United Bimmer Community - BMW Forum

The following is a description of how BMW's variable camshaft timing system (VANOS) works.

The VANOS system really isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be. It uses the rising oil pressure created while revving the engine higher in the rpm's to hydraulically force the camshaft to rotate (12.5 degrees) advancing the timing and therefore increasing horsepower and torque. The VANOS system is activated by a solenoid controlled by the DME, when the RPMs rise to a certain amount, VANOS will kick in, thus explaining that jolt you get at about 3800 RPMs, you know what im talking about :D. On the m50 and m52 only the intake camshaft is VANOS controlled, on later cars with VANOS, the intake and exhaust camshafts are both VANOS controlled.

Its a bit more complicated than this, but that’s the basic idea.

This write up explains it quite well. Although before i actually saw pictures of the system i couldn’t grasp it all that clearly.

Quote:

OK.. here we go..

In normal overhead cam engines, the cams are connected to the crankshaft by either a belt or chain and some sort of gears..

In M50, M52, and S50 motors , we have chain and sprockets (like on a bike)..

The crankshaft drives a sprocket on the exhaust cam.. the exhaust cam sprocket is BOLTED to the exhaust cam... a second set of teeth on it are moving a second chain that goes "across" to the intake cam.. here's where the magic is..

The big sprocket on the intake cam is NOT bolted to the cam.. it's got a big hole in the middle of it.. in the inside of that hole is a helical set of teeth (helical means they curve to the left or right as they go thru the metal.. not straight)

Now.. on the end of the CAM is a little gear that is also helical on the OUTSIDE but it's too small to connect with 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.... now.. as the sprocket turns.. it turns the cup thru one set of teeth, and the cup turns the little gear inside which, being bolted to the cam.. turns it.. so now.. the chain from the turning exhaust cam is also turning the intake cam.. although a bit indirectly :)

The V (Variable) in Vanos is due to the HELICAL nature of those teeth.. if you push the cup in.. the relative sync of the cam to the sprocket is changed.. same if you pull it out some.. in our BMW's, the full travel of that gear will cause the cam to move a full 12.5 degrees while the outer sprocket doesn't move..

Now.. what moves this cup gear?? .. 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 5000rpm, 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 complain about is usually tolerances that make the sprocket wiggle a bit as the cup gear is moved in or out.. sounds like a bunch of marbles in a box.. and it comes from the top DRIVERS side of the motor.. near the bump in the front of the cylinder head where the Vanos system is.

Hope this helps..

Jim Conforti

PS: And ALL Vanos motors make that marbly, rattly, "gargling" noise.. some owners just are a bit more sensitive to noises like that..

Along with these pictures, and a (hopefully) clear explanation, im going to next explain how the VANOS system physically works and where it is located.

Here is the VANOS system installed in the engine. You are seeing the timing chains, VANOS unit, and the exhaust and intake timing sprocket assemblies in this picture.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...ming/pic37.jpg

Here is the VANOS sprocket (or cup gear as JC calls it in the above description). In this picture it is not pushed into the sprocket assembly located on the timing chain sprocket and the intake camshaft sprocket.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...ming/pic28.jpg

Here you can see the timing chain and camshaft VANOS sprocket assembly, with the VANOS system removed from the engine. The inner sprocket is directly connected to the camshaft, while the outer sprocket is connected to the timing chain assembly.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...ming/pic16.jpg

Here is the VANOS system removed from the car. Here you can also see inner teeth to the VANOS unit assembly, that mesh with the teeth on the end of the intake camshaft assembly.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...ming/pic21.jpg

Again, here you see the VANOS system removed from the engine, the VANOS sprocket is pushed in and out to advance the timing, when it is out the timing is 'normal', or how it would be at idle, when it is pushed into the timing chain and camshaft sprocket assembly, that is when it advances the timing. You can see quite clearly the ‘Helical’ nature to these teeth, when they are pushed into the timing chain sprocket and intake camshaft sprocket assembly, they force the intake camshaft to rotate 12.5 degrees forward. This rotation of the camshaft is what produces the added power felt in the mid range of the RPM’s. The VANOS unit is allowing the intake camshaft to be controlled somewhat independently from the crankshaft, thus allowing the timing to be advanced.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...ming/pic22.jpg

Here is a picture of the engine with the valve cover simply removed, incase you were having trouble grasping where the VANOS assembly was located. (It is the semi-circle metal box located in front on the timing chains.)
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...over/pic12.jpg

Thanks to pelican parts for the pictures, sorry they’re so big (Commentary is by me). I hope that explains it... it’s not too complicated after you begin to grasp the entire system.