11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 BMW Z4, 2004 BMW Z4, and 2003 BMW Z4. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

00 9 250
11 2 300
11 3 240
11 3 244
11 3 292
11 4 220
11 5 180
11 6 150

(refer to 11 31 005 CHECKING CAMSHAFT TIMING (M52TU / M54 / M56) )

Before carrying out adjustment work:

Check camshaft timing .

Crank engine in direction of rotation until cam tips on inlet and exhaust camshafts on 1st cylinder face one another.

Fig 1: Identifying Position Of Cam Tips On Inlet And Exhaust Camshafts On 1St Cylinder Face One Another

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Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 2 300 in TDC position of 1st cylinder.

X3 only:

Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 5 180 in TDC position of 1st cylinder.

IMPORTANT: Do not turn the engine back.
Remove special tools 11 2 300 / 11 5 180 before starting engine.

Fig 2: Securing Crankshaft With Special Tool 11 2 300 In TDC Position Of 1St Cylinder

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Unscrew studs.

Fig 3: Unscrewing Studs

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Remove double VANOS adjustment unit . See 11 36 010 Removing And Installing Or Replacing Double VANOS Adjustment Unit (M52TU / M54 / M56) .

Press down top of chain tensioner and lock off with special tool 11 3 292.

Fig 4: Pressing Down Top Of Chain Tensioner And Locking With Special Tool 11 3 292

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IMPORTANT: Cylinder for chain tensioning piston is under spring pressure.

Remove cylinder for chain tensioning piston.

Fig 5: Removing Cylinder For Chain Tensioning Piston

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Install special tool 11 4 220.

Fit adjusting screw to bow cover.

Fig 6: Installing Special Tool 11 4 220

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Release screws (1) by half a turn.

Fig 7: Releasing Screws

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Release nuts (2) by two turns.

Release nuts (3) by one turn.

Fig 8: Releasing Nuts

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IMPORTANT: Toothed shaft (4) slips very easily from splines.

Pull out toothed shaft (4) until approx. 1 mm of splines can be seen.

Fig 9: Pulling Out Toothed Shaft

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Withdraw toothed shaft (5) up to stop.

Fig 10: Withdrawing Toothed Shaft Up To Stop

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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 11: Fitting Special Tool 11 3 240 To Camshafts On Cylinder 6

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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 12: Attaching Special Tool 11 3 244 To Special Tool 11 3 240

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

Fig 13: Pressing Down Chain Tensioner At Top And Removing 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 Nm.

Fig 14: Preloading Tensioning Rail With Special Tool 11 4 220 By Rotating Adjusting Screw

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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 15: Preloading Cup Spring Slightly By Pressing On Sensor Gear

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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 16: Checking Dowel Sleeves For Damage

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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 17: Attaching Special Tool 11 6 150 To Cylinder Head

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Insert screws (1) on exhaust side and initially tighten to approx.

5 Nm

Fig 18: Tightening Screws On Exhaust Side

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Initially tighten nuts (2) on exhaust side and nuts (3) on inlet side to approx. 5 Nm.

Fig 19: Tightening Nuts Of Exhaust Side And Of Inlet Side

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Tighten down screws (1) on exhaust side.

Tightening torque, see 11 31 3AZ in ENGINE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Fig 20: Tightening Screws Of Exhaust Side

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Tighten down nuts (2) on exhaust side and nuts (3) on inlet side.

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

Fig 21: Tightening Nuts Of Exhaust Side And Nuts Of Inlet Side

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Pull special tool 11 2 300 / 11 5 180 back until flywheel is no longer secured.

Fig 22: Pulling Special Tool 11 2 300/11 5 180 Back Until Flywheel Secured

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Remove special tool 11 3 244 and special tool 11 3 240.

Fig 23: Removing Special Tool 11 3 244 And Special Tool 11 3 240

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Crank engine twice in direction of rotation until cam tips on inlet and exhaust camshafts on 1st cylinder face one another.

Fig 24: Identifying Position Of Cam Tips On Inlet And Exhaust Camshafts

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

X3 only:

Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 5 180 in TDC position of 1st cylinder.

IMPORTANT: Do not turn the engine back.
Remove special tools 11 2 300 / 11 5 180 before starting engine.

Fig 25: Securing Crankshaft In TDC Position

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Fit special tool 11 3 240 to camshafts.

Fig 26: Fitting Special Tool 11 3 240 To Camshafts

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NOTE: The timing is correctly set if the special tool 11 3 240 rests without a gap on the cylinder head or protrudes up to 1 mm to the inlet side.
The timing must be reset if the special tool 11 3 240 protrudes to the exhaust side.

Fig 27: Special Tool 11 3 240 Without Gap On Cylinder Head