I have not read all the posts but here are my 2 cents having fixed my E39 (1998 M52 528i) VCG and single VANOS recently, without any special tool by leaving the VANOS gear in place. However, this is for
M52 but the idea is similar for
M54. I posted the tricks here:
DIY: 1998 BMW 528i SINGLE VANOS Seals the easy way without special tool! - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums
So, at that mileage:
1. VCG: use BMW dealer seal only! It fits well without any issues.
2. VANOS Seals: Beisan only.
3. CCV Mod: see the BavarianE39 mod.
My 2006 X5 M54 used to consume 1 qt every 400-500 miles.
After the CCV Mod: No more oil consumption. I posted my photos here.
See
post #164:
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...oblems-17.html