BMW E36 Blog

What is BMW VANOS engine?

19th March 2007

What is BMW VANOS engine?

Hello Guys,

 

I heard many times about E36 BMWs with VANOS engine and I heard that it’s a very special engine that can boost performance and enhance the overall car responsiveness. But to be honest, I have never read or see that engine in person :-p. Today I did a search for some information regarding this cutie and I found a great article that I thought everyone should read . So as usual, here we go, enjoy and remember to drop me some lines if you have more information about it  that you think is missing in this article.

 

 

 

Introduction:

 

VANOS is a combined hydraulic and mechanical camshaft control device managed by the car’s DME engine management system.

The VANOS system is based on an adjustment mechanism that can modify the position of the intake camshaft versus the crankshaft. Double-VANOS adds an adjustment of the intake and outlet camshafts.

 

VANOS operates on the intake camshaft in accordance with engine speed and accelerator pedal position. At the lower end of the engine-speed scale, the intake valves are opened later, which improves idling quality and smoothness. At moderate engine speeds, the intake valves open much earlier, which boosts torque and permits exhaust gas re-circulation inside the combustion chambers, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Finally, at high engine speeds, intake valve opening is once again delayed, so that full power can be developed.

 

VANOS significantly enhances emission management, increases output and torque, and offers better idling quality and fuel economy. The latest version of VANOS is double-VANOS, used in the new M3.

VANOS was first introduced in 1992 on the BMW M50 engine used in the 5 Series.

 

 

Here’s how it works:

 

In overhead cam engines, the cams are connected to the crankshaft by either a belt or chain and gears. In BMW VANOS motors there is a chain and some sprockets.

The crankshaft drives a sprocket on the exhaust cam, and the exhaust cam sprocket is bolted to the exhaust cam. A second set of teeth moves a second chain that goes across to the intake cam. The big sprocket on the intake cam is not bolted to the cam, for it has a big hole in the middle. Inside the hole is a helical set of teeth. On the end of the cam is a gear that is also helical on the outside, but it’s too small to connect to the teeth on the inside of the big sprocket. There is a little cup of metal with helical teeth to match the cam on the inside and to match the sprocket on the outside. The V (Variable) in VANOS is due to the helical nature of the teeth. The cup gear is moved by a hydraulic mechanism that works on oil pressure controlled by the DME.

 

 

At idle, the cam timing is retarded. Just off idle, the DME energizes a solenoid which allows oil pressure to move that cup gear to advance the cam 12.5 degrees at midrange, and then at about 5000 rpm, it allows it to come back to the original position. The greater advance causes better cylinder fill at mid rpms for better torque. The noise some people hear is the result of tolerances that make the sprocket wiggle a bit as the cup gear is moved in or out.

 

Double VANOS

 

Double-VANOS (double-variable camshaft control) significantly improves torque since valve timing on both the intake and outlet camshafts are adjusted to the power required from the engine as a function of gas pedal position and engine speed.

 

 

 

On most BMW engines that use a single VANOS, the timing of the intake cam is only changed at two distinct rpm points, while on the double-VANOS system, the timing of the intake and exhaust cams are continuously variable throughout the majority of the rpm range.

With double-VANOS, the opening period of the intake valves are extended by 12 degrees with an increase in valve lift by 0.9 mm.

Double-VANOS requires very high oil pressure in order to adjust the camshafts very quickly and accurately, ensuring better torque at low engine speeds and better power at high speeds. With the amount of un-burnt residual gases being reduced, engine idle is improved. Special engine management control maps for the warm-up phase help the catalytic converter reach operating temperature sooner.

 

Double-VANOS improves low rpm power, flattens the torque curve, and widens the powerband for a given set of camshafts. The double-VANOS engine has a 450 rpm lower torque peak and a 200 rpm higher horsepower peak than single-VANOS, and the torque curve is improved between 1500 – 3800 rpm. At the same time, the torque does not fall off as fast past the horsepower peak.

 

The advantage of double-VANOS is that the system controls the flow of hot exhaust gases into the intake manifold individually for all operating conditions. This is referred to as “internal” exhaust gas re-circulation, allowing very fine dosage of the amount of exhaust gas recycled.

 

While the engine is warming up, VANOS improves the fuel/air mixture and helps to quickly warm up the catalytic converter to its normal operating temperature. When the engine is idling, the system keeps idle speeds smooth and consistent thanks to the reduction of exhaust gas re-circulation to a minimum. Under part load, exhaust gas re-circulation is increased to a much higher level, allowing the engine to run on a wider opening angle of the throttle butterfly in the interest of greater fuel economy. Under full load, the system switches back to a low re-circulation volume providing the cylinders with as much oxygen as possible.

Wait for more from . . . BMW E36 Blog

 

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

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posted in Engine, Technical Info | 16 Comments

15th March 2007

Replacing BMW E36 brakes switch!

Hello my friends,

 

The BMW E36 brakes switch can fail easily and you should always check to make sure that your brakes are working fine. Of course, if you’ve checked and found that the brake lights are not working, you should fix the problem. First, you should check the rear lamps to make sure they’re working fine. If you found that they’re working fine, this means that you have to replace your brakes switch. The following article (which I found originally here) will guide you through this simple process . . . so enjoy it and after you finish, send me some $$$ LOOOL! just kidding.

 

 

Disclaimer: Use this procedure at your own risk!! I’m not responsible for your mistakes man! 😀

 

There may come a time when someone on the road motions to you about your brake lights not coming on. The brake pedal switch (Figure 1) in both the E30 and E36 BMWs gets a lot of use, and has a tendency to fail once and a while. Replacement is really easy, and should take only about 30 minutes maximum.

 


 

The first step is to verify that your brake lamps are not working. If you’re by yourself, then wait until night time and back up against a brick wall. You should see the reflection off of the wall when you step on the brakes – if you don’t, then your switch is probably shot. It’s important to note that at least on some years, the BMW warning system that tells you when a lamp is out will not tell you if the switch is broken – you will have to figure it out for yourself.

 

The first step is to gain access to the switch. Remove the panel directly above the driver’s side foot well. This panel is secured by a few screws (Figure 2), and a few snaps as well (Figure 3). In addition, you may have an electrical speaker unit attached to the panel. Disconnect the harness (Figure 4) and pull the panel down (Figure 5).

 


 


 


 


 

The brake switch is shown in Figure 6. It’s the rater large switch assembly that moves in conjunction with the brake pedal. Remove the harness from the brake switch (Figure 7) and yank it out of it’s bracket. I found that I had to break the plastic housing of the switch in order to remove it (Figure 8). That’s perfectly okay, since you will be replacing it with a new one very soon anyways.

 


 


 


 

To finish the job, simply install the new switch into place, and reconnect the wire harness. Test the brake lights to make sure that they are working properly, and then reinstall the knee panel.

 

Well, there you have it – it’s really not too difficult at all.

Are you looking for more do it yourself procedures (DIY) ? I recommend the Bentley BMW 3 series service manual for you. I got it and I think it’s a gold mine for us -BMW E36 Owners-. If you didn’t grab your copy yet, get it right now! I’m sure you’ll find this book worth every penny you’ve paid for. Get the Bentley BMW 3 series service manual

 

Wait for more from . . . BMW E36 Blog

 

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Want to receive exciting tips & information about BMW E36 cars? Enter your Email:-


 

 

posted in Brakes, Do It Yourself, Technical Info | 6 Comments

11th March 2007

BMW racing. . .Insane!

Hello my friends,

 

OK, I was looking at some racing videos for BMW E36 when I found this one. It’s really insane and I just can’t believe how fast this car is!! It reminded me of another amazing E34 BMW that I posted on this blog before. Today’s video is even better 😀 … Imagine! also, it’s a two part video.

 

Take a look . . . it’s really nice.

 




 

I hope you liked the video . . . if not, come on let’s see your videos 😉

 

Wait for more from … BMW E36 Blog.

 

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Want to receive exciting tips & information about BMW E36 cars? Enter your Email:-


 

 

posted in Videos | Comments Off on BMW racing. . .Insane!

10th March 2007

BMW Owners #1 killer!

Hi,

 

How to be killed by your wife, girlfriend or any girl that you live with. Very simple, just do what this guy did and you’ll end in a morgue 🙂 . This is the BMW owners #1 killer, so please stay away from washing your car tires in the bath and don’t say the you didn’t know. You have been warned!

 

Take a look

 




 



If you have another killer that you think the guys need to be warned about, please post a reply and help save some precious lives LOOOL!

 

Wait for more from BMW E36 Blog.

 

best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Want to receive exciting tips & information about BMW E36 cars? Enter your Email:-


 

 

posted in Photos, Uncategorized | Comments Off on BMW Owners #1 killer!

7th March 2007

James Bond BMW!

Hello my friends,

 

The owner of the car in this new video did an amazing job on his BMW E36 to make it look and act like James Bond’s famous cars. I don’t know how he managed to find time and money to do this, but it seems that the result is very nice. The car has an adaptive cruise control distance sensor which is wired to a laptop to make it know how far the car in front of it is and shows that result using audio system (as voice)!! All I can say is Wow! Good Job man!. One thing that I didn’t like about the car is the voice which can be recorded using a girl sound which would be much better (my opinion of course).

 

Take a look . . . it’s really nice.

 



 

I hope you liked the video . . . if not, come on let’s see your videos 😉

 

Wait for more from … BMW E36 Blog.

 

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Want to receive exciting tips & information about BMW E36 cars? Enter your Email:-


 

 

posted in Videos | Comments Off on James Bond BMW!

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