11 31 001 Replacing camshaft (M52TU / M54 / M56)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 BMW X5, 2002 BMW X5, and 2001 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE:

For Special Tool identification, see SPECIAL TOOLS - X5 (3.0i) .

Special Tools Required:

00 9 250
11 2 300
11 3 240
11 3 244
11 3 250
11 3 260
11 3 292
11 4 220
11 6 150
11 6 180

(If necessary inlet or exhaust side.)

The inlet or exhaust camshaft can be replaced in the vehicle.

Important!

Incorrect assembly/removal without special tools exposes the camshaft to the risk of preliminary damage or breakage. The valves may also be bent by contact with the piston crown. Comply without fail with the job instructions, recommended special tools and work sequence.

Removal:

Removal of camshafts is described separately from installation.

The assembly sequence for removal and installation is different.

Remove VANOS adjustment unit, refer to 11 36 010 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING DOUBLE VANOS ADJUSTMENT UNIT (M52TU / M54 / M56) .

Important!

Cylinder for chain tensioning piston is under spring pressure.

Unfasten cylinder for chain tensioning piston.

Fig 1: Locating Cylinder For Chain Tensioning Piston

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Press down secondary chain tensioner at top and lock with special tool 11 3 292 .

Fig 2: Locking Secondary Chain Tensioner With Special Tool

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Release nuts, remove sensor gear (1).

Fig 3: Removing Sensor Gear

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Remove plate spring (2).

Fig 4: Removing Plate Spring

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Release nuts on inlet side and remove corrugated washer (7).

Fig 5: Locating Corrugated Washer Retaining Nuts

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Unfasten screws.

Fig 6: Removing Chain Wheel Retaining Screws

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Lift off exhaust and inlet chain wheels together with chain, friction washer (3) and toothed shaft (4).

NOTE: Toothed shaft (4) is and identical part for exhaust and inlet sides. Store used toothed shafts in order and reinstall on the same side only.

Fig 7: Removing Exhaust/Inlet Chain Wheels

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Remove toothed shaft (5) with toothed sleeve (6).

Fig 8: View Of Toothed Shaft And Sleeve

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Unfasten screws. Remove secondary chain tensioner.

Fig 9: Locating Secondary Chain Tensioner Screws

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Release screw-in pin.

Fig 10: Removing Screw-In Pin

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Feed chain wheel (1) towards front out of timing chain (2).

Fig 11: Positioning Chain Wheel Towards Front Of Chain

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NOTE: Timing chain remains positioned over exhaust camshaft.

Fig 12: View Of Timing Chain Over Exhaust Camshaft

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If necessary, release screw-in pin on inlet side.

Remove thrust washer.

Fig 13: Removing Thrust Washer

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Remove sensor gear.

Fig 14: View Of Sensor Gear

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Important!

Do "not" release these screws.

Fig 15: Identifying Screws That Remain Secured

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Unscrew studs.

Fig 16: Locating Studs

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Pull special tool 11 2 300 back until flywheel is no longer secured in position.

Fig 17: Securing Flywheel With Plug Mandrel

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Important!

To prevent damaging valves when fitting the camshafts, no pistons should be in TDC position.

Lift timing chain and hold under tension.

Rotate engine against direction of engine rotation approx. 30° using the central bolt.

Fig 18: Apply Tension To Lifted Timing Chain

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Important!

Bearing cap 1 of inlet camshaft is centered with adapter sleeves.

To prevent inlet camshaft from tilting in bearing strip, release nuts and remove bearing cap 1.

Fig 19: Removing Bearing Cap Retaining Nuts

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Fit special tool 11 3 260 to cylinder head and screw into spark plug threads in cylinders 1 and 4.

Fig 20: View Of Fixture In Spark Plug Threads

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Turn the eccentric shaft to tension the bearing caps.

Unfasten nuts on bearing cover.

Fig 21: `Locating Nuts On Bearing Cover

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Relieve tension on eccentric shaft and remove special tool 11 3 260 .

Remove bearing covers and place to one side in orderly fashion. Remove camshaft.

Fig 22: Removing Camshaft

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NOTE: If the cylinder head is then to be removed, remove complete bearing strip with bucket tappets.

Locate bucket tappets in bearing strip with special tool 11 3 250 .

Lift out complete bearing strip with bucket tappet.

NOTE: Only re-use used bucket tappets in the same tappet bore.

Fig 23: Removing Bearing Strip With Bucket Tappet

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Check bearing points on bucket tappets for signs of wear (scoring).

Fig 24: Checking Bearing Points For Scoring

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Bearing strips are marked "A" for exhaust side and "E" for inlet side.

Fig 25: Locating Bearing Strip Identifying Marks

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Note centering dowels on retaining pins at bearing points 2 and 7.

Install bearing strips.

Fig 26: Installing Bearing Strips

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Installation

Installation of camshafts is described separately from removal.

The assembly sequence for removal and installation is different.

NOTE: Camshafts, bearings and bearing caps, friction washers, all splines on toothed shafts and spline hubs must be oiled before installation.

Important!

The bucket tappets expand when not subjected to load by the camshaft and therefore require some time before they can be pushed back down. During a rapid assembly sequence, the "closed" valves may still be open and be in contact with the piston.

Comply with following waiting periods after installing camshaft and before cranking engine back to TDC position.

Room temperature (20° C) 4 mins.
10° C - 20° C 11 mins.
0° C - 10° C 30 mins.

Pull up timing chain and feed in exhaust camshaft.

Position timing chain on exhaust camshaft.

Fig 27: Positioning Timing Chain On Exhaust Camshaft

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Install camshafts so that cam tips on inlet and exhaust valves on 1st cylinder face one another.

Fig 28: Aligning Camshaft Tips

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Fit bearing cover.

NOTE: Bearing caps are marked from exhaust side:

A1 - A7 for exhaust side.

E1 - E7 for inlet side.

Fig 29: View Of Bearing Cap Marks

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Fit special tool 11 3 260 to cylinder head and screw into spark plug threads in cylinders 1 and 4.

Fig 30: Identifying Special Tool In Spark Plug Threads

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Turn the eccentric shaft to tension the bearing caps.

Tighten down bearing cover.

Tightening torque, refer to 11 31 1AZ in ENGINE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Remove special tool 11 3 260 .

Fig 31: Installing Bearing Cover

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Important!

Do not damage the cylinder head.

If necessary, machine open-end wrench accordingly.

Align camshafts with open-end wrench.

Fig 32: Aligning Camshafts Using Open-End Wrench

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Fit special tool 11 3 240 to camshafts on cylinder 6. Align camshafts so that special tool 11 3 240 rests without gaps on cylinder head.

Fig 33: Securing Camshafts With Locking Fixture

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Attach special tool 11 3 244 to special tool 11 3 240 and locate by way of spark plug thread.

Fig 34: Locking Camshafts Using Fixture

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Lift timing chain and hold under tension.

Turn engine from 30° before TDC position in direction of rotation as far as TDC position.

Fig 35: Lifting Camchain And Applying Tension

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Secure crankshaft in firing TDC position with special tool 11 2 300 .

Important!

Remove special tool 11 2 300 before starting engine.

Fig 36: Removing Plug Mandrel From Flywheel

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Automatic Transmissions Only:

Illustration does not show automatic transmission.

Important!

On engines with automatic transmissions, there is shortly before the special tool bore (1) a large bore (2) which can be confused with the special tool bore.

If special tool 11 2 300 is secured in the correct bore (1), the engine can no longer be cranked at the central bolt.

Fig 37: Identifying Large Bore And Special Tool Bore

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Position sensor gear on inlet camshaft.

Fig 38: Positioning Sensor Gear On Inlet Camshaft

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Fit thrust washer and tighten down with dowels.

Tightening torque, refer to 11 31 11AZ in ENGINE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Fig 39: Installing Thrust Washer

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Feed chain wheel onto timing chain so that arrow on chain wheel faces separating face of upper side of cylinder head.

Fig 40: Aligning Arrow On Chain Wheel

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Insert special tool 11 4 220 in cylinder head and bring adjustment screw into contact with tensioning rail, but do not pretension timing chain yet.

Check arrow on chain wheel to separating face of upper side of cylinder head, reposition chain wheel if necessary.

Fig 41: Installing Special Tool In Cylinder Head

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Insert and tighten down screw-in pin.

Tightening torque, refer to 11 31 11AZ in ENGINE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Fig 42: Installing Screw-In Pin

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Install secondary chain tensioner.

Fig 43: Installing Secondary Chain Tensioner

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Fit toothed sleeve (6) and align to toothed shaft in camshaft so that tooth gaps are opposed.

Fig 44: Aligning Toothed Sleeve To Toothed Shaft

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Secure toothed shaft (5).

Insert pin of toothed shaft (5) into tooth gaps of splines on camshaft and toothed sleeve (6).

Fig 45: Inserting Pin Of Toothed Shaft Into Tooth Gaps Of Splines

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Push in toothed shaft (5) until the longitudinal holes in the toothed sleeve (6) are positioned centrally with respect to the thread.

Fig 46: Positioning Toothed Shaft With Holes In Sleeve

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Place chain wheels in special tool 11 6 180 , position tooth gap on inlet chain wheel as shown in illustration and feed on chain.

Fig 47: Aligning Tooth Gap On Inlet Chain Wheel

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Important!

Do not alter position of chain wheels with respect to chain when removing from special tool 11 6 180 .

Remove chain with sprocket wheels positioned from special tool 11 6 180 and so that tooth spaces oppose each other on inlet side.

Fig 48: Identifying Chain Wheels With Tooth Spaces Positioned Opposite Each Other

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Align chain with sprocket wheels so that tooth spaces are positioned exactly over each other on inlet side.

Fig 49: Alignment Of Tooth Spaces On Chain With Sprocket Wheels

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Secure toothed shaft (4).

Insert pin of toothed shaft (4) into tooth gaps of splines on camshaft and chain wheel.

Fig 50: Locating Pin Of Toothed Shaft In Tooth Gaps Of Splines

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Push in toothed shaft (4) until approx. 1 mm of splines can still be seen.

Fig 51: Aligning Toothed Shaft Splines

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Note installation direction of corrugated washer (7), "FRONT" lettering must be visible.

Install corrugated washer, tighten nuts by hand but do not tighten down fully yet.

Fig 52: Installing Corrugated Washer

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Insert screws on exhaust side, initially tighten to approx. 5 N.m and then slacken off again half a turn.

Fig 53: Installing Screws On Exhaust Side

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Fit thrust washer (3).

Fig 54: Fitting Thrust Washer On Exhaust Side

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Note installation direction of cup spring (2), "F" lettering must be visible.

NOTE: If "F" lettering is no longer visible on an engine that has been run:

Install cup spring (2) so that small locating diameter of spring (2) points to sensor gear.

Fit cup spring (2) in position.

Fig 55: Installing Cup Spring

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Position sensor gear (1) so that arrow on sensor gear faces separating face of upper side of cylinder head.

Install nuts and tighten by hand but do not tighten down fully yet.

Fig 56: Aligning Arrow On Sensor Gear

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Withdraw toothed shaft (5) up to stop.

Fig 57: Positioning Toothed Shaft To Stop

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Press down secondary chain tensioner at top and remove special tool 11 3 292 .

Fig 58: Identifying Special Tool 11 3 292

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Preload tensioning rail with special tool 11 4 220 by rotating adjusting screw with special tool 00 9 250 or standard torque wrench to 0.7 N.m.

Fig 59: Preload Tensioning Rail Using Special Tool 11 4 220

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Preload cup spring slightly by pressing on sensor gear (1) and tighten nuts by hand.

Important!

Do not tighten down nuts fully.

Fig 60: Preloading Cup Spring

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Remove gasket.

Check dowel sleeves (1) for damage and correct installation position.

Keep sealing face clean and free of oil.

Fig 61: Locating Dowel Sleeves

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Important!

Fit special tool 11 6 150 "without gasket" only.

If gasket remains underneath special tool 11 6 150 , camshaft timing will be "incorrectly" set.

Attach special tool 11 6 150 "without gasket", tighten nuts by hand and then tighten down uniformly until special tool 11 6 150 is in full contact with cylinder head.

Fig 62: Installing Adjusting Plate On Cylinder Head Without Gasket