[Bmw turbo]

Hi, got my hands on a scanner…This is what I got with the scanner

[Bmw turbo]

Here are also the test results for the VANOS.

[Bmw turbo]

I also took the valve cover off, did a visual inspection, and double checked the timing. The timing is good and I don’t see anything obviously wrong(like a broken timing guide). Any ideas?

[435gc]

Can you test if the VANOS actuator will lock the intake cam into position?

[Bmw turbo]

I don’t think so. The only thing I can see about the vanos is the numbers on the 2nd picture I posted.

[Bmw turbo]

According to this video, my intake vanos does indeed lock into position.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T2tiIVNK6Q8

[435gc]

Hmm...I'm wondering if you timing chain may be stretched. If VANOS is locking the cam into position correctly and you have normal timing at idle. It may be that the issue doesn't arise until sufficient rpms are reached for the right amount of duration. A timing chain that is stretched by a few mm or even a cm may keep time at idle but not under load.

BUT I have never heard of an n55 suffering from this. There are many forum member that track their car under harsh conditions for extended periods that don't stretch the chain.

I don't know. I'd either get ISTA to try a deeper test and dx or take it to a shop.

Maybe one of the auto techs on here can chime in.

@LA1Z24 maybe?

[Bmw turbo]

The code I’m getting is for the offset of the intake cam. When I read live data on the scanner, it said my exhaust vanos was around +4 degrees and my intake vanos was around -18 degrees. From what I read on other forums for other bmws, it’s supposed to show maximum 8 degrees offset. Apparently, when you do the timing, you need to reset the offset with a higher end scanner. My question is if the timing chain was stretched, wouldn’t the timing tool that locks the cams not fit on when the tensioner is tight? I’m starting to think it might have something to do with the oil pressure🤷‍♂️ … A friend of mines has some vanoses and solenoids, so I’ll try swapping them out and see if that fixes the problem.

[Bmw turbo]

Maybe I just need to reset the timing adaptation after doing the timing chain. I’ll try that, because I did change the crank hub earlier.

[Bmw turbo]

I changed the solenoids with other oem ones and swapped the cam position sensor. The problem still remains. Do you know if ISTA will give me the required degrees for the vanos units while the car is running? The interesting thing that is going on with the car is that when I delete the codes, I get the readings for the vanos units I posted earlier, but when the car goes into limp mode, I don’t get any readings for the intake vanos( the exhaust vanos still reads the same degrees as it did earlier). It’s like it stops working after limp mode comes on. When I delete the codes, it starts reading the intake vanos position again🤷‍♂️

[435gc]

It's likely limp mode deactivates the VANOS.

I'm not sure what the full capabilities of ISTA are for this issue. I do know that it's what BMW would use to troubleshoot and dx the problem.