Anyone here knows how to do valve adjustment on e46 m3

[pilotmin 0]

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing valve adjustment on my M3

Before I go about buying a shim kit and tackle it myself,

I wanted to know if there is a whiz out there doing this at a competitive price.

[central3 31]

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing valve adjustment on my M3

Before I go about buying a shim kit and tackle it myself,

I wanted to know if there is a whiz out there doing this at a competitive price.

I am in the middle of doing this (as well as a Vanos oil pump drive tab check, cam bolt tightness check and con rod bearing replacement - see this thread - http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....amp;pid=465164). Pretty straight forward. I brought a top end gasket set and the shim removal tool from Turner MS in the US (see below - I expect to freight these items only would be half my bill). I then pulled the top end apart, checked the clearances (3 out of 24 needed adustment) and then ordered the shims I needed through Geoff Gray (NZ$9.30 each). Look on M3Forum.com for lots of threads about how do do.

83300493743 S54 Valve Shim Installation Tool - E46 M3, Z3M, Z4M 1 $34.95 $34.95

11127832034KIT Valve Cover Gasket Kit for S54 Engine - E46 M3, MZ3, Z4 M 1 $114.85

Shipping: Priority Mail International (2 to 4 weeks delivery no tracking) $122.80

Edited November 12, 2012 by central3

[pilotmin 0]

I am in the middle of doing this (as well as a Vanos oil pump drive tab check, cam bolt tightness check and con rod bearing replacement - see this thread - http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....amp;pid=465164). Pretty straight forward. I brought a top end gasket set and the shim removal tool from Turner MS in the US (see below - I expect to freight these items only would be half my bill). I then pulled the top end apart, checked the clearances (3 out of 24 needed adustment) and then ordered the shims I needed through Geoff Gray (NZ$9.30 each). Look on M3Forum.com for lots of threads about how do do.

83300493743 S54 Valve Shim Installation Tool - E46 M3, Z3M, Z4M 1 $34.95 $34.95

11127832034KIT Valve Cover Gasket Kit for S54 Engine - E46 M3, MZ3, Z4 M 1 $114.85

Shipping: Priority Mail International (2 to 4 weeks delivery no tracking) $122.80

Hi Paul,

That is an excellent write up.

I'm overseas atm and will be tackling this when I get back early Dec.

(Was thinking of buying ~$500USD shim kit but if individual shim costs $9.30NZD, I might do that too)

Looks like we are doing similar mods.

I've ordered Autosolutions SSK and it's own it's way to NZ as well. Will be good to share some ideas and could even save on ridiculous shipping cost in the future mods if we split the bill.

FOR the connecting rod bearing prob, as far as I'm aware, it's only affecting 2001-2002 model m3s?

Although it wouldn't hurt to check, I wanna avoid it if possible.

[FIAT 131R 223]

Hi Paul,

That is an excellent write up.

I'm overseas atm and will be tackling this when I get back early Dec.

(Was thinking of buying ~$500USD shim kit but if individual shim costs $9.30NZD, I might do that too)

Looks like we are doing similar mods.

I've ordered Autosolutions SSK and it's own it's way to NZ as well. Will be good to share some ideas and could even save on ridiculous shipping cost in the future mods if we split the bill.

FOR the connecting rod bearing prob, as far as I'm aware, it's only affecting 2001-2002 model m3s?

Although it wouldn't hurt to check, I wanna avoid it if possible.

Most if not all the models with those bearings were recalled. Should be easy enough to check if your car has had the bearings changed.

I have a shim kit on the way to me now. When you go to BMW you need to know what sizes you need. As I have a number of E46 M3 engines I bought the whole kit.

[central3 31]

Hi Paul,

That is an excellent write up.

I'm overseas atm and will be tackling this when I get back early Dec.

(Was thinking of buying ~$500USD shim kit but if individual shim costs $9.30NZD, I might do that too)

Looks like we are doing similar mods.

I've ordered Autosolutions SSK and it's own it's way to NZ as well. Will be good to share some ideas and could even save on ridiculous shipping cost in the future mods if we split the bill.

FOR the connecting rod bearing prob, as far as I'm aware, it's only affecting 2001-2002 model m3s?

Although it wouldn't hurt to check, I wanna avoid it if possible.

My M3 had a brief bearing rattle on start up - even though the service record was complete I suspect it could have done with more frequent oil changes - I like to change every year. I would be happy to lend you my shim tool and we could swap shims if it worked out that I had the sizes you were after. My car really only needed 1 valve adjusting - the other 3 I am doing are right at the tolerance limit and I am only doing them to get them back in the mid range. My mini-project has just blown out after I purchased a set of Bilstien coil overs and a set of Michelin PS2's off forum members. Some very knowledgable and helpfull people on here.

[pilotmin 0]

My M3 had a brief bearing rattle on start up - even though the service record was complete I suspect it could have done with more frequent oil changes - I like to change every year. I would be happy to lend you my shim tool and we could swap shims if it worked out that I had the sizes you were after. My car really only needed 1 valve adjusting - the other 3 I am doing are right at the tolerance limit and I am only doing them to get them back in the mid range. My mini-project has just blown out after I purchased a set of Bilstien coil overs and a set of Michelin PS2's off forum members. Some very knowledgable and helpfull people on here.

That will be great. I'll PM you if I end up not buying the shim kit.

I might inspect and replace bolts on the cam gear while I'm at it so it can be a tedious task.

My engine has no rattling sounds at all but if you read few posts on m3forum, you'll get paranoid about cam gear bolts shearing off.

Contemplating whether $300USD pop for a timing tool is a wise investment.

Bilstein + PS2's you look ready for a trackday.

Do you live in Auckland region? I live in NS.

[M3_Power 636]

I've got all the gear to do mine, but haven't gotten around to it given the car's still really low km.

It's technically not difficult:

Videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Long write up:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread....alve+adjustment

pdf version of above write up.

http://www.shipkiller.com/BMW_M3_Valve_Adjustment_DIY.pdf

And the Vanos hub and bolt write up (the best one I've seen by far)

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=411224

[pilotmin 0]

I've got all the gear to do mine, but haven't gotten around to it given the car's still really low km.

It's technically not difficult:

Videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Long write up:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread....alve+adjustment

pdf version of above write up.

http://www.shipkiller.com/BMW_M3_Valve_Adjustment_DIY.pdf

And the Vanos hub and bolt write up (the best one I've seen by far)

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=411224

Yeah thanks for that M3_Power.

I'd already read all those write ups and it looks straight forward as you say.

It is just matter of buying the parts which are quite pricey as they need to be brought from US.

Read this post and you'll wanna open up your valve cover regardless of your kms.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=321494

This one needs more care and tools than valve adjustment.

I'm currently talking to 2 of my mates who owns m3 to chip in on the deal.

If they don't go for it, I guess I need to buy individual shims from dealer with my cover open.

Interested?

EDIT: If you have all the gears to do yours, you mind if I borrow it and fill the used ones from the dealer and return back to you? I can pay for loan.

Edited November 14, 2012 by pilotmin