Technical Setting N54 Timing - Flywheel Question

[carabuser]

I'm in the process of changing my valve stem seals and have a quick question about engine timing.

Is the locking pin hole in the flywheel always accurate? Could it be thrown off by incorrect flywheel installation?

I ask because when I set TDC using the flywheel pin the camshafts are very slightly off TDC but if I lock the cams down the pin cant be inserted at all.

Is it more likely that whoever had the cams off last didn't set them exactly at TDC using the correct tools and the engine has been running slightly out of timing? I assume being a couple of degrees out wouldn't cause any errors.

 

[carabuser]

Well I just went by the flywheel and re-timed everything using some china tools and it fired up fine and runs well. Was probably just running a degree out before, not enough to throw codes.

I think the garage that worked on it last were idiots without the right tools.

 

[tony@codewerx]

Well I just went by the flywheel and re-timed everything using some china tools and it fired up fine and runs well. Was probably just running a degree out before, not enough to throw codes.

I think the garage that worked on it last were idiots without the right tools.

Or the vanos bolts were not torqued correctly …

 

[carabuser]

Or the vanos bolts were not torqued correctly …

Yeh I think that's what happened. I don't think they used the VANOS locking tool when torquing the cam bolts.

I did some reading across the internet and it seems that some shops just try and hold the cams in place with a wrench and then torque the bolts down. If a hobbyist like me can do the job using £100 of tools then there's really no excuse.

 

[AUbeast86]

There are 2 holes right next to each other on the flywheel, one is the timing pin hole and the other is not but they are so close together it's hard to tell which one is correct. If the correct hole is pinned, you will have absolutely zero play in the crank shaft.