[Cescrow]

Hi guys, today I replaced both vanos solenoids and when putting one of the bolts it just snapped and left most of it inside. Any suggestions on how to get it out with the limited space to work in?
Much appreciated.

[RayLivingston]

By simply removing the fan and shroud (a 5 minute job - only two screws, one hose, and one harness), you should have enough room to use a right-angle drill to drill the bolt and use an easy-out. If it's broken off flush, you really have no alternative. If removing the fan and shroud does not give enough room, then you need to pull the radiator to get more room.

Regards,
Ray L.

[desertman123]

Tape a piece of cardboard to the radiator. You WILL smack it a few times.

[Efthreeoh]

If you don't have good skills at using a drill and an easy out, learning on the hold down bolt for the VANOS is not the place to start. The hold down bolt is an M6 IIRC, so there is not a lot of room for error. Breaking the bolt shaft tells me you over torqued the bolt (or it was seriously corroded in place). If you broke the bolt tightening it, then that indicates your mechanical skills are a bit lacking (please take no offense to that - I'm making a point). Being that is the case, you need good machine shop skills to properly center-drill the bolt (you need a machinist's center punch) and 1/16th or 3/32nds drill bit to center-drill the bolt shaft. Then you can only drill it a few millimeters so as to not drill through the head casting. There is always the risk of being off center of the bolt shaft and drilling into the aluminium cylinder head. All of that in a very tight space. If I had to do an machinist operation like that, I'd pull out the radiator too.

Pulling the radiator is no easy task because the BMW hose connectors for the radiator hoses are usually fixed in place due to age and heat cycling, they are s serious PIA to remove. When I did my hoses at 230K miles, I ended up cutting the hoses, pulling the radiator, mechanically tieing it down to my work bench, and prying the hoses off with two large screwdrivers. The hose bib connections do not twist, so there is no way to break the tension of the large o-rings inside the connectors.

If you feel you don't have the skill set I just discussed, it might be a better option to have a BMW indy shop do the work for you, or find a friend who has the skills and tools to do it.

[smass]

Every bolt I have broken has come out easily by hand. With limited space a jewelers screwdriver works great as a pick.

[El Cheapo Loco]

Originally Posted by smassey321

Every bolt I have broken has come out easily by hand. With limited space a jewelers screwdriver works great as a pick.

+1 Try a pick first, find one with a very sharp tip. Chances are it will come out just fine.