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 9 460. See 11 9 460 GAUGE
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:

Read fault memory and make a documentary record.
Remove left cylinder head cover. See 11 12 005 Removing and Installing/Sealing Left Cylinder Head Cover (N73)
Remove spark plugs. See 12 12 011 REPLACING ALL SPARK PLUGS (N73)
Remove VANOS solenoid valves. See 11 36 048 Removing and Installing/Replacing Inlet And Exhaust VANOS on Right Side (N73) , 11 36 048 Removing and Installing/Replacing Inlet And Exhaust VANOS on Right Side (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

NOTE: Special tool bore as (N62).

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

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: With 1st cylinder in firing TDC position, cams of inlet and exhaust camshafts at 7th cylinder point upwards at an angle. See illustration .

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 retainers (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 adjustment unit is faulty and must be replaced.

Slacken 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.

Remove screw from exhaust VANOS (2).

Vigorously press back tensioner rail (3) several times to remove oil in chain tensioner.

Feed out and remove exhaust VANOS (2).

Fig 7: Removing Oil In Chain Tensioner

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove screw from inlet VANOS (1).

Feed out and remove inlet VANOS (1).

Secure timing chain to prevent it from sliding down.

The removal work finishes at this point.

Fig 8: Identifying Inlet VANOS Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT:

Danger of mixing up adjustment units.
Mixing up the adjustment units will result in engine damage .

The inlet and exhaust VANOS are different.

The inlet VANOS (1) is identified with EIN and IN.
The exhaust VANOS (2) is identified with AUS and EX.

Fig 9: Identifying Inlet And Exhaust VANOS
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Feed inlet VANOS (1) into timing chain and fit onto inlet camshaft.

Installation:

Position of inlet VANOS (1) in relation to timing chain can be freely selected.

Fig 10: Identifying Inlet VANOS Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Replace screw.

Tighten screw without play and then slacken off again by half a turn.

Fig 11: Locating Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Feed exhaust VANOS (2) into timing chain. Press back tensioning rail (3) then place on exhaust camshaft.

Installation:

Position of exhaust VANOS (2) can be freely selected.

Remove chain tensioner if tensioning rail (3) cannot be pressed back.

Compress chain tensioner slowly and carefully.

Repeat procedure twice, reinstall chain tensioner and tighten down.

Installation:

Tightening torque for chain tensioner 11 31 8AZ . See 11 31 CAMSHAFT

Replace sealing ring.

Fig 12: Removing Oil In Chain Tensioner

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Replace screw.

Tighten screw without play and then slacken off again by half a turn.

Fig 13: Locating Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Get special tool 11 9 460 ready for securing camshafts. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

NOTE: 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 14: 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. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Installation:

Place special tool 11 9 461 flat on cylinder head, align inlet camshaft if necessary. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 15: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461) On Inlet Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fit special tool 11 9 463, insert screw (1) in thread for oil line and secure special tool 11 9 461 in position. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Tighten down special tool 11 9 463 by hand. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 16: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461) On Inlet Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tighten down screw (1) of inlet VANOS.

Installation:

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

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

Fig 17: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw (1), remove special tools 11 9 463 and 11 9 461 from inlet camshaft. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 18: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 461) On Inlet Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Place special tool 11 9 462 on exhaust camshaft. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Installation:

Place special tool 11 9 462 flat on cylinder head, align exhaust camshaft if necessary. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 19: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462) On Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fit special tool 11 9 463, insert screw (1) in thread for oil line and secure special tool 11 9 462 in position. . See11 9 460 GAUGE

Tighten down special tool 11 9 463 by hand. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 20: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462) On Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tighten down screw (2) of exhaust VANOS.

Installation:

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

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

Fig 21: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw (1), remove special tools 11 9 463 and 11 9 462 from inlet camshaft. See11 9 460 GAUGE

Fig 22: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 462) On Exhaust Camshaft

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Crank engine at central bolt twice in direction of rotation until engine returns 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 23: Identifying Special Tool (11 9 190) In TDC Position Of 1st Cylinder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fit special tools 11 9 461 and 11 9 462 again for checking purposes and check valve timing. See 11 9 460 GAUGE

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 9 460 GAUGE

Remove all special tools.

Assemble engine.