Spring maintenance

DickBlisken · 03-22-2015, 02:47 PM

Hey all,

Looking at doing a bit of work on my 2009 E92 328i in the coming weeks. Here's what I plan on doing:

- Oil filter housing gasket
- Valve cover gasket
- Spark plugs replacement
- Clean VANOS solenoids
- Clean eccentric shaft sensor

At 43k miles, is this overkill?

There haven't been any problems/failures/fault codes, so this would all be preventative maintenance. Also, as the second owner of this car, and I have no records of the previous owner completing any of this.

What do you think?

fravel · 03-22-2015, 03:35 PM

I wouldn't bother with any of the gaskets unless you have evidence of them failing. You also might be slightly premature on your spark plugs, but it's not terribly expensive if you DIY and it certainly won't hurt. Cleaning VANOS solenoids is cheap and easy so why not? Eccentric shaft sensor... eh, maybe take a look at it, make sure it isn't full of oil, might give it a quick shot of some electrical contact cleaner of some sort, but that's about it.

At that mileage I'd be more concerned with air/cabin filter and oil changes, and making sure your other fluids are current. A $20 coolant change would be more beneficial to you than a VCG change (unless it's failed, of course) IMO. If you really wanna go crazy you could change out your power steering fluid and flush your brake lines too.

cpie168 · 03-22-2015, 09:42 PM

Sorry to sidetrack but is there a DIY on how to:

- Clean VANOS solenoids
- Clean eccentric shaft sensor

? Thanks!

DickBlisken · 03-22-2015, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fravel

I wouldn't bother with any of the gaskets unless you have evidence of them failing. You also might be slightly premature on your spark plugs, but it's not terribly expensive if you DIY and it certainly won't hurt. Cleaning VANOS solenoids is cheap and easy so why not? Eccentric shaft sensor... eh, maybe take a look at it, make sure it isn't full of oil, might give it a quick shot of some electrical contact cleaner of some sort, but that's about it.

At that mileage I'd be more concerned with air/cabin filter and oil changes, and making sure your other fluids are current. A $20 coolant change would be more beneficial to you than a VCG change (unless it's failed, of course) IMO. If you really wanna go crazy you could change out your power steering fluid and flush your brake lines too.

Good points. Forgot to mention all the work would be DIY, so the parts and my time are the only expense.

Air/cabin filters, tranny fluid and diff fluid have already been done. I may consider coolant and power steering next, haven't even considered those yet.

If I have to take the valve cover off to access the eccentric shaft sensor, wouldn't I have to replace the gasket anyways?

Phil325i · 03-23-2015, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpie168

Sorry to sidetrack but is there a DIY on how to:

- Clean VANOS solenoids
- Clean eccentric shaft sensor

? Thanks!

Here you go:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=697252

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201

fravel · 03-23-2015, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nico87

Good points. Forgot to mention all the work would be DIY, so the parts and my time are the only expense.

Air/cabin filters, tranny fluid and diff fluid have already been done. I may consider coolant and power steering next, haven't even considered those yet.

If I have to take the valve cover off to access the eccentric shaft sensor, wouldn't I have to replace the gasket anyways?

You would only have to take off the valve cover to actually replace the eccentric shaft sensor, you can do the sort of inspection/cleaning I'm talking about by just popping off the beauty cover that sits on top of the valve cover (Beauty cover is just secured by rubber grommets, firmly pull up on it and it will pop off). See photo below, the cap circled in yellow is the lead for the eccentric shaft sensor - it rotates about 90* (I want to say it's counter-clockwise, but don't quote me on that) then pops out. Inside you'll find contact pins, just verify that it isn't full of oil - no oil, no codes, no problems.

cpie168 · 03-23-2015, 09:07 AM

There's no picture and nothing circled in yellow.

fravel · 03-23-2015, 09:41 AM

That's weird, shows up for me.

cpie168 · 03-23-2015, 11:19 AM

It's here now for some reason. Strange!

DickBlisken · 03-23-2015, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fravel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nico87

Good points. Forgot to mention all the work would be DIY, so the parts and my time are the only expense.

Air/cabin filters, tranny fluid and diff fluid have already been done. I may consider coolant and power steering next, haven't even considered those yet.

If I have to take the valve cover off to access the eccentric shaft sensor, wouldn't I have to replace the gasket anyways?

You would only have to take off the valve cover to actually replace the eccentric shaft sensor, you can do the sort of inspection/cleaning I'm talking about by just popping off the beauty cover that sits on top of the valve cover (Beauty cover is just secured by rubber grommets, firmly pull up on it and it will pop off). See photo below, the cap circled in yellow is the lead for the eccentric shaft sensor - it rotates about 90* (I want to say it's counter-clockwise, but don't quote me on that) then pops out. Inside you'll find contact pins, just verify that it isn't full of oil - no oil, no codes, no problems.

Nice, thanks for that!

DickBlisken · 03-23-2015, 10:12 PM

Just had a look under the hood, looks like a new OFHG is in order.

cdgatti · 03-24-2015, 06:32 AM

I had all those gaskets plus oil pan gasket replaced at dealer under cpo plan. check that first they may be willing to do something if all those things are leaking at less than 50k. also the belt tensioner/pulley is a weak point that may need replacing.

Spitfire007 · 03-24-2015, 09:02 AM

Not broken?

Don't fix it.

DickBlisken · 03-24-2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdgatti

I had all those gaskets plus oil pan gasket replaced at dealer under cpo plan. check that first they may be willing to do something if all those things are leaking at less than 50k. also the belt tensioner/pulley is a weak point that may need replacing.

I'm not CPO

fravel · 03-24-2015, 10:53 AM

Yup, you're due for OFHG change for sure.

03-22-2015, 02:47 PM	#1
DickBlisken First Lieutenant 34 Rep 313 Posts Drives: Like a hooligan Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E92 328i [0.00]	Spring maintenance — overkill? Hey all, Looking at doing a bit of work on my 2009 E92 328i in the coming weeks. Here's what I plan on doing: - Oil filter housing gasket - Valve cover gasket - Spark plugs replacement - Clean VANOS solenoids - Clean eccentric shaft sensor At 43k miles, is this overkill? There haven't been any problems/failures/fault codes, so this would all be preventative maintenance. Also, as the second owner of this car, and I have no records of the previous owner completing any of this. What do you think? __________________ 2016 F30 340i M Sport \| 2009 E92 328i 6MT
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03-22-2015, 03:35 PM	#2
fravel Colonel 1645 Rep 2,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: The Nasti 'Nati iTrader: (1)	I wouldn't bother with any of the gaskets unless you have evidence of them failing. You also might be slightly premature on your spark plugs, but it's not terribly expensive if you DIY and it certainly won't hurt. Cleaning VANOS solenoids is cheap and easy so why not? Eccentric shaft sensor... eh, maybe take a look at it, make sure it isn't full of oil, might give it a quick shot of some electrical contact cleaner of some sort, but that's about it. At that mileage I'd be more concerned with air/cabin filter and oil changes, and making sure your other fluids are current. A $20 coolant change would be more beneficial to you than a VCG change (unless it's failed, of course) IMO. If you really wanna go crazy you could change out your power steering fluid and flush your brake lines too. __________________
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03-22-2015, 09:42 PM	#3
cpie168 Major 173 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Sorry to sidetrack but is there a DIY on how to: - Clean VANOS solenoids - Clean eccentric shaft sensor ? Thanks!
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03-23-2015, 09:07 AM	#7
cpie168 Major 173 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	There's no picture and nothing circled in yellow.
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03-23-2015, 09:41 AM	#8
fravel Colonel 1645 Rep 2,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: The Nasti 'Nati iTrader: (1)	That's weird, shows up for me. __________________
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03-23-2015, 11:19 AM	#9
cpie168 Major 173 Rep 1,117 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i 6MT ZSP BSM Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: K/W and GTA, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	It's here now for some reason. Strange!
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03-23-2015, 10:12 PM	#11
DickBlisken First Lieutenant 34 Rep 313 Posts Drives: Like a hooligan Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E92 328i [0.00]	Just had a look under the hood, looks like a new OFHG is in order. Attached Images __________________ 2016 F30 340i M Sport \| 2009 E92 328i 6MT
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03-24-2015, 06:32 AM	#12
cdgatti Colonel 255 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: e90 328i Join Date: May 2011 Location: KY iTrader: (4)	I had all those gaskets plus oil pan gasket replaced at dealer under cpo plan. check that first they may be willing to do something if all those things are leaking at less than 50k. also the belt tensioner/pulley is a weak point that may need replacing. __________________ OEM Black grill and Blackline tails - LCI halogens with Lux V2 coded as DRL - 3M Crystalline - BMS PBX - OEM Euro Airbox with K&N - Hardwired CTEK - Bilstein B6 w/OEM springs and SP perches - Conti DWS06 - HiFi-Helix DSP - JLAudio HD/XD-Morel - CD changer trim - AE optical out
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03-24-2015, 09:02 AM	#13
Spitfire007 Captain 189 Rep 682 Posts Drives: 09 328i Sport 6MT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	Not broken? Don't fix it.
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03-24-2015, 10:53 AM	#15
fravel Colonel 1645 Rep 2,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: The Nasti 'Nati iTrader: (1)	Yup, you're due for OFHG change for sure. __________________
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