[weehe126]

So my valvetronic servomotor went out and spent today replacing it. Everything went smoothly until I went to replace the oil squirter back onto the servomotor. I noticed the bolt that holds down the squirter was not a banjo bolt. Now I had my vanos units replaced under the recall but the dealer that did the work is sub-par at best. What are the chances that they put the wrong bolt back in there? It would make sense that the servomotor died as it was oil starved. Or am I crazy and that is the correct bolt and the oil is just supposed to slightly drip.

Bolt:




Squirter:


Where the bolt goes:




Now none of the other bolts are long like this one, but I can't see how oil would get through to the squirter with it not being a banjo.

[Dozhdbog]

What is a banjo bolt.

[trixdout]

I would assuming that if whatever the bolt bolts down looks like it should have a banjo bolt, then it should. There is a reason why the piece has a hole in it like that.

Originally Posted by Dozhdbog

What is a banjo bolt.

[Bavarian Tech]

That's the correct bolt

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by weehe126

What are the chances that they put the wrong bolt back in there? It would make sense that the servomotor died as it was oil starved. Or am I crazy and that is the correct bolt and the oil is just supposed to slightly drip.

I just noticed the same thing. From what I remember, the bolts hole wasn't even fed oil. The oil squirter seems to be there just for show lol. Also, I would think that if the purpose was to give oil something to collect on so that it can drip back down then BMW would've at least used something with more surface area.

The gear of the servo motor is supposed to be slathered in Long Life Moly lube. Mine was bone dry. Oil must wash it away pretty quickly. The grease significantly reduces gear friction. Without the grease I can see how the servo motor would be strained as even by hand it was significantly harder to turn the eccentric shaft without the lube. The servo motor itself should be sitting in oil at all times since it sits in a low spot of the cylinder head where a pool will collect so I don't think being "oil starved" is either possible or the cause of any failure.

[Hannibal4444]

Any advice when doing this job? I recently got the 2DD6 code and hearing the clicking sound. Also, is there any reference DIY you followed?

Thanks!

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by Hannibal4444

Any advice when doing this job? I recently got the 2DD6 code and hearing the clicking sound. Also, is there any reference DIY you followed?

Thanks!

First thing i recommend is to run the self adjustment procedure from ISTA for like 70 or so cycles it takes 10-15 minutes to complete..

[Hannibal4444]

Is that to troubleshoot if it's still operational? Or is that a pre-procedure type of thing?

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by weehe126

So my valvetronic servomotor went out and spent today replacing it. Everything went smoothly until I went to replace the oil squirter back onto the servomotor. I noticed the bolt that holds down the squirter was not a banjo bolt. Now I had my vanos units replaced under the recall but the dealer that did the work is sub-par at best. What are the chances that they put the wrong bolt back in there? It would make sense that the servomotor died as it was oil starved. Or am I crazy and that is the correct bolt and the oil is just supposed to slightly drip.

Bolt:




Squirter:


Where the bolt goes:




Now none of the other bolts are long like this one, but I can't see how oil would get through to the squirter with it not being a banjo.

Update:

The oil squirter hole actually is fed oil from the cam ledge. In this picture, you can very vagualy see the oil hole at the bottom of the bolt hole (it's in the shadow).





This must be a blunder from the factory... This bolt should be a banjo bolt.

Now do I try to source the right bolt or just say screw it and button my engine back up? Lol first eccentric shaft motor lasted 100k miles.

[AJL]

Originally Posted by bbnks2

Update:

The oil squirter hole actually is fed oil from the cam ledge. In this picture, you can very vagualy see the oil hole at the bottom of the bolt hole (it's in the shadow).





This must be a blunder from the factory... This bolt should be a banjo bolt.

Now do I try to source the right bolt or just say screw it and button my engine back up? Lol first eccentric shaft motor lasted 100k miles.

Idk, I mean realoem says that's the correct bolt lol

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_4461

[weehe126]

My first servomotor lasted 70k miles and have 50k miles on the new one and kept the stock non-banjo bolt. I agree it is an error from the factory, but seems like it works at least ok. I would be interested to know if the N52 or S55 have banjo bolts.

[hassmaschine]

I have one sitting in a box - I'll see if it's got a hole in it. I don't actually remember if it had a hole, but I think it did. I just had mine apart for the MILVS too but I didn't look at the bolt.

The valvetronic systems between the N52 and N55 are pretty much the same. honestly if it does or doesn't I don't think you need to worry about it too much - the N55 does have a different Valvetronic motor (smaller/faster), but on the N52 they easily last the life of the engine (200-300k). The only failures I've ever heard of are from people taking them out without putting them in the service position, which can break off the shaft. The N55 has the position sensor built in, which I suppose is why they need replaced sometimes.

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I have one sitting in a box - I'll see if it's got a hole in it. I don't actually remember if it had a hole, but I think it did. I just had mine apart for the MILVS too but I didn't look at the bolt.

The valvetronic systems between the N52 and N55 are pretty much the same. honestly if it does or doesn't I don't think you need to worry about it too much - the N55 does have a different Valvetronic motor (smaller/faster), but on the N52 they easily last the life of the engine (200-300k). The only failures I've ever heard of are from people taking them out without putting them in the service position, which can break off the shaft. The N55 has the position sensor built in, which I suppose is why they need replaced sometimes.

thats very good information. Never knew that.

[Hannibal4444]

Finally got some time to start this job. It's actually not hard to do this when you follow the manual. Just time consuming if it's your first time.

What grease did you guys use?
Should I get the one the manual states to use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=ADSK7CCAPPFRK

or save a few bucks and use
https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-20.../dp/B01BSMMJ2A

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by Hannibal4444

Finally got some time to start this job. It's actually not hard to do this when you follow the manual. Just time consuming if it's your first time.

What grease did you guys use?
Should I get the one the manual states to use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=ADSK7CCAPPFRK

or save a few bucks and use
https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-20.../dp/B01BSMMJ2A

I used the liqui moly stuff. MOs2 is MOs2, right?

[aperez159]

Did you get a code to find out that your valvetronic went out?

Originally Posted by weehe126

So my valvetronic servomotor went out and spent today replacing it. Everything went smoothly until I went to replace the oil squirter back onto the servomotor. I noticed the bolt that holds down the squirter was not a banjo bolt. Now I had my vanos units replaced under the recall but the dealer that did the work is sub-par at best. What are the chances that they put the wrong bolt back in there? It would make sense that the servomotor died as it was oil starved. Or am I crazy and that is the correct bolt and the oil is just supposed to slightly drip.

Bolt:




Squirter:


Where the bolt goes:




Now none of the other bolts are long like this one, but I can't see how oil would get through to the squirter with it not being a banjo.

[weehe126]

Originally Posted by aperez159

Did you get a code to find out that your valvetronic went out?

Yes, but it took 4 months for it to come up. The electrical clicking sounds when locking/unlocking the car is a better indicator.

[juld0zer]

Originally Posted by bbnks2

I used the liqui moly stuff. MOs2 is MOs2, right?

The BMW grease has no moly. It actually resembles apricot jam with a viscosity similar to hair gel. Moly greases are usually dark grey or black.