Recomend an garage for E36 M3 Evo Vanos

[andye30m3]

Can anyone recomend a good garage in the south east to look at my E36 M3 vanos for me,

I seam to remember there was someone who could repair the units rather than replace them.

[tjw110]

Never seen one repaired, got mine done after changing the soleniods, seals etc, £1650 + vat, £200 cash to fit it

[belleair302]

The obvious choices depend upon where you are in the south east. If in Kent you have Bexley Motor Works, or BM Wise. In East London you have Highams Park. In Bucks you have Phil Crouch at CPC in Marlow, so to be moving to Chorleywood in Herts and you also have Gary @ Autobahn in Rickmansworth.

In Essex you have Darren Farrell at Darjac Racing just west of Colchester and around Heathrow you have a couple more.

Want to let us know where you are so that we can be more specific.

[dan101smith]

Please do be more specific, cos some of those are TERRIBLE.

[belleair302]

What, you don't like my suggestions?

[andye30m3]

I'm about 5 miles from Munich legends, I use the for most stuff I can't do but I'm not to sure how involved in repairing a vanos they'd want to get. I expect they'd just want to replace it.

I am tempted to look at removing it but most places don't seam to recommend this for a road car

Edited by andye30m3 on Monday 27th October 10:23

[Mroad]

The VANOS on my Evo track car was apparently replaced with the more reliable E46 VANOS (previous owner got it done), the work was done by Geoff Steel. It's certainly as quiet as a church mouse now.

Edited by Mroad on Sunday 26th October 12:56

[dan101smith]

andye30m3 said:

I am tempted to look at removing it but most places don't seam to recomed this ok a road car

I've also looked into that, but the downside is that although you can get more power out of the engine by binning the Vanos and going for standalone management, it will produce all that power at the top end, and therefore not really be suited to normal road use, where having at least some torque is a bonus!

[superstylin]

alrite mate try pbm they just repair porsche,bmw,mercedes.

Pbm Technical Services
Unit 17, Ditchling Common, Ditchling, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8SG
01444 242600

from melon

[mpwr343bhp]

Had my solinoids and seals changed for circa £250 at my indy in cheshire 2 years ago. BMW Tend not to want to sell you the kit oddly enough ;0(

Edited by mpwr343bhp on Monday 27th October 14:24

[unzippy]

There is a kit?

[mpwr343bhp]

I belive so, had mine done as part of as inspection 1. But like I said bmw did'nt like to sell the bits you need.

[andye30m3]

I've done the seal kit when two of the head snapped of the bolts which hold the cover over the inlet solenoids and at the time noticed some damage to one of the solenoids. In a post a few months ago someone recommended a bush which could be used in stead on the o-ring but this hasn't cured the problem.

The seal kit itself is fairly cheap as its only 4 rubber o-rings and 2 gaskets.

trouble is I suspect the solenoids are not working but I'm not 100% sure if the damage to the solenoid was caused by another fault with the vanos. And hence asked which indi's are clued up on the vanos as I already know its not working but need to know why rather than just get the standard main dealer response of change the whole thing.

Edited by andye30m3 on Monday 27th October 15:33

[joesnow]

I am going throug a similar situation, and have heard that you can test the solenoids with a 12v power supply. If they pop/click then they are working ok.

I've just replaced all solenoid o rings, cover gaskets, cleaned the air fuel meter and cleaned out my idle control valve. If these things don't cure my continuous lumpy idle, i'll be looking at testing the solenoids, and then taking the vanos off to see if i can mend it, or have to take the hit and buy a new part - the last resort.

My exhaust cam has been re-timed by BMW, which was of no use, but they failed to spot a loose vanos cover, snapped bolt and torx headed non bmw bolt. New vanos £2500.

I'd be interested in your findings Andy.

Edited by joesnow on Monday 27th October 15:47

[zmrjason]

See link below:
http://www.drvanos.com

These guys rebuild/repair vanos units and you'll benefit from a good exchange rate!! Then get a good indy to fit it.
My vanos was sorted with a new solenoid I think and was reltively cheap at circa £300

Goodluck

Edited by zmrjason on Tuesday 28th October 09:14

[joesnow]

Andy, I found this topic listing a few more BMW specialists http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I'd give the folk listed a ring, and explain the knowledge you are looking for.

[unzippy]

Good exchange rate?!

[duff]

unzippy said:

Good exchange rate?!

I was thinking that, assume it's Australian $ then?