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 1 to 6.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Read fault memory and make a documentary record.
Remove right cylinder head cover. See 11 12 006 Removing and Installing/Sealing Right Cylinder Head Cover (N73)
Remove spark plugs. See 12 12 011 REPLACING ALL SPARK PLUGS (N73)
Remove vacuum pump. See 11 66 000 Removing and Installing/Replacing Vacuum Pump (N73)
Remove right VANOS solenoid valves. See 11 36 720 Removing and Installing/Replacing Both Solenoid Valves on Right Side (N73)
Remove right timing case cover. See 11 14 085 Removing and Installing Top Right 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

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NOTE: With 1st cylinder in firing TDC position, cams of inlet and exhaust camshafts at 1st cylinder point towards each other at an angle.

Fig 2: Identifying Inlet And Exhaust Camshafts

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

Unscrew bolt (1).

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

Fig 3: Identifying Oil Line Retainer

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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

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Locking check (exhaust):

Engage hexagon head of exhaust 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

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IMPORTANT: If the inlet or exhaust adjustment unit 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

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Remove screw from inlet VANOS (1).

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

Feed out and remove inlet VANOS (1).

Fig 7: Removing Chain Tensioner

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Remove screw from exhaust VANOS (2).

Feed out and remove exhaust VANOS (2).

Secure timing chain to prevent it from sliding down.

The removal work finishes at this point.

Fig 8: Identifying Exhaust VANOS

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IMPORTANT: Danger of mixing up adjustment units.
The inlet and exhaust adjustment units are different.

Mixing up the adjustment units will result in engine damage .

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

NOTE: The exhaust VANOS of cylinder bank 1 to 6 also has a metal clip for the vacuum pump drive.

Fig 9: Identifying Inlet And Exhaust VANOS

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Feed exhaust VANOS (2) into timing chain and fit onto exhaust camshaft.

Installation:

Position of exhaust VANOS (2) in relation to timing chain can be freely selected.

Fig 10: Identifying Exhaust VANOS

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Installation:

Replace screw.

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

Fig 11: Locating Screw

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Feed inlet VANOS (1) into timing chain. Press back tensioning rail (3) then place on inlet camshaft.

Installation:

Position of inlet VANOS (1) 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 Chain Tensioner

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Installation:

Replace screw.

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

Fig 13: Locating Screw

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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)

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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

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

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Tighten down screw (1) of inlet adjustment unit.

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)

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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

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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

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

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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 Exhaust VANOS Screw

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

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

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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

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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.