Listen to this. P0011 on my M62B46

[Bread]

Here's a vid I made last night:



So this totally sucks. I just finished servicing leaking valve cover gaskets including powdercoating the covers less than a month ago and now this. The day before this rattle, there was a whining sound which was exactly like a GM power steering pump failing. So I started pricing out pumps and such. The next day on the way to work my g/f said the whine turned into a rattle, and then the check engine light came on. She put about 45 miles on it before I could get to it to hear the noise and pull the codes. Haven't started it since.

So I'm not sure if it's a failed timing chain guide or an issue with the VANOS. Normally I would pull the pan to check for shrapnel, and do a compression test to know the status of the top end. But I can't perform testing on the VANOS unit in my backyard so I'll probably tow it to a local shop for analysis. If there's a VANOS problem then I don't have time to mess with it in my backyard, in the rain, while standing in mud

Are there any recommendations as to things I should check myself before taking it in?

Some background on me. I've got plenty of experience with engine work and all the tools you could want. Rebuilt my 7.3 turbo diesel, installed a home brew EFI on my carbureted international V8, and projects of that nature. But I don't have the BMW specific VANOS tools which probably aren't worth buying for one job.

[papasmurf]

I would do the chain guides and rebuild the VANOS. I'm still regretting that I didn't rebuild mine. I'm going to have to tear down again to rebuild them.

[Bread]

Originally Posted by papasmurf

I would do the chain guides and rebuild the VANOS. I'm still regretting that I didn't rebuild mine. I'm going to have to tear down again to rebuild them.

Is that due to continuing issues with engine codes, or noise issues? I get about one second of rattle upon startup if the engine is cold, but its (well it was) smooth and quiet otherwise. Gotta check the mileage when I get home.

[Bread]

Well, I took it down to an indy I have used in the past to inspect everthing. They got the oil pan and valve covers off and found the guides were chewed up. Unfortunately because about 45 miles were put on the car in this condition the chain ground away the case, and sent metal chips circulating about the engine. I didn't see it myself, but in any event it would seem pointless to replace the guides on this motor without going through the rest of it including the vanos.

They're recommending we swap in a used motor, but these things are tough to come by. If anybody knows of a source please let me know. I'm located in Seattle.

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by Bread

Is that due to continuing issues with engine codes, or noise issues? I get about one second of rattle upon startup if the engine is cold, but its (well it was) smooth and quiet otherwise. Gotta check the mileage when I get home.

Noise issues.

[epdarks]

How many miles on your truck?

Did you find any metal shavings in the motor? Or are you (they) just speculating due to the worn case?

Since the guides are so cheap (parts), and it sounds like you already have the motor open, would it not make sense to flush the motor and throw new chain guides on it?

4.6 motors are so hard to find, it was one of the factors that made me leery about the 4.6. You could think about swapping in a 4.4... in my speculation it should bolt right up and run on the existing ECU.

[Bread]

Originally Posted by epdarks

How many miles on your truck?

Did you find any metal shavings in the motor? Or are you (they) just speculating due to the worn case?

Since the guides are so cheap (parts), and it sounds like you already have the motor open, would it not make sense to flush the motor and throw new chain guides on it?

4.6 motors are so hard to find, it was one of the factors that made me leery about the 4.6. You could think about swapping in a 4.4... in my speculation it should bolt right up and run on the existing ECU.

It's got around 140k miles on it.

They drained the oil and pulled the pan to recover the plastic bits of chain guides, which also revealed the metal shavings. Not only are the guides toast, but the timing gears teeth are rounded over.

I don't know enough about the engine to determine if it can be flushed out or not, but if any of those metal flakes plug up an oil return a bearing could starve and burn up. I'll ask him tomorrow though. He said outside of the timing components, at a minimum we should also replace both vanos units because any amount of metal particles will surely destroy them in short order. And the cost of those units combined with the timing chain repairs makes a used engine a better choice cost wise.

I briefly considered a 4.4 swap, but I can't get my head around it. Feels like I would be putting a 6 cylinder in a corvette. Just kills it, but who knows somebody might buy it. I sure won't want to keep it after enjoying the power of the 4.6! If I can't get this motor issue resolved I'm going to put it on craigslist and let somebody who has the time to tinker with it take over. I rebuilt the motor in my F350 last winter on the back lawn under a portable canopy. After that experience I have no desire to do it again on a much more complex engine!

[jsoto]

Eeeks. I priced out parts awhile back - with the top open, do it all. Valve Cover, Valley Pan, Intake, Water Gas and O Ring, etc..

[Skyline]

If it were my car, I'd replace the chain, chain guides, and worn gears, and leave the vanos as is. Of course flush the engine as much as possible. I'd also buy the vanos tool kit for about $325 and do the job myself,; there are plenty of good tutorials on the forums. Given the age of the vehicle, even if you got a used 4.6 motor, it would be hard to fingd one that had really low mileage, so similar problems could happen again soon. And I'd bet the total cost of buying and installing a good used motor would be at least $5,000 or more.

[epdarks]

Have you located any B46s for sale? A better solution may be to rebuild your motor. If not, and you don't feel like downgrading to the B44, then please put an S62 in it. "Should" bolt right up. There is also an LS1 swap, there a hundreds of LS1 BMWs now... Just no X5s to my knowledge.

Another kind of silly idea would be to try and find a wrecked 4.6is with an intact motor. Or, just buy another cheap 4.6is for $10k and take the motor... Sell the rest of the parts to guys like us.

I just really question the likelihood of finding a used 4.6 motor. There may be new B46 crate motors in a BMW warehouse somewhere, that would be a real treat to have.

Hopefully you can use this as an opportunity to rebuild the truck stronger than before. Still a hard pill to swallow.