Metal VANOS Cover Failure - MUST READ!

As I haven't seen them linked yet, here is a page for our Cover Cups.

I can't begin to quantify how many conversations I've had with owners who have called in or emailed about problems with the clip-on caps and the embarrassing number of me-too copies that have taken the niche by storm.

The bolt-on covers are the only permanent, tried and true solution to this. The S65 engine is one of the easiest BMW engines to time. We offer an install kit with the tools and instructions to do it.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937182

Wish I did more research and done that in the first place.

deansbimmer wrote

As I haven't seen them linked yet, here is a page for our Cover Cups.

I can't begin to quantify how many conversations I've had with owners who have called in or emailed about problems with the clip-on caps and the embarrassing number of me-too copies that have taken the niche by storm.

The bolt-on covers are the only permanent, tried and true solution to this. The S65 engine is one of the easiest BMW engines to time. We offer an install kit with the tools and instructions to do it.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937182

My personal opinion, I have not had them fitted yet but have received them along with the fitting kit and they look the goods.

I will be having them fitted shortly as well as TA’s and valve covers (as suggested its best to do them all at the same time to ‘future proof the car) Unfortunately fitting not by Mporium as I’m in Australia, but as I stated these are the ones to get for Vanos cover replacements in my opinion and from what I can see from the delivered items.

Great thread and a good read with lots of great info. The Mporium cups look great

I just installed my new NRW aluminum valve covers today and decided to check the Slon VANOS covers. I am glad to report that my Slon covers were fully clipped in. Zero loose clips. All the clips are also still in pristine condition with sharp edges and not worn down. This confirms my earlier suspicion that if your alu VANOS covers are loose during install, the hooks rub against the steel VANOS gear and wear down the edges which make them even more loose.

My Slon covers were first batch (without logo) from the M3post group buy, installed on March 2022, and had done 15k kms. However, I decided to move to a steel washer solution for peace of mind.
.

Redd wrote

I just installed my new NRW aluminum valve covers today and decided to check the Slon VANOS covers. I am glad to report that my Slon covers were fully clipped in. Zero loose clips. All the clips are also still in pristine condition with sharp edges and not worn down. This confirms my earlier suspicion that if your alu VANOS covers are loose during install, the hooks rub against the steel VANOS gear and wear down the edges which make them even more loose.

My Slon covers were first batch (without logo) from the M3post group buy, installed on March 2022, and had done 15k kms. However, I decided to move to a steel washer solution for peace of mind.
.

Cheers Redd. After checking mine post driving a while I feel pretty comfortable with my Slon. Even if ruzzian made...

StripclubDJ wrote

And that’s why these are the only ones I stand by or offer, I’ll installed whatever customer wants. But the liability of the snap on ones always scared me when I saw them come out.

Even if it’s not a product failure, it’s so easy for anyone to install the snap on ones wrong by not getting every tab to click.

seems like the simple and obvious solution.

Redd wrote

I just installed my new NRW aluminum valve covers today and decided to check the Slon VANOS covers. I am glad to report that my Slon covers were fully clipped in. ...

...However, I decided to move to a steel washer solution for peace of mind.

Buried the lead at the bottom there. Which washer solution did you go with?


I had MPorium vanos cups installed last week.

Anyone have the procedure to retime the engine after installing the washers?

MaximusB wrote

Anyone have the procedure to retime the engine after installing the washers?

Watch this YouTube video from Stretan from M539, you need the re timing tools and a reversible torque wrench.

wyatth wrote

Buried the lead at the bottom there. Which washer solution did you go with?

I just had some made up by a China supplier. It's just a SUS304 disk, what could go wrong.

Redd wrote

I just installed my new NRW aluminum valve covers today and decided to check the Slon VANOS covers. I am glad to report that my Slon covers were fully clipped in. Zero loose clips. All the clips are also still in pristine condition with sharp edges and not worn down. This confirms my earlier suspicion that if your alu VANOS covers are loose during install, the hooks rub against the steel VANOS gear and wear down the edges which make them even more loose.

My Slon covers were first batch (without logo) from the M3post group buy, installed on March 2022, and had done 15k kms. However, I decided to move to a steel washer solution for peace of mind.
.

Do you have any pics of the NRW vanos covers? Their website doesn’t have them listed yet. NRW makes great e9x products. I have their jack pads so far

M3SQRD wrote

Do you have any pics of the NRW vanos covers? Their website doesn’t have them listed yet. NRW makes great e9x products. I have their jack pads so far

I think you misread his post.

nick3753 wrote

I think you misread his post.

I stand corrected! Thanks for pointing it out. I guess I got confused between valve and vanos. I didn’t think NRW had released vanos covers.

deansbimmer wrote

As I haven't seen them linked yet, here is a page for our Cover Cups.

I can't begin to quantify how many conversations I've had with owners who have called in or emailed about problems with the clip-on caps and the embarrassing number of me-too copies that have taken the niche by storm.

The bolt-on covers are the only permanent, tried and true solution to this. The S65 engine is one of the easiest BMW engines to time. We offer an install kit with the tools and instructions to do it.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937182

This looks great 👍

I cannot believe how many early on pool designs that were, that are potentially a big failure point.

Still early on miles (44k) - but these seem more like an aged/brittle thing, that’s likely worth taking care of when the actuators start going funky.

How are the Carbahn ones?

Thankfully my car is currently at MPorium getting their vanos cups installed 👍🏼

103k miles and I’ve never even thought of this yet lol

m3number86 wrote

103k miles and I’ve never even thought of this yet lol

I didn't either and decided to replace them. I took my valve covers off and inspected the stock plastic claps and they were in perfect condition with no signs of any cracks or warpage...but decided to replace them anyways since I was already in there.

LKN624 wrote

I didn't either and decided to replace them. I took my valve covers off and inspected the stock plastic claps and they were in perfect condition with no signs of any cracks or warpage...but decided to replace them anyways since I was already in there.

LKN624 Just wondering what mileage your car had when you replaced the OEM plastic vanos covers (that were in perfect condition)?
PS:
Way back - when all of this cracked vanos cover mania began - there was an initial theory that the OEM vanos covers were only cracking perhaps because of damage happening when the valve cover gaskets were being replaced. You mentioned yours were perfect condition.

42cr mov material, heat treatment and Quench-Polish-Quench surface treatment.

Zark get a spanner wrote

42cr mov material, heat treatment and Quench-Polish-Quench surface treatment.

Where are these made?

DrFerry wrote

LKN624 Just wondering what mileage your car had when you replaced the OEM plastic vanos covers (that were in perfect condition)?
PS:
Way back - when all of this cracked vanos cover mania began - there was an initial theory that the OEM vanos covers were only cracking perhaps because of damage happening when the valve cover gaskets were being replaced. You mentioned yours were perfect condition.

I had them replaced on the E92 at 158.000km. Yeah I hadn’t touched the valve covers before this. Previous owner is a dear friend of mine and was the original owner and he never did anything with the valve covers.

Here are what they looked like. Looked the same on the other side of the bank too.

I looked inside my E90 and they also look perfect.

Honestly, I should have looked at them beforehand on the E92, but the valve covers seals were leaking pretty bad so I had to get the covers off anyways.