[mecheng77]

This is a good thread, I will do this soon.

[mecheng77]

I have 120,000km on my car, both filters were in absolutely perfect condition, no build up or debris. The previous owner followed the cbs for oil changes. I tried using a mirror to help but it was near impossible. Removing the fender liner made the job easier but not easy. Wobble extensions helped

[mweisdorfer]

New ones aren't that expensive. I've replaced mine a while back. When I did, they weren't that dirty. I use an oil flush upon every oil change and change out the oil filter 1/2 way through the interval.

[leif20]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I have 120,000km on my car, both filters were in absolutely perfect condition, no build up or debris. The previous owner followed the cbs for oil changes. I tried using a mirror to help but it was near impossible. Removing the fender liner made the job easier but not easy. Wobble extensions helped

I had the VANOS codes and did this job back in the summer, this was my experience. I think these will only get clogged if you go near or past the CBS.

[grzesiek1035]

Hi,
I cannot find Filter Vanos in my Engine:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...6-E90-BMW-318i

here is my Engine.

I getting error 2A83, and I did replace chaing timing, sledges, timing tensioner, replaced both selenoids and also sensors. And still getting Error and check engine.
Just I can't find Vanos Fileters and clean them

[shrek_pce]

Hello everyone, wanted to ask about the N43B20A engine - 2.0 4cyl - does it have or does it not have the vanos filters? Realoem schemes don't show these...just wanted to check whether I am not neglecting anything.

Cheers

[N52bigblock]

Originally Posted by grzesiek1035

Hi,
I cannot find Filter Vanos in my Engine:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...6-E90-BMW-318i

here is my Engine.

I getting error 2A83, and I did replace chaing timing, sledges, timing tensioner, replaced both selenoids and also sensors. And still getting Error and check engine.
Just I can't find Vanos Fileters and clean them

No vanos filters in the 4 cyl only screens/ filters on the solenoids. Did you check your oil pickup when you had the sump off for the timing chain job? Broken pieces of the timing chain guides often get stuck in the pickup, causing poor oil pressure, VANOS codes and engine damage from oil starvation. They also have a non return valve in the oil gallery on top of the engine block. I have seen that block up before as well. The cyl head needs to be removed to check that valve though.

[N52bigblock]

Originally Posted by shrek_pce

Hello everyone, wanted to ask about the N43B20A engine - 2.0 4cyl - does it have or does it not have the vanos filters? Realoem schemes don't show these...just wanted to check whether I am not neglecting anything.

Cheers

No VANOS filters in the 4 cyl. The solenoids have screens on them. They do have a non return valve in the oil gallery on top of the engine block. You can't check that without taking the cyl head off though.

[shrek_pce]

Originally Posted by neilj35

No VANOS filters in the 4 cyl. The solenoids have screens on them. They do have a non return valve in the oil gallery on top of the engine block. You can't check that without taking the cyl head off though.

Thanks, my thought was right then.

[UK_Nomad]

Update 1 month after cleaning vanos & filters :

No more vanos error codes
The slight "lifter tick" that's been present since I got the car has gone away
The motor pulls better from low revs (I guess poor vanos affects low down power more than the higher rev ranges)
Fuel consumption has improved massively (was 24-27mpg, now 32-35mpg)


For info, I removed/replaced the filters from under the bonnet (hood? ) "blind" without ramps etc. Tricky but not too difficult
Cleaning the solenoids was worth doing but I noticed the main improvements after I cleaned the filters.

Many thanks (i'm a lot happier but it's still a love/hate car !)

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by UK_Nomad

Update 1 month after cleaning vanos & filters :

No more vanos error codes
The slight "lifter tick" that's been present since I got the car has gone away
The motor pulls better from low revs (I guess poor vanos affects low down power more than the higher rev ranges)
Fuel consumption has improved massively (was 24-27mpg, now 32-35mpg)


For info, I removed/replaced the filters from under the bonnet (hood? ) "blind" without ramps etc. Tricky but not too difficult
Cleaning the solenoids was worth doing but I noticed the main improvements after I cleaned the filters.

Many thanks (i'm a lot happier but it's still a love/hate car !)

This is great to hear!

I was going to ask what they looked like when you initially removed them. I'll save anyone else the extra effort and provide the link to your post where you shared the picture.

This is high on my list of things to do to my car. Hoping I can get to it this weekend...

[2008E92335XI]

Do you guys think it’s possible to have a defective filter despite it looking clean from the outside? I’m chasing this Vanos intake code that has persisted despite changing the solenoids. I took out the valves and they looked clean, from out the outside. Thanks

[Chrisn812]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread. My daughters hand-me-down '08 E90 N52 is having similar idle rpm stumble and code P0012 (Still need to hook INPA up and see what it says) once the engine warms up. When its cold it runs great. 182k miles. I just completed a cooling system overhaul as well as OPG replacement.

But anyways, I pulled the vanos solenoids, did a clean, test and inspection and replaced them (swaped order). Still had the warm engine idle stumble. Then found this thread to check the screens/check valve. Pulled the screens out. Not too difficult from the top side with the cover removed. My screens we not gunked up, just has some small flakes of sludge around them. So soaking in mineral spirits today while I go play golf. I'll put them back in this evening and see how she runs.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by 2008E92335XI

Do you guys think it’s possible to have a defective filter despite it looking clean from the outside? I’m chasing this Vanos intake code that has persisted despite changing the solenoids. I took out the valves and they looked clean, from out the outside. Thanks

It's possible, but I don't know how common it is for them to fail. They're check valves, so even if the screen is clean it is *possible* for them to no function properly.

When you replaced your solenoids did you use original BMW branded parts?

[2008E92335XI]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

It's possible, but I don't know how common it is for them to fail. They're check valves, so even if the screen is clean it is *possible* for them to no function properly.

When you replaced your solenoids did you use original BMW branded parts?

Thanks for the reply. I ended up replacing all of the parts with original bmw parts but still getting the intake or exhaust Vanos code along with a boost leak. Called my Indy and they want me to bring it in for a smoke test to see what’s going on. He is claiming it might not be the Vanos system at all but actually a vacuum leak somewhere.

[mdesai93]

I'm getting a similar issue. All started after an oil filter housing gasket replacement but I replaced both solenoids and I'm still getting the exhaust vanos and a deactivation pressure build up blocked code. I am going to try cleaning the filters next. Were you able to figure out whether there was a vacuum leak somewhere?

[2008E92335XI]

Originally Posted by mdesai93

I'm getting a similar issue. All started after an oil filter housing gasket replacement but I replaced both solenoids and I'm still getting the exhaust vanos and a deactivation pressure build up blocked code. I am going to try cleaning the filters next. Were you able to figure out whether there was a vacuum leak somewhere?

Hey man, didn’t end up having a vacuum leak. My problem ended up being that I accidentally switched the connections. But I would definitely try cleaning the filter. I ended up replacing mine but the old ones looked pretty clean. It’s a pretty easy diy. Good luck!

[lowrydr310]

I cleaned my check valves last weekend on my N52.

It would have been possible to do this from the top, however I decided to remove the wheel well liner since I already had the wheels off and the front end on jack stands for replacement of the swaybar end links. This made it very easy to see and access the check valves. Neither of them were gunked up with any visible crud, however the one on top had a dark coating and when sprayed with carb cleaner it left a noticeably darker residue than what came out of the lower valve.

[username_unknown]

Did mine a couple of weekends ago, were clean as a baby's arse. Haven't got the vanos blocked error message back so far. Really tricky to do it from the top.
MPGs are still rubbish.
Any ideas what should i check with regards to bad MPG?
Thanks

[leif20]

Originally Posted by username_unknown

Did mine a couple of weekends ago, were clean as a baby's arse. Haven't got the vanos blocked error message back so far. Really tricky to do it from the top.
MPGs are still rubbish.
Any ideas what should i check with regards to bad MPG?
Thanks

Do you have any codes? Perhaps DISA valves are stuck open.

[username_unknown]

Originally Posted by leif20

Do you have any codes? Perhaps DISA valves are stuck open.

Check again the error codes, no vanos being stuck, no disa valve error.
I did try to check vanos position but it seems this reader can't get that, shows ==== on both intake and exhaust. No error codes tho.
Also found Smooth Running Valve showing very high or very low values on cylinder 5 but also eccentric shaft sensor position not showing either nor an error for it.

[schriss]

Cleaning those Vanos filters seems to fix rough idle too, even if you have no codes yet.
I'm surprised so often replacing Vanos solenoids is mentioned, but cleaning/replacing Vanos filters is not.
Here is entire procedure, seems like nothing needs to be removed or disconnected to do it, fairly straightforward AND also proved rough idle got fixed: