Metal VANOS Cover Failure - MUST READ!

[Redd]

The purpose of this post is not to point fingers at any particular brand/seller. But because this involved a critical engine component that can - and has - caused engine damage, I feel that it needs to be shared with everyone.

Recently, there has been a failure of a metal VANOS cover in one of the Malaysia member's E92 M3. Below are the facts:

1. The owner heard a loud whining sound from the engine. Upon investigation, it was determined that the aftermarket metal VANOS covers in Bank 2 (left hand side) had completely disappeared.

2. Somehow, the metal VANOS covers had ground down to a fine metal dust and which was caught by the oil filter. There were no large pieces left. How this is possible I do not know. What I can guess is that the covers had fallen off, been ground down by the timing chain and the resulting dust trapped by the oil filter. There was damage to the oil pump and metal swarf all over the engine. The engine is being rebuilt as we speak (luckily no crank damage).

3. This car had been using the metal VANOS covers for less than 5k kms (3k miles) and had attended two trackdays.

4. At Bank 1, the VANOS covers were still there but had come loose. A few of the clips had loosen sufficiently that the 'hook' was no longer clipped behind the VANOS gear but were sitting on top of the gear. (Pic below is from another car and provided as illustration only)


5. After dismantling the Bank 1 VANOS covers, it was noticed that the hooks from Bank 1 were worn down considerably from a brand new metal VANOS cover from the same seller and batch.


6. This is what a good lock should look like, with the hook fully clipped in behind the VANOS gear.


7. There are quite a large number of E9x M3 in Malaysia using these VANOS covers. News spread quickly about this incident and many owners went to check their cars. Many saw loose clips just by looking through the oil fill hole.



8. One owner opened up his valve covers and saw the below looseness on the VANOS cover clips:
https://youtube.com/shorts/y6KMMuAqZIM

9. [CONJECTURE] I have no proof but the way I see it, the loose clip allowed the aluminum VANOS cover to vibrate/rub against the steel VANOS gear. This wears down the aluminum hook, which makes the VANOS cover even more loose, and rub more. Until eventually the VANOS cover falls off entirely and gets broken/ground up, causing engine damage.

10. Some of these owners reached out to the resellers they bought the covers from and were informed that 1 loose clip is normal and acceptable.

11. Quite a few owners have checked their covers via the oil fill hole and about half of them have seen loose clips.

12. So far there is no correlation on mileage or driving style which may cause the VANOS covers to loosen. Two heavily tracked M3s showed loose covers, as did some very seldom driven, and never driven hard, cars.

13. Myself personally, I am using Slon covers and mine looked ok via the fill hole. As far as I am aware, I am the only one using Slon in my country.



What Should You Do?
Open up your oil fill hole and check that the clips of your metal VANOS covers are fully hooked in. You may need to start and stop the engine several times to see as many clips as possible. (Please remember to put back the oil cap before starting the car).

While this method only allows you to view the Bank 1 VANOS covers it is better than nothing. If you see loose clips then you know you might have them in Bank 2 as well.

To really be sure, you should open up the front timing covers on both banks to inspect the VANOS covers properly.

Again, this post is not meant to fingerpoint to any seller/manufacturer of these metal VANOS covers. The cars in Malaysia use various suppliers of these covers, from both China and the US, and none are immune to this loose clip issue. Half the cars checked have loose clips, half don't.

Another Malaysia owner has tried to share this info in the E9x V8 FB group and was threatened to the point he had to take down the post. Please don't shoot the messenger. We are just trying to share the facts so that other people do not blow up their engines.

I will not be naming names, nor will I be entertaining any PMs on this matter. If you have any questions please ask in this thread and I will answer out in the open for the benefit of all.

[drwankel]

While I would really love to know what brand is failing (I saw the FB post), I think one thing I can deduce from the information out there so far, is it is not Slon.

Having Slon caps on my car, this is a sigh of relief. I had always been skeptical of some of the clones out there.

[Redd]

So far Slon is sample of 1 (me). It will be good if you can check yours and report back.

[rcracin]

Thanks for posting Redd

[amrazM]

i feel like i saw the post on facebook and it got deleted.

I saw a post last year where the guy installed covers and was able to move the locking tooth with his finger, i told myself yea thats not gonna work out. these caps need to fit tight or the locking teeth will get ground right off.

[amrazM]

Redd i posted your pics on facebook. if they delete them im going to air out one of the moderators publicly, i hope you dont mind. its for the good of the community.

[Redd]

Originally Posted by amrazM

Redd i posted your pics on facebook. if they delete them im going to air out one of the moderators publicly, i hope you dont mind. its for the good of the community.

Go for it. I think this is important and needs to be shared.

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by Redd

Go for it. I think this is important and needs to be shared.

I agree with you 100%. I am really trying to determine the brand of the failure, I dont want to see people lose engines over a cheaply made preventative maintenance item.

[Redd]

In Malaysia we had one car suffer engine failure and crank damage when his plastic VANOS covers broke up and blocked the oil pickup tube. That sent everyone here into a panic and lots of people bought metal VANOS covers. And now this happens...

[DukeofAlexandria]

I appreciate what you are trying to do Redd , but fuck em….name the company.

I don’t care who you are, but if you make cheap or shitty designed/engineered products with an apparent mass failure rate like this then people need to know.

A certain plenum with see through plexiglass that keeps failing comes to mind lol…

We’ve been through this time and time again on this forum with shitty vendors. If they are producing a crap product then people need to know which brand at the minimum and let the company sort out the details.

-Duke

[Redd]

It is not just one supplier. There are at least 2 - one from China, one from US. Whether or not they have the same ultimate manufacturer I cannot say for sure.

There were loose covers found for both suppliers. All I can say is that if you're using metal clip-on VANOS covers, check them thru the oil fill hole. Post them here for everyone to see.

[exVtekGuy]

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by Redd

It is not just one supplier. There are at least 2 - one from China, one from US. Whether or not they have the same ultimate manufacturer I cannot say for sure.

There were loose covers found for both suppliers. All I can say is that if you're using metal clip-on VANOS covers, check them thru the oil fill hole. Post them here for everyone to see.

Again, I appreciate what you’re doing, but what does it matter to you? Unless you own a portion of the company or are some how tied to them then it really doesn’t matter.

What does matter is letting the community know which two companies so users can go and ask them questions about the manufacturing process or warrantied, etc.

If anyone has credible information and wants to PM me the names, I’ll gladly post them ha.

-Duke

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by amrazM

Redd i posted your pics on facebook. if they delete them im going to air out one of the moderators publicly, i hope you dont mind. its for the good of the community.

good i was looking for that post, come some guy openly said it was a slon cover that failed lmao. and i called him out, but couldn't find the post anymore i do have the SS at least.

and realistically... we can deduce who it is... and a certain someone with stars in there name is banned on the forum.

[amrazM]

I am willing to post the company and get banned, it doesnt matter to me.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by amrazM

I am willing to post the company and get banned, it doesnt matter to me.

100%. If we get banned for transparency than this forum is a fraud and it’s time to find other avenues for participation.

[Zark get a spanner]

I'm glad I chose SLON.

[EnVe46]

These FB pages are utterly worthless at times. This is great information that everyone, including manufacturers, should know.

Thank you for sharing. I don’t see any harm in knowing what manufacturers have issues, this isn’t bashing. This is part failure that could be catastrophic

[MaximusB]

Originally Posted by DRLane

100%. If we get banned for transparency than this forum is a fraud and it’s time to find other avenues for participation.

This.

I mean it is pretty easy to guess which vendor these knock off covers are from. Only so many vendors on this forum that sells reps... I mean, "designed, engineered and made in USA - but really copied from Russia and made in China"

[kerrit]

Thanks for posting this - good for the community. This also reminds me that I refuse to be an early adopter with new vendors on major parts for our expensive engines. Always wait for long term reliability reviews or pay up for the proven parts.

Glad my engine builder used the washer + bolt + plate solution. Not really economical though for someone just doing this as maintenance since it requires you re-time the engine.

[chutak]

Much thanks for this PSA for the community. I hate reading these kinda of threads, but better to know than not.

Just did a quick check of my passenger side Slon covers in a few different spots (restarted car 4 times). They appear to still be fully seated after 13 months and >6000 miles. Too bad there isn’t an easy way to check the driver side as well.

[DJiGGs]

Is it just me or does it look like the Slon clips are much beefier?? Probably why that aren't warping in shape to start lifting.