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BMW 3 (E46). Manual - part 42

Sprocket
mounting nut

Spring plate

Splined shaft

Intake camshaft
sprocket

Locating stud

Thrust spacer

Intake camshaft
impulse wheel

Chain tensioner
rail

Crankshaft
sprocket

Primary chain
tensioner

Primary chain

Locating stud

Guide rail

Locating stud

Woodruff key

VANOS control unit, removing

Disconnect electrical connections at
exhaust camshaft position sensor and
exhaust camshaft VANOS control valve
(arrows).

Remove banjo bolt from VANOS unit oil
pressure line. Use banjo bolt to attach
BMW special tool 11 3 450 (compressed
air fitting) to VANOS control unit.

Cover oil hole (arrow) in VANOS unit
with shop towel to capture oil which will
spray when compressed air is applied.

Connect compressed air line to air
fitting. Apply air pressure set to 2 -
8 bar (30 - 110 psi).

With compressed air line connected,
rotate engine in direction of rotation
(clockwise) until cylinder 1 intake and
exhaust camshaft lobes face each other
(arrows) in the top dead center (TDC)
position for cylinder 1.

Rotate engine at least twice, leaving
the cylinder 1 intake and exhaust
camshaft lobes facing each other,
as shown.

CAUTION!

Do not rotate engine counterclockwise
to reach the top dead center position.
Instead, complete another two
complete rotations.

Remove sealing plug from special tool
bore on lower left side of engine block
near flywheel. Secure crankshaft in TDC
position with BMW special tool 11 2 300
(arrow).

Unscrew and remove two cylinder head
cover studs (arrows) at rear of cylinder
head.

Secure camshafts in TDC position using
BMW special tools 11 3 240 and 11 3
244.

Disconnect compressed air line,
leaving compressed air fitting
attached to VANOS unit.

CAUTION!

Oil will drain from pressure line. Have
a drain container and rags ready. Do
not allow oil to run onto drive belts.

Unscrew sealing plugs (arrows) from
VANOS unit.

Oil will drain from plugs (arrows) when
removed. Have a container and rags
ready. Do not allow oil to run onto drive
belts.

Pull sealing caps straight out of VANOS
unit with BMW special tool 11 6 170, or
with short nose pliers.

Note:

Additional oil may drain from VANOS
unit.

Remove set screws (left-hand thread) on
ends of intake and exhaust camshafts.

CAUTION!

Set screws have left hand threads.
Remove in clockwise motion.

Remove VANOS unit:

Remove engine support eye
fasteners from side of VANOS unit.

Remove VANOS mounting nuts
(arrows) from cylinder head and
pull VANOS unit and metal gasket
off.

CAUTION!

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