I completely commiserate with your story. My 1st 4.6is was an absolute lemon after 100k miles. At one point I hadn't driven my own car in over a year. Fortunately, I had an after market warranty that covered over $20k in repairs before the timing chain broke and cracked the engine block. But while she ran it was pure ecstasy.
So here I am with another e53 4.6is now with 130k miles that runs great except for the looming unavoidable repairs. As things stand the timing chain and VANOS repairs are the only issues besides some smaller items. I'm somewhat torn between trading her in and sound this repair. But with a little support here I think I can do it.

I hope all is well given the circumstances 😷. Things have escalated recently since my 4.6is started making a terrible noise at start up. I have no interest in trying my luck driving her as I've lost that bet before. So I'm now ordering the timing replacement parts and VANOS rebuild kit. However it looks like there's a lot of overlaping parts between the two. Also, ECS Tuning charges an arm and leg for their timing kit ($1300). Any suggestions? I can't find a rebuild kit from Beisan just a small VANOS seal repair kit ($60)

Stay healthy,

Robb

Yup, the ECS kit is expensive. But it's comprehensive. I've bought two of them and each time I shopped around and couldn't really get the parts any cheaper - at least not cheap enough to be worth the trouble of ordering from multiple vendors (and paying multiple shipping costs). The Beisan VANOS kit is just o-rings and the teflon seals. It's been a while since I've ordered one, but $60 sounds right. There isn't a rebuild kit, per se. Just the new seals and then you have to use the special tool to bend in the edges of the VANOS unit.

Just finished mine at 125k miles and like others, the timing of the VANOS reluctor disk is an issue. I used the Orion Motor kit off Amazon and it has everything in it for an easy to digest price. Why I got the timing of the Vanos wrong is still nebulous to me. However, if you double check your work with the upper timing covers on you might get away with only doing this once.

If you lock the flywheel and the camshafts with the kit, the basic timing will be fine. The position of the Vanos disks should be double checked once you get the upper timing chain covers back on. Like the OP said, make sure the Vanos on Bank 1 is turned fully CCW and then check with the holes in the upper timing cover. If you are slightly off, reset the reluctor plate holding the Vanos fully CCW and tighten the reluctor wheel.

I did have to drive it for a few days to get the Vanos seal to wear in. Still have to change the chain tensioner but there is another car undergoing surgery in my garage just now.....

Good luck!

Thank you very much gentlemen. I appreciate your responses and support. I will be sure to keep you updated on my progress once the parts arrive.

Robb

Good luck!!

Just to confirm, did anyone else actually buy and install the ECS VANOS rebuild kit?

I have that code occaisionally, the camchain has been replaced so the suspision is that the vanos is acting up sometimes. Now my mechanic said the 4.6is models do not have rebuildable vanos, is that true? or are there specific aftermarket kits for this?

Once again nobody has installed this "VANOS rebuild kit" from ECS? Shall I be the 1st or does anyone have a better suggestion. Also, would I still need the Beisan items if I buy this?

Thank you in advance,

Robb

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...017301ecs01kt/

I have not installed it but I recall a few posted that they have. Might use the search using Beisan. Can't remember if they are the same but there were also posts about Dr. Vanos. The only difficulty I recall was buy extra of the seals as it is a learning process as to how to do it properly without damaging the seals. Might also look in how to section for a step by step.