Anyone running without Vanos gear covers? How much time?

[jvictormp]

Just came across this video where it's showed that pre-series S65 engine (2005 manufacturing date) didn't have any cover for Vanos gears.

Did anyone here choose to run engine without vanos covers?

@ 12:34 of the video:

[Redd]

Watch this.

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by Redd

Watch this.

Wow!

It seems like it's starting to pop up some cases of coil escaping. And that has never happened in years before, did it?

Can we believe that the plastic cover was what held the coil, and now, with the deterioration starting to get severe, it's not holding anymore?

[spammysammich]

That plastic cover ain’t holding shit. That metal coil will always win against those flimsy plastic caps. I don’t believe they were ever anything more than cosmetic in function.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by spammysammich

That plastic cover ain’t holding shit. That metal coil will always win against those flimsy plastic caps. I don’t believe they were ever anything more than cosmetic in function.

Not correct. The cover keps the spring in place at its holding steel pins, which in turn keep the spring folded in place. Without a cover the spring will eventually travel out of its pins and hit/break the surroundings. That is if the plastic cover didn't already got shewed down to the oil pan and sucked up/clogged the oil pick up.

[spammysammich]

You’ll never change my opinion on plastic vs steel. Sorry I’m fine with being wrong about this.

[spammysammich]

They should have given those pins a T shaped cross section to keep those springs in place. BMW plastics aren’t trustworthy in this application.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by spammysammich

You’ll never change my opinion on plastic vs steel. Sorry I’m fine with being wrong about this.

Then you don't understand the design in this case mate. If you haven't opened it yourself go look at a few pics and it will be obvious.

[spammysammich]

I’ve seen my caps through the oil port. They’re not adequate for what they’re “supposed” to be doing. Plain and simple. Typical BMW.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by spammysammich

They should have given those pins a T shaped cross section to keep those springs in place. BMW plastics aren’t trustworthy in this application.

Fully agree with this though!

[Ajolives]

I agree, no way these brittle plastic covers were holding the front line all these years lol. Bad adjusters and the springs are collateral damage.

If running with no cover as the video suggests, yeah you’re just begging for a bad time. The passive restistance of any material cover is necessary to keep it from walking off towards the horizontal axis.

If we’re suggesting that the spring is under so much torque that it bends and contorts its way out via the vertical axis I’d say that’s complete bullshit. No cover would stop that and it implies faults within the adjuster itself for bringing that higher force upon the spring. Even if a cup style would contain the spring, it’d still be jacked up inside.