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10-02-2012, 03:48 PM | #1 |
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"Service Engine Soon" = 2 Vanos Solenoids replaced....
Four months and 5K out of warranty.
My independent mechanic suspects long oil change intervals.... FYI. |
10-02-2012, 05:46 PM | #2 |
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Yeah, waiting for those long oil changes is horrible.
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10-02-2012, 08:03 PM | #3 |
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That sucks. I am also out of warranty now so this is a bit scary but I do feel good about doing my oil changes every 7,500 miles from new. Good luck with the repairs.
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10-02-2012, 08:08 PM | #4 |
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It's all fixed and works now. I know that there is a lot of 'oil change' debate, and I tend to think that 3000 miles oil change are too often. Then I knew the guy that never changed his oil, only his filters.
I guess I trusted the BMW service interval, but will alter that schedule from now on. My BMW independent mechanic said that BMW is replacing a lot of these under warranty. The infrequent oil change is the current suspect, but who knows. $584. |
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10-02-2012, 08:09 PM | #5 |
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10-04-2012, 09:07 AM | #8 |
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On the N54, yes. I suppose that is probably why they redesigned the solenoids on the N55. The non-return valve and screen filter are now part of the solenoid on the N55, apparently to keep them from getting gunked up and sticking.
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10-05-2012, 06:12 AM | #10 |
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Not to derail the thread, but if the long oil change interval causes a sensor to fail what's it doing to the rest of the motor? (rhetorical)
Glad the OP's problem was solved. |
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10-05-2012, 06:21 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
That is why the Best oil is Fresh oil. I don't believe in BMW's very long OCI's.
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11-10-2013, 08:18 AM | #13 |
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Just came across this DIY video on replacing teh vanos sensors...
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11-27-2013, 08:59 PM | #14 |
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Mmmmh.. after watching the 23 minute video. I wonder why my independent charged me 2 hours of labor for this job....
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11-27-2013, 09:19 PM | #15 |
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11-28-2013, 12:15 PM | #16 |
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Probably the flat rate.
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11-28-2013, 05:57 PM | #17 |
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11-28-2013, 11:14 PM | #19 |
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Mechanics got to eat too(and make their boat payments) as well.
Actually, two hours labor sounds fair to me. After all they also had to diagnosis your problem! Most shops will charge that much to replace a simple brake job(rotors and pads) so its not highway robbery by any means. Like someone said... its just the book time(flat rate) that the job pays. Don't like it... go replace them yourself next time around.
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11-29-2013, 11:36 AM | #20 |
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I love my independent shop. I'd highly recommend them to anyone. I think flat rate is right.
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11-30-2013, 02:24 PM | #21 |
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Hmm, can the N55 solenoids be used on the N54? I was only able to find one picture but it looks like it might fit, assuming it functions and signals the same.
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11-30-2013, 03:03 PM | #22 |
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N54 has issues with the oem vanos. Mine ended up all being replaced under warranty and I've had no problems since (about 50k more miles). If you're using a good synthetic oil there's no point to changing it unless you want to replace the filter. Years ago there were long threads here about oil changes and test/analysis people had done on used oil. Essentially, synthetic oil is pretty bullet proof. At 3,000 miles it's virtually unchanged from new.
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