According to my request, the owner of the car sent me VANOS live data in Expert mode.
Here, the exhaust VANOS of the first bank – required (grey) and actual (yellow) positions.
Here – the inlet VANOS of the first bank – required (reddish) and actual (green) curves.
Here – the data of the VANOS of the 2nd bank. Inlet: blue (required) and reddish (actual); exhaust: brown (required) and black (actual).
In the images below – the PWM of the management valves/solenoids.
In this: valves of the 1st bank. Blusih (inlet), greenish (exhaust).
In this: PWM of the management valves of 2nd bank. Bluish (inlet), greenish (exhaust).
What do we see in the images?
a. everything is more or less ok with the inlet VANOS. Jittering of the inlet VANOS is not larger than +/-1 degree;
b. there are problems with the exhaust VANOS – their jittering reaches even +/-3 .. 4 degrees in the stationary modes!
c. PWM data confirms – exhaust VANOS management has to make significant effort. The jittering of the valve management is several times above the norm.
What could have happened to VANOS? I asked the basic thing to the owner of the car:
a. oil change intervals;
b. the average driving speed;
c. driving profile.
Basic data regarding the car:
a. 6000 .. 7000 km;
b. 60 km/h;
c. regular driving on German highways with speeds till 230 km/h.
Why did I ask about these basic things? All symptoms indicate – VANOS (management valves/solenoids, their mechanics) is clogged. The typical cause of such problem – rare oil change intervals.
The information from the car owner indicates that the driving profile and oil change intervals are perfect!
But then the owner of the car sent me additional information – he did not use the oil recommended by the manufacturer, but the oil offered by manufacturer R*******.
I purposefully indicate only the manufacturer’s first letter. There are several reasons – I don’t have exact information that the oil of this manufacturer is really used (although – I don’t have any reason not to believe the owner of the car). In addition – it’s not important that the oil of exactly this manufacturer has been used. The most important:
a. this manufacturer has never been a BMW cooperation partner;
b. BMW has never recommended the oil of this manufacturer for their engines;
c. the oils of this manufacturer don’t have the LL01/LL04 certifications required by BMW;
d. this manufacturer is not a member of the “great three/five”.
BMW determined that the SAE 10W 60 should be used for S series engines (note: actually, Alpina doesn’t use S series engines as a donor for their vehicles; see below).
According to the BMW documentation, BMW accepts the oils of this specification from the two largest manufacturers: Shell and Castrol.
Accepted oils:
BMW Engine Oil 10W 60; BMW M TwinPower Turbo 10W 60 (Shell)
Castrol Edge Professional TWS 10W 60; Castrol Edge 10W 60 (Castrol)
The owner of the car has got in touch with Alpina, who has recommended the 5W30 specification oil, as the car is for everyday use (it seems that Alpina uses an N series engine as a donor).
However, in this case, BMW strictly indicates what oils should be used. LL01 specification oil if the car doesn’t have OPF, or LL12 specification oil if the car has OPF installed. In addition – in TIS, you can find the list of accepted oil manufacturers and the list of exact oils.
I invite all BMW users not to experiment with “better” oils, “sport” ignition coils, and other “miracles”. Don’t follow the “advisers” found on the internet. These advisers do not have the slightest idea regarding the “value” of their advice.
For example, the choice of such incorrect oil can make (and, as we see – is making) critical damages to the engine and the exhaust:
a. the management mechanisms (VANOS, HVA) are contaminated;
b. the piston rings are burned;
c. CO catalytic converters can get damaged;
d. unavoidable mechanical damages to the piston group can be done.
This time, the owner will have to spend several thousand EUR on repair work to replace VANOS actuators. And, of course, cleaning the oiling system and filling the engine with the correct oil.
