BMW E46 Install Timing Components & Reset Timing DIY
M54 Timing Tool Kit: amzn.to/2OdEfKI
I began my rebuild when I did a compression test and noticed I had poor compression in cylinders 2-6 (about 142 psi, the bottom of the service limit). Cylinder 1 head 160 psi. A leakdown test showed leakage into each adjacent cylinder. Of course my engine also had the oil consumption problem (1 quart every 1000 miles) that every M54 engine has, which is caused by the oil rings which wear down prematurely (the M52TU used different oil rings which did not have this problem). There was also coolant loss, which I didn't measure precisely.
To see all the videos in the #m54rebuild series: • M54 Engine Rebuild Pro...
To view all the specs and torques for BMW M54/M52TU engines: goo.gl/jLvcgR
The seller I bought the timing kit from is out of stock. You'll have to check through the listings here to find a similar kit:
goo.gl/ealUrH
Make sure to check out the common repair steps video if you are unfamiliar with that: • BMW 330i 325i E46 Comm...
Other videos you should watch if you are planning to change your head gasket or rebuild your engine are:
Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replace: • BMW 330i 325i E46 Oil ...
Intake Manifold Removal: • BMW 330i 325i E46 CCV ...
Exhaust Manifolds Removal: • BMW E46 Exhaust Remova...
Timing Components Removal: • BMW E46 Timing Compone...
This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.
I wish more people on KZhead where as skilled as this guy 10/10 really helped me out
Never fixed a car in my life but i managed with take of he head and replace it with this channel, thank you 50s genius
That is awesome man, glad to hear that
lmao good shit bro
@@50sKid hey there, when i want to just reset/set-up vanos to default position, do i need to also lock cams and crank or it doesnt matter in which position they are. Thank you
@@patrikvavrovic1633 you only need to retime the engine if you removed the etorx bolts that sandwich the timing gears onto the camshafts. You can remove the vanos unit itself without affecting the timing.
@@50sKid yea, thanks, but i ment those 2 cylinders on camshafts... When i want to move them out and then use that big vanos set-up tool to get them into default position, do i need Also lock engine timing/have engine in top dead center? Or its no need. Thank you
Jason, I always dreaded this part, but you really made this look piss easy. I’ve learnt so much from you, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart all the way from London!
This guy is a hell of a mechanic
You made it easy dude!! Did it with your video running while reinstalling and it was a piece of cake! 100% approved! One must keep in mind your not a full time mechanic and you help me!! A full time auto technician! Thanks! Very helpfull!!
After I had to time-cert my head, this vid helped me get it back in Sync. Cranking down that Cylinder head was a harrowing experience, but it went well. It was great advice to turn the crankshaft to about 300 degrees before putting the head back on (so you don't accidentally bend a valve).
I had seen your tool reviews before with the Milwaukee and now knowing you are going to help me out with my car that's tight dude thanks for helping us ;)
Really excellent summary of the timing process. Thanks!
My first time doing timing, everything went well.my car started up right away Your video was so helpful.thank you very much 💪💪💪💪
Thanks man, appreciate your work, It was really helpful throughout the whole proccess of rebuilding the engine from my car. When it finally starts up I'm gonna drink a beer in your honor
I just wanted to thank you for these videos they are very impressive.
Already commented liked and subscribed but I can’t express how much this video helped me put her back together. Awesome for posting this
Awesome video currently deep in the engine bay of my m52tu your videos are gold man
Amazing video!! Really Appreciate the effort you put into this series !!
Top video! Really given me the confidence to rebuild my head myself! Thank you 50skid!!
Great video I’m in the process now of replacing my head gasket on a 1997 BMW Z32.8 L.
Great detail camera work and excellent narrative!!!!
This video is excellent guide for setting dual vanos but I noticed a few small errors which I think may help anyone else attempting this procedure. At 04:30 and according to the manual, the alignment arrow should be faceing the top edge without any tension on the chain but when the chain is tensioned the arrow moves below the top edge by a few degrees. I am not really sure what the manual describes here and if the arrow should really be aligned with the top edge after the chain is tensioned. At 10:10 the holes were not centered on the exhaust splined sleeve because the chain tensioner tool should not have any tension on the chain guide. The chain should be loose and not tensioned throughout the vanos timing procedure until the final stage when after the jig is in place and everything is torqued down. Only then is the tensioner tool torqued to tension the chain and the engine rotated 2 revolutions to check everything is timed correctly. At 19:15 the primary chain tensioner bolt should be torqued to 70Nm 52ft-lb. This is all described in the Bentley service manual.
Hi, can anyone confirm this? @50sKid I aligned the arrow with the top op the head under tension, and now get a p0011 code (camshaft timing over advanced). Which i think may be the reason for this code. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks!
@@childofthearts3785 I'd ignore the P code error if the engine runs ok, clear adaptations and reset the ECU after working on vanos. The chain tensioner tool should be adjusted to place only a very small amount of tension (finger tight) when doing this procedure. Do not torque the tensioner bolt until after everything is in place and ready to turn the engine over. A P0011 is a common code to have after vanos is upgraded, takes a few miles for the oil to work its way through and the vanos to adjust itself. My vanos sounded like a bag of nails after I upgraded, but it soon smoothed out after an hour of driving. I also had a P code for cam sensors, but I replaced them as part of the procedure shortly after. Dont buy el-cheapo cam sensors.
@@arnolduk123 ohk sweet! I didnt upgrade the vanos at all, was doing a valve job. But Yeah i only started it up for about 5ish minutes, say the code and thought shit maybe i fidnt time it properly even with the tools. Hoping it sorts itself out after a short drive
@@arnolduk123 i did do a doosey and mixed up the lifters though 🤦🏽 hopfully the cam wear isnt too bad?
@@childofthearts3785 LOL, I've done alot of doosey's. I replaced all my valves but dropped an injector into the intake manifold, pushed it further into the valves trying to fish it out, had strip everything down again..DUH. Don't worry too much if engine turns over fine. The ECU is fussy little bugger. A reset should shut it up.
Love your video's my friend ! Keep up the great help you give.
Thank you man, for putting in the time for us, you are a m54 super hero hahaha
This guys is a best mechanic teacher
EXCELLENT VIDEO! Extremely helpful
Another amazing video, can't thank you enough! Awesome!
I like how each time you used your ratchet the captions said applause. Because I imagine a crowd applauding me as I fix stuff too. 😅😆 great video! Definitely going to help me get this thing together next week.
Thanks for the detailed video. Soon I will pull my 3.0 and rebuild everything. I got the car cheap after it had overheated, I hope the block and head is in repairable condition.
Joe Montgomery yo idk much about bmws but does the 3.0 use a timing belt or chain
Great job mate I like the way you work the way you explain good video keep going 👍👍
Hi, you are making very good videos, easy to understand, thanks a lot for them.... THUMB UP
Great video as always. Thank you!!!
Such an educational value and overall quality of filming, and explaining, Thank You very much.
50’skid -“ all we would need to do.. all YOU will need to do” Me- dang it ! ..Almost had him.. ✌🏽 your the 🐐 bro
Super in detail amazingly useful thank you
Thank u ! Ur videos are really helpful. Thank u for ur time!
So helpful! Thank you!
Sehr gut erklärt super. The main tensioner have 70Nm. Thanks for this Video.👍
Big thank you for the video, really helped
Thank you 50s kid, i did my timing today from this video
Thank you so much Bro well explained 🧰🔥🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌
great video. big thanks!!! you should sell videos with step by step procedures.
Thank you very much. You explain real good step by step. I fix my BMW..gracias AMIGO por tu tiempo THANK YOU...
my dude you need more subsribers. youre the best
Thanks for the video it really helped so much
Excellent job. Thank you.
Great video. Very informative. I'm getting ready to pull the engine from my 2005 320i. I bought the cam alignment tools but I don't want to get into the project without a manual. Where can I buy the manuals for this?
Really like youre video well explained and good job thanks you
An excellent video. Thank you
So useful. Really thankful. be warned though, he makes it look easy!
Thank you very much for the excellent videos. After replacing the head gasket with help of your grea videos my 2004 BMW 325i turned on but with very strange noise. Any clue what is causing this noise.
Dude your videos are a savior! Just a quick one though. When I refit the crank etc is there any bottom end timing involved or is it all on the cams? Thanks man!
Torquing the chain tensioner is possible, you just need sockets with a lower profile. Chrome are good for it, if not, you can always use crowsfoot. 70nm. For the preload on the pretensioner screw jig, you do 0.7nm with a flexible torque screwdriver. Officially there is no torque setting recommended by the manufacturer for the chain guides. But there is a guide for generalisation by Metric thread size.
so good...
Really good job video and engine👍🇺🇸
Thank you man so much 💪🏻
Great video! Thanks.
Hey buddy, used your videos for my head swap this weekend....thanks for making them. Gonna put my 2 cents in on few of them to make things easier for others. no special timing alignment tools needed... :) Take closeup pictures of cams and marks after setting TDC. use straight edge and c clamps instead of rear am blocks level, and clamp :)
@50sKid Looks like your jig tool might be adjustable.. There's a hole on the right that seems like it would fit perfectly, if you can unscrew the pin on the left.
Hi, I was wondering if loçktite is needed to refit the sprocket? Great instructional video, thank you TK
Great job, thanks
Thankyou saludos desde Mexico
Good video, thanks😊
I did the bolt holding the transmission return lines "just tight," and it came loose as my kid was driving it down the street one day, and I learned, those need to be a little tighter (because of the line pressure and lubrication?) Another round of ATF.
So much info lucky I can stream it step by step
great job
You doing good chare your knowledge congratulations and thanks.now i got a question for you i got 330i 2001 what other car is compatible on body parts ? Pls help thanks
I just completed a head gasket on a job I’m doing for a customer. Crunk it up today. Had 11 codes cleared them and now have 6 I think my timing is off so this video should help if not imma get you a plane ticket to come down here man !
Thanks for this videos just small advice as a mechanic 13 years in bmw company , both venous head don’t know the correct name in English but u had some gape and you sed you don’t mind to push it out but what we believe both need to be out to the maximum end not inside at all than you don’t have to suffer relive them up just when instal at the beginning push it out all the way and it will line up exactly thanks again good expla
Learning soo much
I've done the complete engine timing procedure as per your video and the car wont start. It sounds like it's out of time. when I get the cams timed is there a way to tell if the vanos is going to be "in time" when you install it? That's the only thing I wasn't sure of. I believe I took it off at TDC and didn't move the vanos. Did I miss something? Thanks, Gary
This guy is BMW God
We've started buying specialty tools for BMW cars, and they're expensive. It's amazing how many people call us to borrow some of these tools. Normally, our shop is not in the tool lending business, however we started renting them. We take a deposit that is equal to the purchase price of the tool, and upon return of the tool, return the deposit minus a rental fee. If we didn't do that, we'd never see the tools again.
I keep coming back to this video as a refresher on the dual vanos. At 4:45 in the video I noticed you were pushing the chain tensioner with your finger backwards and forwards. I know without the tensioner fitted that is normal but should there also be some play from side to side ? I ask because the guide rocks from side to side, almost seems loose, after I stripped down my vanos cams. Im concerned about this before I re-assemble everything.
Love your videos! I'm timing my m54 right now and noticed that vanos template that pushes in the camshaft cups in my kit does not sit completely flush against my cylinder head. There is about 1/16 gap on the intake side of the head. Is this normal? Trying to determine if my tool is setup correctly or if I need to grind some material off of it to make it sit completely flush against the block.
Very good thank you very much .
THANKS, FIFTIES KID!!! (me too) for the great, excellent, all good presentation! (And I have a question..) is there a way to check timing of everything, cam to crank and cam to cam, without pulling everything apart and using the timing tool? Cause I'm throwing a p0340 code, runs like crap, long cranking to start, then if I disconnect intake cam sensor, it starts instantly and runs smooth. This is after a complete engine rebuild. It's never really run right since, except for fairly smooth idle when warm, for multiple reasons including water in gas tank (lol) which was why it smoked massive clouds at first. Other code are p0600 and 0601, cause many modules are missing. (Car has been dead since typhoon Yolanda in 2013, so it's a rebirth sortof.) So, is there any easy way to test for cam timing set wrong? Thanks again..)
Thanks so budds. Your very handy person so thx heaps
Excellent video! I am reassembling an M54 engine after doing a valve job. I can not get the cam timing right on this engine. I have watched 2 very good videos on this, (many times now), including this one, but I still have not been successful in getting it right. I'm at the point of trying to install the torx bolts but when I pull the cups out to where they need to be for the vanos plate I can not get the threaded holes to line up for their installation.Would you be willing to assist me on this? I'll be happy to pay your consultation fee.
Genius thank you
Excellent!!
So I followed all your videos on timing and I was replacing my lifters after so I thought I did it all correct. My car idled fine and was running smooth and better and got rid of my lifter rick. After about 4 weeks 2 codes popped up. P0014 and p1525. I did the procedure correct I don’t get how I would’ve over advanced my timing! Do you think I did or I just have the sensors that are bad?
It is well explained I thank you so much . At the same time I have a question: is it possible to set this timing without those setting components?
Hey buddy I know this is a long shot but I've been following your videos to change a head gasket on a 2002 x5 on a budget I got the head loose but when I tried to pull it up to reach the exhaust bolts I accidently broke the timing chain guide. Have you ever replaced one? And what would you do if you happen to make that mistake any advice would be appreciated
Thank you Bro
Thank you
Good video i learned if you can't find torque specs make sure it's Goodentight
TheGuitFiddler61 like the Germans haha
Hi @50sKid, do you recon the timing chain/components need to be replaced on m54 at all? Mine's at 300k km and wondering if it needs replacement?
That such greeting I have a bmw 2006 325ci you change head gasket l put everything back as you explain it but the car rings and what happened l did wrong can help me thanks good day
good job !
I know its an old video, when i dod this everything went exactly as you said and went off without a hitch. I am curious though because my exhaust cam is rotated and the cone for the exhaust is too far out, how do i suck it in before installation of the rest of that side?
Are there any way around getting this done without the locking tool on the front?
I have a problem with my E46 - been told you're the man that could suggest an answer!! The problem is :- From cold start up in the morning, the car runs perfect until I turn the engine off and restart (i.e. after fuelling or nipping into a shop etc,), then the tickover is slightly erratic and when I dip the accelerator, the revs initially drop and sometimes will stall and will often stall when changing gear. The car only does this when it has been stopped for a short period of time. If it is stopped for an hour or so, the problem rarely arises and is never there when completely cold. I've checked for vacuum leaks but have as yet not located one.... And ideas from anyone?
Fuel pump goin out possibly
What do i do if i didnt keep track of the sprockets when i laid them down? I didnt put them on the alignment tool and i wanted to know if there is a procedure for getting those to line up again
When adjusting the cam shafts into position, can the two dots be down as long as both cams have the dots in the same orientation? I was trying to move the cams to follow you but they stop after a quarter turn...
I have a question when you installed the awkward position chain tensioner if I were to replace it would it mess up my timing reasont to replace seems like its leaking all over my ac compressor and making a mess
Hiii !! I was following your procedures and when I finished installing everything back on I pulled the crank pin and turn the crank. I was only able to turn it about 90degree CW. I couldn’t figure out why it won’t turn. I need serious help on how to retime everything,Now I can only turn the crank cw & ccw 10degree. I notice the timing chain guide is snapped after I had already replace it with new.
Hey, I started this project recently and I didn’t have the cams in the same position you had them in the video when I took them off, we did take them off on top dead center but on the wrong stroke. Can I install the cams in the position that you do without having an issue?
I wreaked my 330ci last week it rolled on its top the a pillar is what is damaged not much of the roof. Do you think it's worth it to repair ?
So I’m currently installing the main sprocket that you installed first. It seems that I don’t have enough slack in my chain to be able to slip the sprocket in..any tips? Also the chain tensioner is not installed so I’ve ruled that out.
I am doing a b30 swap and took the Timing cover off my 99k mile used engine to put the oil chain tensioner mod on. I found 2 broken timing chain guides. Seeing I have to replace the guides should I do the chain and a head gasket too? The engine is on a stand and it would not be that hard ?
Can you use the Vanos Unit instead of the JIG? I looked everywhere but i can't find it
Would want to ask what are the torques of the head bolts
Thanks again, great content, I am about to replace the lifters, so this is very helpful! then I have a few questions :) 1) to remove the camshafts, do you recommend dead center + 1/4 turn, then turn the camshaft where 2 & 4 are bearly pressing? 2) To instal them back, if I am locked with the pin at dead center, can I still move the camshaft to align the timing with the tool without hitting any piston? I didn't get that, sorry. THANK YOU. *to the viewers: Does anybody know what is the torque for the tensioner bolts? THANK YOU, awesome channel!!