On other cars (ie S62) the vanos solenoid actuators will get clogged with oil/crud. The screens clog and congeal, the decompose...this all leads to solenoids that are sluggish. They will not achieve the target positions.


Remve them, and clean AGGRESSIVELY with carb cleaner. I will actuate them with a 5V source, paying attention to the sound it makes. You want a nice, loud click/snap. Flush them with copious blasts from a aerosol carb cleaner, not just passively soak...check the sound as you go.


As long as you are taking it out, might as well.