New Tech WriteUp - Secrets of Camshaft Replacement Revealed!

[Wayne 962]

Got a new one on how to remove your camshafts without using the $1,400 BMW factory tool.

Check it out here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW\techarticles\E36-Camshaft-Removal\E36-camshaft-removal.htm

It's a first draft - let me know if you see any errors, or any strange, confusing parts...

-Wayne

[Zyvek]

With any luck I'll be following this write-up Sunday!

FWIW, I have removed and installed three sets of M50 cams by turning the nuts 1/8 turn at time. Seriously. It takes nearly an hour to do it. My plan was to try to balance the load on the cam towers, instead of just one.

But I never felt totally confident about doing it this way, especially installing them, because you need to torque the first 5 journal caps a little before you can put the sixth cap nuts on.



And my buddy (Geno325is) can attest during the process I'd mumble over and over, "I got a bad feeling about this." Very stressful. That’s one reason I didn’t mention it when I originally read the thread, it really didn’t seem like a good idea. (Somehow Geno has a way of showing up with things like, oh a box full of NOS parts, and no plan to install them. How do I get myself into these things?)




So thanks for the research, and with your new procedure, Geno will have more to do than just watch me do most of the engine work. Trust me, holding a wrench is a big step for him.

Thanks again, Wayne!

[Geno325is]

Geno who?? Zy is now master of Cam installation ...

[Zyvek]

Wayne:

Got the cams installed yesterday, with the new procedure it was far less painful than before. I think the only part that was tough (besides setting the Vanos timing) was holding the cam in place enough to get the 6th cap nuts started.

I have to admit it was a little scary moving the crankshaft that 45 degrees... Only because I'm old school, once you lock that flywheel you don't move it until the timing is set! OK so I'm paranoid.

M3 cams are a great upgrade, but I did notice that the Vanos assembly is a bit noiser than before...