11 31 028 Removing and installing/replacing exhaust camshaft (N55)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 BMW X5, 2012 BMW X5, and 2011 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

IMPORTANT: It is absolutely essential to follow an exact procedure for removing and installing the exhaust camshaft.
Risk of damage!
The upper and lower bearing strips must be preloaded with a total of six special tools 11 8 550 .

Necessary preliminary work:

Remove CYLINDER HEAD COVER .
Remove ALL IGNITION COILS AND INJECTOR SHAFTS .
Remove EXHAUST CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER
Adjust VALVE TIMING .

Remove fitting bushes (1).

Installation note:

Check fitting bushes (1) for damage and replace if necessary.

Fig 1: Identifying Gasket And Bushes

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Position special tool 11 7 100 on cylinder 2.

Hand-tighten special tool 11 7 100 with special tool 11 8 552 .

Fig 2: Positioning Special Tool (11 7 100) On Cylinder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Graphic without bearing strip.

Screw in roller cam follower at 2nd cylinder using spindle nut of special tool 11 7 100 to end stop.

Fig 3: Locating Screw In Roller Cam Follower

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw connection on bearing strip in sequence from 15 to 1.

Remove upper bearing strip (1).

NOTE: The upper and lower bearing strips (1) can also be lifted out completely with exhaust camshaft.

Fig 4: Releasing Screw Connection On Bearing Strip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove exhaust camshaft (1) from bearing strip in direction of arrow.

Set down exhaust camshaft (1) on special tool.

Fig 5: Removing Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Marks of intake and exhaust camshafts are different.
Mixing up the intake and exhaust camshaft will result in engine damage.
A = Exhaust camshaft.
E = Intake camshaft

Fig 6: Identifying Exhaust And Intake Camshafts

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Metal plain rectangular compression ring:

IMPORTANT: Plain rectangular compression rings (1) can easily break.

Only replace plain rectangular compression rings (1) when they are broken.

Fig 7: Pressing Plain Rectangular Compression Rings

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The plain rectangular compression rings have catches at the joint.

Press plain rectangular compression rings (1) apart upwards and downwards and removed towards front.

Make sure plain rectangular compression rings (1) can move freely.

Installation note:

When exhaust camshafts are inserted, no joint must point to a separating joint.

Plastic plain rectangular compression ring:

Installation note:

The plastic plain rectangular compression ring is maintenance free and does not have to be replaced.

Insert plastic rectangular compression ring (1) into groove of exhaust camshaft (2) (see arrow).

Lightly oil plastic rectangular compression ring (1) and rotate in direction of arrow until compression ring (1) is positioned on the exhaust camshaft.

Fig 8: Inserting Plastic Rectangular Compression Ring

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Check plastic plain rectangular compression ring (1 and 2) for freedom of movement.

Fig 9: Identifying Plastic Plain Rectangular Compression Ring

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Removal on engine:
Set engine to ignition TDC at cylinder No. 1.
Removed cylinder head:
When using special tool 11 9 000 ,
it will be necessary to remove the aluminum strip.

Installation note:

Before mounting the exhaust camshaft, ensure the correct fit of the rocker arm (1) on the hydraulic valve clearance compensating element and the valve.

See "Removing and installing/replacing all ROLLER CAM FOLLOWERS ".

Fig 10: Identifying Rocker Arm

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Mounting bearing strip:

Pre-install special tool 11 7 100 on cylinder no. 2.

IMPORTANT: Special tool 11 8 552 is a special screw.

Press down rocker arms (3) on cylinder no. 2 with spindle nut (2) of special tool 11 7 100 .

Fig 11: Locating Screw In Roller Cam Follower

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Position lower bearing strip (1) with exhaust camshaft (2) on rocker arms.

Align exhaust camshaft (2).

Cylinder nos. 2 and 4 are at valve overlap.

Cams (3) on cylinder no. 1 point upwards at an angle.

Part number (4) on mounting flats of exhaust camshaft (2) points upwards.

Fig 12: Identifying Lower Bearing Strip, Cams And Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert exhaust camshaft so that none of the latching mechanisms for the plain rectangular compression rings (1) point to a bearing cap joint.

Center latch mechanism of the plain rectangular compression rings with the bearing cap.

Fig 13: Locating Plain Rectangular Compression Rings

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert exhaust camshaft so that the data code (1) on the mounting flats faces up.

NOTE: Graphic of intake camshaft.

Fig 14: Identifying Intake And Exhaust Camshaft Part Numbers

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The cam (1) at cylinder 6 points downward at an angle.

Fig 15: Identifying Cam

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: There must be no oil residues in the cylinder head threaded holes.
Clean threaded holes.
Fit upper bearing strip (1).
Insert bolts dry.
Join exhaust camshaft to lower and upper bearing strips (1) with torque wrench (2) to 8 Nm in sequential order from 1 to 15.
Release all screws of upper bearing strip (1) from outside inwards by 90°.

Fig 16: Releasing Screw Connection On Bearing Strip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note:

Upper and lower bearing strips must be aligned to each other at ground surfaces (1 and 2).

Make sure that the synchronizing key and the shanks of special tools 11 4 461 rest on the milled surfaces.

Fig 17: Identifying Ground Surfaces Of Upper And Lower Bearing Strips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Schematic diagram of special tool 11 8 553 at upper bearing strip (1) and lower bearing strip (2).
Preload all special tools 11 8 553 with special tool 11 4 350 only.

IMPORTANT: Tighten screw (3) on synchronizing key to 2 Nm. Risk of damage!

Fig 18: Tightening Screw On Synchronizing Key

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Position special tool 11 8 553 over screw connection of bearing strips.

Make sure that the shanks rest exactly on the ground surfaces of the upper bearing strip (2) and lower bearing strip (1).

Fig 19: Positioning Special Tool 11 8 553 Over Screw Connection Of Bearing Strips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Initially tighten screw of special tool 11 8 553 to ground surfaces of upper bearing strip (1) and lower bearing strip (2).

IMPORTANT: Tighten screws on synchronizing key to 2 Nm. Risk of damage!

Fig 20: Tightening Screw Of Special Tool 11 8 553 To Ground Surfaces Of Bearing Strip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Set special tool 11 8 553to 2 Nm.
Preload all special tools 11 8 553 with special tool 11 4 350 only.

Fig 21: Identifying Special Tool (11 4 350)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Mount special tools 11 8 553 to inside of cylinder head with pressure bolt.

Mount special tool 11 8 553 on cylinder no. 2 with pressure bolt facing outward.

Position special tools 11 8 553 so that screw connections (2) of bearing strip are easily accessible.

Fig 22: Positioning Special Tools 11 8 553 To Screw Connections Of Bearing Strip

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tighten top and bottom bearing strip with special tool 00 9 120 .

Tightening torque: 11 31 1AZ .

IMPORTANT: Remove special tool 11 8 553 only when exhaust camshaft screw connection is completed.

Fig 23: Tightening Bearing Strip Using Special Tool (00 9 120)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Assemble engine.