Special tools required:

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 BMW 760Li and 2007 BMW 760Li. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

11 9 190. See 11 9 190 PLUG MANDREL
11 9 461. See 11 9 460 GAUGE
11 9 462. See 11 9 460 GAUGE
11 9 463. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Cylinders 7 to 12.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove intake air manifold. See 11 61 050 Removing and Installing Intake Air Manifold (N73)
Remove right cylinder head cover. See 11 12 006 Removing and Installing/Sealing Right Cylinder Head Cover (N73)
Remove all spark plugs. See 12 12 011 REPLACING ALL SPARK PLUGS (N73)
Remove fan. See 11 52 020 Removing and Installing Or Replacing Fan Clutch (N73)
Remove left timing case cover. See 11 14 080 Removing and Installing Top Left Timing Case Cover (N73)

Crank engine at central bolt in direction of rotation to firing TDC position of 1st cylinder.

Secure vibration damper with special tool 11 9 190 in firing TDC position of 1st cylinder. See 11 9 190 PLUG MANDREL

Fig 1: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 190) In TDC Position Of 1st Cylinder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Cams on inlet and exhaust camshafts at 7th cylinder are inclined upwards.

Fig 2: Identifying Inlet And Exhaust Camshafts Upwards

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Screw (1) must not be replaced by an M8 screw (special screw).

Release screw (1).

Unclip oil line (3) from retainer (2) and remove.

Fig 3: Identifying Oil Line Retainer

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: The adjustment units are locked in an initial position when the engine is switched off.
In individual cases this initial position is not achieved and the camshaft remains rotatable in the VANOS adjustment range.
In order to avoid incorrect timing adjustment, it is necessary to check the locking of the VANOS and if necessary perform locking by rotating the camshafts.

Locking check (inlet):

Engage hexagon head of camshaft at front and rotate inlet camshaft carefully against direction of rotation.

The inlet VANOS is locked in the initial position when the inlet camshaft is non-positively connected to the inlet VANOS.

Fig 4: Rotating Inlet Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Locking check (exhaust):

Engage hexagon head of camshaft at front and rotate exhaust camshaft carefully in direction of rotation.

The exhaust VANOS is locked in the initial position when the exhaust camshaft is non-positively connected to the exhaust VANOS.

Fig 5: Rotating Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: If the inlet and exhaust VANOS of the camshafts "cannot" be locked as described, the VANOS is faulty and must be replaced.

Release screws of inlet and exhaust VANOS.

NOTE: When slackening screws, grip camshafts at hexagon head.

Fig 6: Identifying Inlet And Exhaust Screws

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Special tool 11 9 461 for securing inlet camshaft. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Special tool 11 9 462 for securing exhaust camshaft. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Special tool 11 9 463 (holder with screw). See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 7: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461, 11 9 462 And 11 9 463)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Place special tool 11 9 461 on inlet camshaft and align inlet camshaft so that special tool 11 9 461 rests flat on cylinder head. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Insert special tool 11 9 463 in thread of oil line and tighten down by hand with screw (1). See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 8: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461) On Inlet Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tighten down screw (1) of inlet VANOS.

Installation:

Replace screw (1).

Tightening torque 11 36 16AZ. See 11 36 VARIABLE CAMSHAFT CONTROL

NOTE: When tightening down screw (1), grip camshaft at hexagon head.

Remove special tool 11 9 461. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 9: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Place special tool 11 9 462 on exhaust camshaft and align exhaust camshaft so that special tool 11 9 462 rests flat on cylinder head. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Insert special tool 11 9 463 in thread of oil line and tighten down by hand with screw (1). See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 10: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462) On Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tighten down screw (2) of exhaust VANOS.

Installation:

Replace screw (2).

Tightening torque 11 36 16AZ. See 11 36 VARIABLE CAMSHAFT CONTROL

NOTE: When tightening down screw (2), grip camshaft at hexagon head.

Remove special tool 11 9 462. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Remove special tool 11 9 190. See 11 9 190 PLUG MANDREL

Fig 11: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Crank engine at central bolt twice in direction of rotation until engine returns to firing TDC position of 1st cylinder.

Secure engine again with special tool 11 9 190. See 11 9 190 PLUG MANDREL

Check camshaft adjustments.

Fig 12: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 190) In TDC Position Of 1st Cylinder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: The timing is correctly adjusted when special tools 11 9 461 and 11 9 462 rest flat on the cylinder head or protrude by up to 0.5 mm to the exhaust side. See 11 9 190 PLUG MANDREL

Remove all special tools.

Assemble engine.