I may be on to something. Actually had some time to start to tear it back down this morning and (thankfully) before I got too far, I found a cut in the jacket on the Vanos! Pulled the harness up and directly at the bottom of the plug it looks like the wire and plug got twisted and bent/ started to break the wire right at the bottom of the plug - not enough wire left to fix it so I have ordered a new plug that should be here tomorrow.

Messing with this wire I was able to get the car to idle somewhat better, but still received misfires on 3, 6 & 8 along with an exhaust Vanos code on bank 2.

I found it pretty ironic that I received an exhaust Vanos code immediately after finding that wire. I am going to fix this first, see what affect that has and work forward from there.



Question- fixing the wire should I cut, clean and solder the new pigtail on, or is there a better way to do this that will ensure a good fix?

Funny that you ask that, I read that thread just before I buttoned it up and I actually reached in there and made sure those were tight and clean before I dropped the valve cover on, so o think I’m good on those. Fingers crossed it’s that jacked wire I found on the Vanos. Not cut all the way through but bad enough that I spotted it right away, bare copper wire...

If you suspect vanos, first check the Realtime vanos : cam positions and then swap the vanos solinoids and see if you get a problem to migrate. Then, you can also swap the cam position sensors. I've helped numerous cases where right after reassembly had to replace the CPS. Also: check on the knock sensors becuase if the car misinterprets them it will cause all sort of havoc.

Still feels like a wiring problem to me I think you are 95%

Purplefade, you did verify the engine timing before closing up, right? It's a critical step. That's the very last thing I did before putting back the valve covers. It takes like 10 minutes.

I don't think he had the timing tools as he did the cams in place seal Replacement.


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Then if that is the case, there can also be issues if the actual VANOS’ are not seated into the front of the engine properly. In many cases of the time the installer gets the o-ring slightly pinched causing the VANOS to sit a few mm slightly off center and/or slightly too deep into the engine.

Was the very last thing I did before buttoning up, actually checked it, got called for dinner, came back out and checked it again... not thinking.

I double and triple checked those bad boys, actually had them out a couple more times to swap banks and try to isolate the problem. No love there that I found ☹️

Purple, do you by any chance have a part list of what you ordered? I am putting together a part list, planning on getting this done at the end of the summer.



I seem to have developed an valve cover leak, so I'm thinking might as well go in deep.

Oh brother I feel your pain, good luck with that and let me know if you need anything.




Valve Stem Seal Replacement WITHOUT Upper Timing Covers:

Valve Stem Seal Kit - 1134029751 (x2)
Valve Cover Gasket Left - 11127513195 (x1)
Valve Cover Gasket Right - 11127513194 (x1)
Cam Position Sensor O-Ring – 12141748398 (x4)
Eccentric Shaft Sensor Gasket – 11127518420 (x2)
Valvetronic Actuator Seal O-Ring - 07119903596 (x2) (This is the small o-ring between the actuator and the actuator mount)
The valvetronic actuator mount gasket (actuator mount to valve cover) comes with the valve cover gasket set and is the “fat” o-ring style gasket in that kit.)
Some RTV Red or other good gasket maker.

NOTE: - When installing the valve cover gasket put a few small dabs of gasket maker into the gasket channel on the vc and set the gasket in place, let it dry for maybe 20 minutes or so until the gasket maker holds the gasket in place – it makes it so much easier to get the vcre-installed when you know the gasket is (probably) going to stay in place.


Valve Stem Seals WITH Upper Timing Covers:

Upper Timing Cover Gasket Right – 11147506424 (x1)
Upper Timing Cover Gasket Left – 11147506425 (x1)
Vanos Solenoid O-Ring (Large) – 11367513222 (x4)
Vanos Solenoid O-Ring (Small) – 11367546379 (x4)

If you just want to make some extra room for yourself while you’re working in the area:

Throttle Body O-Ring – 13547510433 (x1)
(Removing the tb just makes access to the harness and everything that much easier.)

NOTE: - When doing the timing covers you will notice a small gasket lip extending above the level of the timing cover and head – BEFORE installing the valve cover gasket, use a razorblade and cut that excess gasket material off level with the timing cover and head. I also used a small amount of RTV Red on this area just to reassure myself..