Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Vanos solenoids

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
Post Reply
Online
User avatar
Roberltd2
Member
Member
Posts: 821
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:28 pm
Location: Ponterwyd

Vanos solenoids

Post by Roberltd2 » Wed May 22, 2024 10:50 am

Hi everyone,
Had new Vanos solenoids (Febi Bilstein) fitted yesterday as a precautionary measure as the car is now on 117,000 miles. The 15 mile journey home was fine and I thought that the engine seemed to have a better pick-up after it's visit to the garage.
Just as I was about to arrive at work this morning after a trip of about 11 miles, the engine management warning light came on and the car started juddering and losing power.
I made it to the garage where a diagnostic showed up issues with the Vanos inlet. Should have asked the mechanic for the fault codes but i didn't.
His advice is to put the old solenoids back in. I was amazed at how clean they looked when I cleaned the oil off them last night.
Of course, being as the car was running so smoothly on the way home last night, I put the old solenoids away in a cupboard so now I'm going to try to blag a lift off a work colleague to go and fetch them.
Any thoughts anybody?
Thanks,
Robert.
2007 E85 2.5 si Sport in Montego Blue.
1994 Eunos J2Ltd - sold and now undergoing restoration.
1963 Triumph Thunderbird.

raymond.harper
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1071
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:30 am

Vanos solenoids

Post by raymond.harper » Wed May 22, 2024 11:51 am

Today you cannot trust the quality of new parts. Could well be the replacement solenoids have failed.

Online
User avatar
Roberltd2
Member
Member
Posts: 821
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:28 pm
Location: Ponterwyd

Vanos solenoids

Post by Roberltd2 » Wed May 22, 2024 1:22 pm

Just dropped off the old solenoids with the mechanic who said that after the engine had cooled down he went to drive the car into the workshop and it was running smoothly again. Anyways, the old ones are going back in and hopefully I'll be able to get a refund from Opie Oils for the faulty Febis.
2007 E85 2.5 si Sport in Montego Blue.
1994 Eunos J2Ltd - sold and now undergoing restoration.
1963 Triumph Thunderbird.

jenniferlouise
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1129
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:08 am
Location: St Neots, Cambridgeshire

Vanos solenoids

Post by jenniferlouise » Wed May 22, 2024 2:01 pm

Had a recall notice today from BMW for Vanos Adjuster? Probably unrelated (the word Vanos caught my attention). So my 14yo E89 is getting some free care anytime from August . I assume others will get similar notice.

Online
User avatar
Roberltd2
Member
Member
Posts: 821
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:28 pm
Location: Ponterwyd

Vanos solenoids

Post by Roberltd2 » Wed May 22, 2024 3:05 pm

I think the Vanos solenoids control the amount of oil which then determines by how much the adjusters are turned. Although I could stand to be corrected on this. :scratchhead:
2007 E85 2.5 si Sport in Montego Blue.
1994 Eunos J2Ltd - sold and now undergoing restoration.
1963 Triumph Thunderbird.

jenniferlouise
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1129
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:08 am
Location: St Neots, Cambridgeshire

Vanos solenoids

Post by jenniferlouise » Wed May 22, 2024 3:33 pm

Roberltd2 wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 3:05 pm I think the Vanos solenoids control the amount of oil which then determines by how much the adjusters are turned. Although I could stand to be corrected on this. :scratchhead:
You’re ahead of me; I know there’s a lever that if I pull it will open the bonnet, under which there’s some weird stuff that makes a nice noise and the wheels turn.

Online
User avatar
Roberltd2
Member
Member
Posts: 821
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:28 pm
Location: Ponterwyd

Vanos solenoids

Post by Roberltd2 » Wed May 22, 2024 3:35 pm

:D :thumbsup:
2007 E85 2.5 si Sport in Montego Blue.
1994 Eunos J2Ltd - sold and now undergoing restoration.
1963 Triumph Thunderbird.

Post Reply