and your hear the engine make a medium-pitched "whirr" sound, it's too tight. Actually, you know what? Just spring for the damn tool and enjoy the endless e-peen flexing rights that come with it.

-With the dummy tensioner in place, you're ready to lock the cams down. Install the Vanos plate alignment tool.

-Now torque the bolts to 20 Nm or 15 ft-lbs, and with your angle meter give it an additional 180 degrees.

-Remove the dummy tensioner, install the new washer onto the factory tensioner, and torque it to 41 ft-lbs.

-Now... Remove the flywheel lock pin. Reinstall the blind plug.

-Turn the crankshaft a couple rotations to ensure things are (still) working. No abnormal resistance, noises, explosions, etc.

-Home stretch! Reinstall the valve cover plus new gasket and torque to 7.4 ft-lbs or 89 in-lbs.

-To torque the fuel lines, use a flare nut socket and position it perpendicular to the wrench handle. Positioning it above this line will result in more torque than indicated, and below it less torque than indicated. Fuel lines to injectors: 24 Nm or 18 ft-lb.

-Fuel rail line: 30 Nm or 22 ft-lb.

-Reinstall radiator fan, connectors, etc.

-Reinstall strut brace. Use new bolts. Big bolt: 74 ft-lb + 100 degrees. Less-big bolt: 30 ft-lb + 60 degrees.

-You're probably pretty tired. Give yourself a hug.

unoriginal · 01-20-2015, 06:15 PM

awesome DIY! Thanks so much for this! I will be tackling this job soon and have been looking for a guide. Time to start ordering parts...

How much time would you estimate it took you from start to finish, including throwing wrenches and shedding tears?

The Spoon · 01-21-2015, 12:35 AM

I'd say if it's your first time through, expect roughly 16 hours if you keep your tools organized; they start stacking up and disappearing. It took a good 18 for me because I spent a good amount of time looking for the blind plug without reference, and the rest of the time figuring out why my lockpin wouldn't slide into the flywheel because of the subpar timing tool set I bought. Good luck! If you run into issues I might be able to help.

The Spoon · 01-30-2015, 04:51 PM

So the noise came back after I replaced the failed lifter. Turns out it was a bad cam chain tensioner. If you're experiencing these symptoms I'd recommend you pick up a mechanic's stethoscope (About $5) and listen to the area around the front of the motor. My "clack clack" noise was most prevalent with the stethoscope directly on the tensioner bolt as well as around the Vanos solenoids. From what I can tell, the OEM unit is made by Febi, but don't quote me on that. I picked up mine for about $35 shipped from Pelican. The unit was virtually the same, except with the BMW etchings filed off. The spring resistance in the new unit was significantly stronger.

unoriginal · 01-30-2015, 10:23 PM

I was about to do this first thing tomorrow. Then I read your post and decided to try swapping out the tensioner bolt and BAM! fixed my noise as well!

Funny thing is, I had the tensioner bolt laying around for the last month, and i kept pushing it off.

So, I thank you very much since you saved me 18 hours of my life. Next time your in Orlando, rounds on me!

The Spoon · 02-01-2015, 05:24 PM

Right on! Hope you were able to return some of those parts that you didn't need

unoriginal · 02-01-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

Right on! Hope you were able to return some of those parts that you didn't need

Actually i spoke too soon. it was good for a day and the noise came back. its not as bad, but its there.

I am going to still do the lifters and cam ledgers next weekend...

ucdbiendog · 02-09-2015, 08:12 PM

This is one of the best DIYs I've seen. with that said, I hope i dont have to do this!

02-10-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucdbiendog

This is one of the best DIYs I've seen. with that said, I hope i dont have to do this!

+1 on that. Thanks OP! That was a fun and very entertaining read

seccsc · 02-28-2015, 09:22 AM

Thank you for the DIY.
Pelican parts lists INA another option for Hydraulic Lifters, is this the OEM for BMW? If so, this is $14 vice $20 on getbmwparts.com. Thoughts?

The Spoon · 02-28-2015, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Thank you for the DIY.
Pelican parts lists INA another option for Hydraulic Lifters, is this the OEM for BMW? If so, this is $14 vice $20 on getbmwparts.com. Thoughts?

I don't recall seeing an actual manufacturer stamp on the lifters in particular, so it's hard to say for sure. I do know INA is the OEM manufacturer for a couple parts on the car, and the picture does look pretty close to the actual BMW part.

bmaparts.com also brings up the INA part when you punch in the BMW part number, and they're usually pretty good about that stuff from my experience. I guess it's your call on whether or not you feel the savings is worth the potential risk; although the good news is that a failed lifter doesn't immediately cause catastrophic engine failure, so in the event that the replacement isn't up to par you can still remedy it.

seccsc · 02-28-2015, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

I don't recall seeing an actual manufacturer stamp on the lifters in particular, so it's hard to say for sure. I do know INA is the OEM manufacturer for a couple parts on the car, and the picture does look pretty close to the actual BMW part.

bmaparts.com also brings up the INA part when you punch in the BMW part number, and they're usually pretty good about that stuff from my experience. I guess it's your call on whether or not you feel the savings is worth the potential risk; although the good news is that a failed lifter doesn't immediately cause catastrophic engine failure, so in the event that the replacement isn't up to par you can still remedy it.

Thank you and I agree on the failed lifter can be remedied but I do not plan on disassembling my engine for another 100K. I plan on changing out the eccentric shaft sensor while I am in there also. If you have any other suggestions for preventative maintenance, your guidance would be appreciated.

Another question, how is the dummy chain tensioner applied? I assume it is in place of the timing chain tensioner? I am curious if trying to purchase the BMW special tool dummy chain tensioner (11 9 340) would be worth the cost. Thank you for your guidance.

The Spoon · 02-28-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Thank you and I agree on the failed lifter can be remedied but I do not plan on disassembling my engine for another 100K. I plan on changing out the eccentric shaft sensor while I am in there also. If you have any other suggestions for preventative maintenance, your guidance would be appreciated.

Another question, how is the dummy chain tensioner applied? I assume it is in place of the timing chain tensioner? I am curious if trying to purchase the BMW special tool dummy chain tensioner (11 9 340) would be worth the cost. Thank you for your guidance.

Yeah, having to do the job a second time is a pretty big pain in the ass. I've taken out the cams twice in this motor and the second time around was just as exhausting as the first.

I don't believe the N54 has an eccentric shaft sensor. The only preventative maintenance items that really jump out are the bearing ledges -- or rather, the camshaft rectangrings that tear into the bearing ledges -- and maybe swap the PCV valve with a replacement from RB if you're over 50k or so, which is cake.

Yes, the dummy tensioner is there in place of the factory spring tensioner to pre-tension the timing chain so there isn't any extra slack when you tighten down the cams. The regular tensioner doesn't provide enough tension for that. Well, it might; I just never tried. On the M-series motors it was possible to disassemble the stock tensioner and add tension using pennies as spacers, but the N54 unit seems to be sealed pretty good.

I also updated the optional parts section with the tool to apply the 5.3 in-lbs of torque stated in the service manual if you want that extra peace of mind. If you tighten down the dummy tensioner too much your timing chain will start to make a whirring sound and wear out prematurely. Not good.

seccsc · 02-28-2015, 11:18 PM

Repost. Admin please remove.

seccsc · 03-01-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Thank you and I agree on the failed lifter can be remedied but I do not plan on disassembling my engine for another 100K. I plan on changing out the eccentric shaft sensor while I am in there also. If you have any other suggestions for preventative maintenance, your guidance would be appreciated.

Another question, how is the dummy chain tensioner applied? I assume it is in place of the timing chain tensioner? I am curious if trying to purchase the BMW special tool dummy chain tensioner (11 9 340) would be worth the cost. Thank you for your guidance.

Yeah, having to do the job a second time is a pretty big pain in the ass. I've taken out the cams twice in this motor and the second time around was just as exhausting as the first.

I don't believe the N54 has an eccentric shaft sensor. The only preventative maintenance items that really jump out are the bearing ledges -- or rather, the camshaft rectangrings that tear into the bearing ledges -- and maybe swap the PCV valve with a replacement from RB if you're over 50k or so, which is cake.

Yes, the dummy tensioner is there in place of the factory spring tensioner to pre-tension the timing chain so there isn't any extra slack when you tighten down the cams. The regular tensioner doesn't provide enough tension for that. Well, it might; I just never tried. On the M-series motors it was possible to disassemble the stock tensioner and add tension using pennies as spacers, but the N54 unit seems to be sealed pretty good.

I also updated the optional parts section with the tool to apply the 5.3 in-lbs of torque stated in the service manual if you want that extra peace of mind. If you tighten down the dummy tensioner too much your timing chain will start to make a whirring sound and wear out prematurely. Not good.

Hey thanks for the alignment on the eccentric cam shaft sensor. As I look back at the pictures you posted and looking up the part, I would say I was on the windy corner by myself.
I appreciate your professional opinion. Looking over at the DIY for the replacing valve cover, I will probably just order a new valve cover. Per the other valve cover DIY, when you order the valve cover it arrives with the gasket, fasteners, and PCV. However, I am currently verifying and awaiting reply from getbmwparts.com. I will post result of that question once they respond. Cheers!

seccsc · 05-18-2015, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Hey thanks for the alignment on the eccentric cam shaft sensor. As I look back at the pictures you posted and looking up the part, I would say I was on the windy corner by myself.
I appreciate your professional opinion. Looking over at the DIY for the replacing valve cover, I will probably just order a new valve cover. Per the other valve cover DIY, when you order the valve cover it arrives with the gasket, fasteners, and PCV. However, I am currently verifying and awaiting reply from getbmwparts.com. I will post result of that question once they respond. Cheers!

Sorry for the delay but yes, when you order the valve cover gasket, it comes with the new gasket, fasteners, and PCV. Cheers!

seccsc · 05-19-2015, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

Yeah, having to do the job a second time is a pretty big pain in the ass. I've taken out the cams twice in this motor and the second time around was just as exhausting as the first.

I don't believe the N54 has an eccentric shaft sensor. The only preventative maintenance items that really jump out are the bearing ledges -- or rather, the camshaft rectangrings that tear into the bearing ledges -- and maybe swap the PCV valve with a replacement from RB if you're over 50k or so, which is cake.

Yes, the dummy tensioner is there in place of the factory spring tensioner to pre-tension the timing chain so there isn't any extra slack when you tighten down the cams. The regular tensioner doesn't provide enough tension for that. Well, it might; I just never tried. On the M-series motors it was possible to disassemble the stock tensioner and add tension using pennies as spacers, but the N54 unit seems to be sealed pretty good.

I also updated the optional parts section with the tool to apply the 5.3 in-lbs of torque stated in the service manual if you want that extra peace of mind. If you tighten down the dummy tensioner too much your timing chain will start to make a whirring sound and wear out prematurely. Not good.

Hey Spoon, does the Dummy Tensioner look like this installed?

What do you think of this flexible extension off of amazon would be a viable solution for torqueing?

The Spoon · 05-19-2015, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Hey Spoon, does the Dummy Tensioner look like this installed?

What do you think of this flexible extension off of amazon would be a viable solution for torqueing?

Yessir, the dummy tensioner is right. I think I might've gotten the same flex extensions. They were too rigid. I ended up using a u-joint instead. It'll result in some torque loss, but probably not enough to throw things out of whack.

seccsc · 05-21-2015, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

Quote:

Originally Posted by seccsc

Hey Spoon, does the Dummy Tensioner look like this installed?

What do you think of this flexible extension off of amazon would be a viable solution for torqueing?

Yessir, the dummy tensioner is right. I think I might've gotten the same flex extensions. They were too rigid. I ended up using a u-joint instead. It'll result in some torque loss, but probably not enough to throw things out of whack.

Thank you.

psychosinmylobby · 11-14-2015, 12:35 PM

Hey Spoon,

I am hearing the same noise from my engine bay and I would like to replace my timing belt tensioner bolt to see if it will rectify the issue.

So if I was going to only replace the tensioner bolt, it is simply as unbolting the old one, put in and torque the new one?

Thanks

The Spoon · 11-14-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychosinmylobby

Hey Spoon,

I am hearing the same noise from my engine bay and I would like to replace my timing belt tensioner bolt to see if it will rectify the issue.

So if I was going to only replace the tensioner bolt, it is simply as unbolting the old one, put in and torque the new one?

Thanks

Yep. Might want to keep a towel underneath the tensioner when you unbolt. A few ounces of oil will trickle out.

psychosinmylobby · 11-16-2015, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spoon

Yep. Might want to keep a towel underneath the tensioner when you unbolt. A few ounces of oil will trickle out.

Hey thanks for the quick reply and the tip, Spoon. In terms of quality, the Febi part is identical to the OEM one? How is that part holding up for you? No issues so far?

Thanks!

01-19-2015, 08:32 AM	#1
The Spoon Enlisted Member 26 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	DIY: N54 Hydraulic Lifter (and Cam Bearing Ledge) replacement This isn't my video, but it's pretty much what a bad lifter sounds like. Let me preface this by saying that I wouldn't recommend tackling this job unless you're a somewhat seasoned backyard mechanic, or at the very least don't have a tendency to crank on things with a gorilla grip when things don't go as expected. Parts Strut brace bolt: 07146954965 (Mounts to chasis) Strut brace bolt: 07146963730 (Mounts to strut tower) Valve cover gasket: 11127565286 Camshaft Rectangring: 11317587757 (4 total; 2 for each cam) Camshaft gear bolts: 11367524954 (2 total; 1 for each cam) Timing chain tensioner washer: 11317534251 If you're replacing hydraulic lifters: Hydraulic Lifter: 11337548690 (12 on intake side, 12 on exhaust) As far as I know there isn't a high failure rate for these on the N54, and every failure case I've read has been on the exhaust side (including my own), so you'll probably be fine just replacing the failed ones. I ended up replacing all 12 on the exhaust side to be safe. Use your own discretion. If you're replacing bearing ledges: Intake Cam Bearing Ledge: 11127550913 Exhaust Cam Bearing Ledge: 11127531224 Tools 6-point/12-point -8mm -10mm extended (for valve cover removal) -11mm -13mm -16mm -22mm -27mm (not extended) Torx -T20 -T25 -E8 -E10 -E14 -E18 Misc -Ratchet(s) -5mm hex (socket or key) -14mm flare nut socket -17mm flare nut socket -Socket extensions -Universal joints (3/8" and 1/2" at the very least. 1/4" recommended. You can get a decent quality set from Harbor Freight for about $3. They were actually way higher quality than the Craftsman one I had from years back.) -Telescoping inspection mirror -Marker (preferably a color that's easy to see) -Assembly lube -Angle torque meter: http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-28100-To.../dp/B0002STSW6 -Torque wrench(s) capable of values as low as 7.4 ft-lbs (valve cover) and as high as 74 ft-lbs (strut brace) -N54 timing tool set View post on imgur.com **Before you head to eBay to find the cheapest option like I did, know that not all of these kits are created equal. I paid $140 shipped for mine, not including the chain tensioner tool, and what I saved in dollars I paid for in sweat and tears. Manly tears, but tears nonetheless. The flywheel lock pin was too thick and had to be sanded down to fit, the nubs on the Vanos plate alignment tool also had to be slimmed down, and the camshaft locking tool mounting holes were so far off that I could only screw down one side of it. But hey, the joke's on them because my tears are worth way less than what I saved by cheaping out. I used some of those savings to buy a Costco pack of tissues. The soft ones. -N54 cam chain tensioner tool View post on imgur.com I picked up one of these from Koch Tools and it works perfectly. Optional Recommended-Wiha 29206 0.6 Nm (5.3 in-lbs) Easy Torque Handle (Use in conjunction with a Wiha 28582* and flex drive adapter or universal-joint to torque dummy tensioner to factory spec) View post on imgur.com -Wiha 28582 Square Drive Adapter -1/4" Flex Drive Adapter or 1/4" universal joint -8mm 12-point wrench (helps with cam bearing ledge bolts) -27mm wrench (easier timing chain tensioner access) -Zip ties (because zip ties) Disclaimer As always, when you're in backyard mechanic mode, expect to break things. It's like leveling up in an RPG except instead of victory music and bonus stats, you get dread, anger, and great feelings of ambivalence. It's better than it sounds, really. You follow this guide and your car goes snap crackle and pop, I'm not responsible. I've done my share of crying already. You can do your own. Procedure -Remove valve cover. Robc has an excellent in-depth guide here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=775317 -So. Valve cover's off and you're looking at a slightly less blurry version of this. The fun begins. View post on imgur.com -Remove the radiator fan by first removing the mounting screw on the left side. View post on imgur.com -Remove and set aside the connector and two tubes. View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com -Undo lower chargepipe clip (I forgot how to do this; I have an aftermarket one), and radiator fan clip on the right side. View post on imgur.com -Now you're ready to pull out the fan. If you have an oil cooler it'll need some coaxing, but it'll fit. Trust me, I'm a backyard mechanic. Pay close attention to the tabs at the top of the bumper. As far as I know, their only purpose is to obstruct the radiator fan from coming out smoothly, but I'm also kind of ignorant so I don't really know much. -So now you're looking at something like this, except probably with the oil cooler line still attached. I did this process before I developed the fearlessness that every backyard mechanic should have and removed the line to be safe. I also spilled oil all over my serpentine belt and alternator clutch pulley in the process, which may or may not have lead to it binding. But hey, my ineptitude is your gain. I wrote a DIY on the pulley replacement. Happy endings are the best. View post on imgur.com -Time to lock the motor in the TDC position. Jack up the car, throw some jack stands underneath, and remove the underbelly pan (otherwise known as the void in which dropped screws and tools never return from) of the car. There's about 21 or 23 or eleventy-nine 8mm screws holding it on. Power tools are your best friend here. View post on imgur.com -Get your flywheel locking pin from the timing kit. Hopefully you didn't cheap out on this part. It's a real pain in the ass to both locate the flywheel lockpin receptacle and determine whether or not the pin needs to be modified at the same time. View post on imgur.com -The locking pin goes in the location of number 16 in this diagram. View post on imgur.com -Locate this connector underneath the car. View post on imgur.com -Assuming you're lying with your legs toward the passenger side and your head toward the driver's side, look into the engine bay above the connector. You should see something like this. View post on imgur.com -Reach into that dark scary hole and feel around the corners of the engine block for something thin and rubbery. Yes, like a small penis, you juvenile. What you're looking for is the rubber plug that blocks the receptacle for the locking pin. View post on imgur.com -I had to use a small screwdriver to pull it out. View post on imgur.com -Insert your locking pin into the hole. View post on imgur.com *DO NOT ROTATE THE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERCLOCKWISE* -Let's go back up top. Locate the crankshaft pulley at the front of the engine bay. Throw a 22mm socket on a big ratchet and get ready to turn the crankshaft clockwise. View post on imgur.com -Before you turn, take a look at the opening at the front of your bearing ledges. What you're looking for is a QR code on both cams, like this: View post on imgur.com -When both cams show the QR code, you'll be at TDC. The holes on your Vanos plates should be in this orientation: View post on imgur.com -Alternatively, you can remove the spark plug in cylinder 1 and place a screwdriver in it. When it reaches its highest point, you'll be at TDC. -To be safe, use your telescoping mirror to look at the back of the engine, as detailed here: http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...n54)/page_339/ -Now go back underneath the car and see if you can press the flywheel locking pin through the flywheel to lock it. You may need to jiggle it a bit. If not... -Find this plastic cover. The center jack point is at the top of the picture for reference. Pop this cover off to reveal the flywheel. View post on imgur.com -Take a look inside and you should see a raised plate with a blue dot (assuming you have the stock flywheel), like so: View post on imgur.com -When the end edge of that specific raised plate is in the center of the peephole, the flywheel hole will be aligned with the locking pin position. If the flywheel is past that point, you'll have to rotate it two full rotations before attempting it again. Trial and error, my friend. Trial and error. View post on imgur.com -When the lock pin is in position, you'll be unable to turn crankshaft. Verify that the engine is at TDC. If so, you're ready to lock the camshafts into position with the locking tool. View post on imgur.com -Now we need to remove the cam chain tensioner, but not before unbolting some stuff to make room, of course. First, unbolt your coolant overflow reservoir and vacuum canister bracket (3 bolts and 1 nut). View post on imgur.com -Removing the right vacuum canister reveals two nuts at the bottom. You know the drill. Set them free. View post on imgur.com -Now you should be looking at a very well-endowed silver nut. That's the cam chain tensioner. View post on imgur.com -Place a paper towel underneath the tensioner nut. A small amount of oil will trickle out once it's loose. If you have a 27mm wrench, it should come off without hassle. If not, you should be able to fit a socket over it using a u-joint and some perseverance. View post on imgur.com -Tensioner out. Give it two slow compressions to drain the oil out. View post on imgur.com -Take your marker and mark the cam chain position for reference. View post on imgur.com -Now you're ready to break those cam bolts loose. 16mm. Do it. Also, discard these bolts. View post on imgur.com -Vanos plates should come off with little resistance. View post on imgur.com -As an added safety measure, you should probably zip tie the cam gear to the cam chain so they don't separate. Or, like me, you can put an immense amount of faith in the marker you used and hope that they don't accidentally get wiped off. Safety is overrated. Sometimes. -Separate the cam gears from the cams. They're held on by friction and may need some coaxing if they're tilted off-axis with respect to the cams. -At this point, you'd normally need a special tool to depress the valve springs to take tension off the cams, but there's a workaround for you cheapasses thanks to bimmertoolrental: You'll be able to tell when there's no pressure on the valves by wiggling their respective rocker arms. If they don't wiggle, then there's tension on the valve spring. -Evidently I forgot to take pictures up to this point. Oops. Now you're ready to unbolt the bearing ledges. I always hear about how delicate these hollow cams are, so I elected to loosen each bolt a half turn at time. Service manual states that you should loosen them outward to inward. 14 bolts on the intake side, 17 (including 2 in the front that hold the cam chain guide) on the exhaust side. The two cams are not interchangeable, so keep track of them. When removing exhaust, start with the two in the front. View post on imgur.com -Intake side out. And drunk, apparently. Apologies. View post on imgur.com -Lifters slide out with the rockers. They're clipped on and separate with little effort. It's good practice to keep track of where they came from so you can put them back where they came. If not, well, that's okay... but you'll bring shame upon your family. Compare your existing lifters with new ones. They should be at full extension and rock solid (aww yeah). If they're mushy, they most likely have a faulty check-valve and should be replaced. If they're solid but shorter than others, then they're probably stuck. Replace those, too. Alternatively (in this case, the smarter choice), you can drain them by sticking the end of a paperclip down the top hole to release the check valve. They should be springy and compressible by hand. If not, they're seized. If you're the meticulous type, you can soak them in some solvent to clean them up a bit. Submerge them in oil and give them a few pumps and they should fill back up. Well... in theory, anyway. That didn't work too well for me so instead I just rotated the crank a few times by hand after everything was bolted up, which worked out better. I tried opening one to clean out but had a hell of a time trying to get it back together without mangling the retaining rings. At $20 a pop, it's probably not worth the effort unless a large number of them have failed. View post on imgur.com -Remove the two metal rings at the end of each camshaft. They unclip pretty easily by hand. Replace them with the new softer, gentler rings. You'll have to stretch them slightly to get them to fit, but they'll shrink back and be flush after a heat cycle or two. -Inspect your bearing ledges for indentations made by the camshaft rings. Here's what mine looked like after 60k. View post on imgur.com -So now you're ready to put things back together. First off, in case you goofed and didn't keep track of which cam goes where, here's a reference: http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...n54)/page_341/ A = Exhaust (left side) View post on imgur.com E = Intake (right side) View post on imgur.com -Assembly lube. Hey... if some is good, then more is better right?! Put some on the rockers, too. View post on imgur.com -Install the new bearing ledges and cams. Make sure the QR code on both cams are facing upwards, and lock them down with the cam tool. View post on imgur.com -Make sure the rockers are seated on top of the valve stems. They're magnetically attached so they're pretty easy to knock off. Give them a slight wiggle. Careful when you get to cylinder 6, they fall off pretty easily if you nudge them the wrong way. Ask me how I know. View post on imgur.com -So you're probably pretty spent by now. Your back aches, you may have cried a few manly tears, thrown some wrenches, shouted some profanities, and your neighbors probably think you're some sort of psychopath, so you'll be glad to know that this is where things start to get tense. After threading down the bearing ledge bolts by hand, you'll want to tighten them evenly (criss-cross) or you risk snapping a cam. I did them a quarter turn at a time. Some bolts will give you more resistance than others. An 8mm 12-point wrench works well here since you run no risk of rounding off the torx heads with the force you're exerting. If you start to feel greater-than-normal resistance, move on to the next bolt. When you come back next round they'll be easier to turn. Stay strong, friends. -When you've gotten all the bolts finger-tight, check and make sure the sides of the bearing ledges are flush with each other horizontally (i.e. no sideways protrusions). Tolerances are pretty tight so they should be perfectly aligned since they're new. Torque the bolts to 8 Nm or 71 in-lbs. Follow them up with your angle torque meter with an additional 60 degrees. Mark the torqued bolts with a marker in case you lose your spot, since you can't go back to check existing angle torque. View post on imgur.com -Remove the cam locking tool and torque the previously-obstructed bolts. -Now that your bearing ledges are properly torqued, thread the cam chain guide rail bolts and torque them to 8.5 Nm or 75 in-lbs. View post on imgur.com -Install the cam gear and timing chain back onto the cam. If you were smart and used zip ties, remove them. If you were less smart and didn't, you're still a winner because this is America. Just make sure the marks you made previously match up. -Install Vanos plates and thread the new camshaft collar bolts. Do not tighten them yet. View post on imgur.com -Install the timing chain tensioner tool. The service manual calls for 0.6 Nm or 5.3 in-lb torque against the chain. If you have a tool to do this, you are a god amongst backyard mechanics. For us plebeians, tighten the center rod until you begin to feel resistance, then turn it an additional 15 to 20 degrees. There should be about 2mm of movement when lightly pulling on the chain section between the two cam gears -- positive tension. Try this a few times while checking the tension on the chain to get a feel for it. If you have to tug on it with any amount of force to get it to move, it's too tight. I suppose the surefire way to tell whether the chain is properly tensioned is if the you're driving your car and your hear the engine make a medium-pitched "whirr" sound, it's too tight. Actually, you know what? Just spring for the damn tool and enjoy the endless e-peen flexing rights that come with it. View post on imgur.com -With the dummy tensioner in place, you're ready to lock the cams down. Install the Vanos plate alignment tool. View post on imgur.com -Now torque the bolts to 20 Nm or 15 ft-lbs, and with your angle meter give it an additional 180 degrees. View post on imgur.com -Remove the dummy tensioner, install the new washer onto the factory tensioner, and torque it to 41 ft-lbs. View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com -Now... Remove the flywheel lock pin. Reinstall the blind plug. -Turn the crankshaft a couple rotations to ensure things are (still) working. No abnormal resistance, noises, explosions, etc. -Home stretch! Reinstall the valve cover plus new gasket and torque to 7.4 ft-lbs or 89 in-lbs. -To torque the fuel lines, use a flare nut socket and position it perpendicular to the wrench handle. Positioning it above this line will result in more torque than indicated, and below it less torque than indicated. Fuel lines to injectors: 24 Nm or 18 ft-lb. View post on imgur.com -Fuel rail line: 30 Nm or 22 ft-lb. View post on imgur.com -Reinstall radiator fan, connectors, etc. -Reinstall strut brace. Use new bolts. Big bolt: 74 ft-lb + 100 degrees. Less-big bolt: 30 ft-lb + 60 degrees. -You're probably pretty tired. Give yourself a hug. Last edited by The Spoon; 03-17-2017 at 12:46 AM..
	Appreciate 1 AndyW665.50 Tweet Quote

01-20-2015, 06:15 PM	#2
unoriginal Private 9 Rep 82 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (2)	awesome DIY! Thanks so much for this! I will be tackling this job soon and have been looking for a guide. Time to start ordering parts... How much time would you estimate it took you from start to finish, including throwing wrenches and shedding tears?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2015, 12:35 AM	#3
The Spoon Enlisted Member 26 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I'd say if it's your first time through, expect roughly 16 hours if you keep your tools organized; they start stacking up and disappearing. It took a good 18 for me because I spent a good amount of time looking for the blind plug without reference, and the rest of the time figuring out why my lockpin wouldn't slide into the flywheel because of the subpar timing tool set I bought. Good luck! If you run into issues I might be able to help.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2015, 04:51 PM	#4
The Spoon Enlisted Member 26 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	So the noise came back after I replaced the failed lifter. Turns out it was a bad cam chain tensioner. If you're experiencing these symptoms I'd recommend you pick up a mechanic's stethoscope (About $5) and listen to the area around the front of the motor. My "clack clack" noise was most prevalent with the stethoscope directly on the tensioner bolt as well as around the Vanos solenoids. From what I can tell, the OEM unit is made by Febi, but don't quote me on that. I picked up mine for about $35 shipped from Pelican. The unit was virtually the same, except with the BMW etchings filed off. The spring resistance in the new unit was significantly stronger.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2015, 10:23 PM	#5
unoriginal Private 9 Rep 82 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (2)	I was about to do this first thing tomorrow. Then I read your post and decided to try swapping out the tensioner bolt and BAM! fixed my noise as well! Funny thing is, I had the tensioner bolt laying around for the last month, and i kept pushing it off. So, I thank you very much since you saved me 18 hours of my life. Next time your in Orlando, rounds on me!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-01-2015, 05:24 PM	#6
The Spoon Enlisted Member 26 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Right on! Hope you were able to return some of those parts that you didn't need
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-09-2015, 08:12 PM	#8
ucdbiendog Captain 89 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi E90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Reno, NV iTrader: (0)	This is one of the best DIYs I've seen. with that said, I hope i dont have to do this!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-28-2015, 09:22 AM	#10
seccsc Captain 239 Rep 714 Posts Drives: G20 M340xi Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	Thank you for the DIY. Pelican parts lists INA another option for Hydraulic Lifters, is this the OEM for BMW? If so, this is $14 vice $20 on getbmwparts.com. Thoughts? __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-28-2015, 11:18 PM	#14
seccsc Captain 239 Rep 714 Posts Drives: G20 M340xi Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	Repost. Admin please remove. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-14-2015, 12:35 PM	#20
psychosinmylobby Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Sparkling Graphite Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW e92 335i [0.00]	Hey Spoon, I am hearing the same noise from my engine bay and I would like to replace my timing belt tensioner bolt to see if it will rectify the issue. So if I was going to only replace the tensioner bolt, it is simply as unbolting the old one, put in and torque the new one? Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote