Subject: Re: 2000 328i Morning stall when parked uphill Author: rajaieq as Rajaie (moderator) : 235 posts Posted on: 2008-10-28 23:11:05

Your symptom is almost surely due to the vanos seals. This is a rampant problem with the 99-00 M52TU engine cars. Why up hill and not down hill? I’m not sure, but can take a guess. The vanos functions on oil pressure. With the leaking seals the higher the oil pressure the more it compensates for the leak to provide better function. The oil pump is mechanical and thus oil pressure is proportional to engine RPM. Thus oil pressure is at the lowest level at idle, and that’s when the problem occurs. The engine warms up and the idle is lowered, then the vanos is used to heat up the cats. Maybe with the uphill stance the oil pump does not generate as much oil pressure at low idle. It could simply be gravity, or it could be the position on the oil pump and the oil in the sump (oil pan).
In the end it doesn’t really matter. The problem is the vanos seals and the solution is to replace them.

You can definitively diagnose your problem by disconnecting one of the vanos solenoid electrical connectors. The intake solenoid is easier to access. It’s located to the left of the engine oil filter canister. The solenoid is a metal cylinder, 1” diameter, 2” long. Remove the electrical connector at the end of it. If the idle jolts cease then the problem is the vanos seals.

The car is not particularly hurt by the vanos seals failure, but there are a lot performance losses. These include increased fuel consumption, worse emissions, lower torque and power, uneven power delivery, irregular idle, difficult takeoffs, engine bogging with AC on, etc.
If you think your car drives well now, you’re in for a big surprise when you install the vanos seals.

You should be capable of performing the repair. It is a long job, but is relatively strait forward. You should print the instructions and have them with you. As others have said, follow them like a script. Make sure you have all the specified tools and parts.
The mechanical fan can be difficult to remove and install, but in your case, due to your manual transmission, you have an electric fan. The electric fan is easy as pie to remove and reinstall. There are two left hand thread bolts that mount the vanos pistons to the helical shafts (splined shafts). These are easily broken if turned the wrong way. But they are easily removed if broken, and the procedure calls for having a replacements set in case they break. You can always call me if you have any questions of problems.

Hope this answers your questions.

Rajaie
528i 5sp 06/00

• 2000 328i Morning stall when parked uphill - thecommish 2008-10-28 20:01:44 (179 views)
  • Repair comple. Broke a bolt (pic) - thecommish 2008-11-10 13:59:27 (196 views)
    • Re: Repair comple. Broke a bolt - Rajaie 2008-11-10 18:02:53 (117 views)
  • Re: 2000 328i Morning stall when parked uphill - Rajaie 2008-10-28 23:11:05 (156 views)
    • Re: 2000 328i Morning stall when parked uphill - thecommish 2008-10-29 17:28:01 (116 views)
      • Thanks for the kind words. Good luck on the repair (nt) - Rajaie 2008-10-29 19:02:57 (81 views)
  • Re: 2000 328i Morning stall when parked uphill - thecommish 2008-10-28 20:19:23 (109 views)