[firechicken99]

love how they just rip the shocks out haha

[acdHQK713K]

So are these VANOS solenoid failures caused by overheating on the track? Or are they preexisting issues that track days make more evident?

EDIT: TurkeyBaster answered my question.

[orionredwing]

The latter, as you already found out. But just thought I'd throw up my DIY if you're experiencing this prob. Still on topic, as this is one of the common failures that cause limp modes on track

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201

Originally Posted by Stangorang

So are these VANOS solenoid failures caused by overheating on the track? Or are they preexisting issues that track days make more evident?

EDIT: TurkeyBaster answered my question.

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by orionredwing

The latter, as you already found out. But just thought I'd throw up my DIY if you're experiencing this prob. Still on topic, as this is one of the common failures that cause limp modes on track

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201

Hmm, so a $150 trackday can quickly become $250+. Yikes.

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

Hmm, so a $150 trackday can quickly become $250+. Yikes.

Pay to play my friend!

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

Pay to play my friend!

Agree, but replacing VANOS after every track day could get old. I wanted to give this car a test run before plunging into the necessary cooling modifications. Oh well

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

Agree, but replacing VANOS after every track day could get old. I wanted to give this car a test run before plunging into the necessary cooling modifications. Oh well

I wouldnt think every trip would kill a vanos, but what do i know :shrug:

what cooling mods you looking at plunging into?

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

I wouldnt think every trip would kill a vanos, but what do i know :shrug:

what cooling mods you looking at plunging into?

Well from the looks of this thread, Stett oil cooler (where does one get this nowadays, I don't see it on their website).

Clearly there are other track friendly suspension mods I could do, but its seems more reasonable to get the cooling issue solved in order to get more quality track time.

[firechicken99]

nice. I wish there was easier access to real tracks here. you west coast guys are lucky!

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

nice. I wish there was easier access to real tracks here. you west coast guys are lucky!

We are very lucky: Laguna Seca, Sears Point (Infineon) and Thunderhill in my backyard. I don't need to go anywhere else.

Stangorang, As far as the solenoid goes and added costs, firechicken99 said it perfectly: "Pay to play." This ain't cheap no matter how you try to slice it. A $150 track day really isn't a $150 track day even when nothing goes wrong.

[zsapphire7]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

Agree, but replacing VANOS after every track day could get old. I wanted to give this car a test run before plunging into the necessary cooling modifications. Oh well

ive been to several track days and never had this issue. I dont think replacing the VANOS is one of those things u need to replace frequently....

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by jbass524

We are very lucky: Laguna Seca, Sears Point (Infineon) and Thunderhill in my backyard. I don't need to go anywhere else.

Stangorang, As far as the solenoid goes and added costs, firechicken99 said it perfectly: "Pay to play." This ain't cheap no matter how you try to slice it. A $150 track day really isn't a $150 track day even when nothing goes wrong.

I agree 100%

But replacing those solenoids each track is an expensive problem that truthfully shouldn't be happening.

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

I agree 100%

But replacing those solenoids each track is an expensive problem that truthfully shouldn't be happening.

I agree 100% with "...shouldn't be happening." Our car is flawed in a lot of ways but equally, or more, brilliant in others.

I had some Porsche friends who I drive with tell me, with a look of disbelief on there face after I would tell them why I all of a sudden slowed down on the track, that BMW should have their pants sued off of them for some of the under-engineering and PR tactics around all of the issues.

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by jbass524

I agree 100% with "...shouldn't be happening." Our car is flawed in a lot of ways but equally, or more, brilliant in others.

I had some Porsche friends who I drive with tell me, with a look of disbelief on there face after I would tell them why I all of a sudden slowed down on the track, that BMW should have their pants sued off of them for some of the under-engineering and PR tactics around all of the issues.

Well I will give it a shot. If it breaks it breaks.

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by jbass524

We are very lucky: Laguna Seca, Sears Point (Infineon) and Thunderhill in my backyard. I don't need to go anywhere else.

I want to say the closest real (not autox) thing to me is Watkins glen? ugh...

[orionredwing]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

Agree, but replacing VANOS after every track day could get old. I wanted to give this car a test run before plunging into the necessary cooling modifications. Oh well

Nah, pretty much everyone who replaced it only had to do it once. It's not a part that fails frequently. If I were to estimate, maybe once every 40K+, if that.

Originally Posted by jbass524

We are very lucky: Laguna Seca, Sears Point (Infineon) and Thunderhill in my backyard. I don't need to go anywhere else.

Stangorang, As far as the solenoid goes and added costs, firechicken99 said it perfectly: "Pay to play." This ain't cheap no matter how you try to slice it. A $150 track day really isn't a $150 track day even when nothing goes wrong.

+1 And that's not even factoring in tires and brakes, plus more aggressive maintenance, lol. I just spent $3K swapping out a set in Jan, and they were gone by April Time to invest in a 2nd set of wheels. Ok ok, not trying to scare off the first timers. We want to encourage more track addicts here! lol

[acdHQK713K]

Originally Posted by orionredwing

Nah, pretty much everyone who replaced it only had to do it once. It's not a part that fails frequently. If I were to estimate, maybe once every 40K+, if that.



+1 And that's not even factoring in tires and brakes, plus more aggressive maintenance, lol. I just spent $3K swapping out a set in Jan, and they were gone by April Time to invest in a 2nd set of wheels. Ok ok, not trying to scare off the first timers. We want to encourage more track addicts here! lol

That's half my point, I want money to go to brakes, tires, and reasonable maintenance needs. Not some poorly engineered part that I will replace with yet another, albeit slightly newer, poorly engineered part.

[mid-corner fun]

Originally Posted by orionredwing

Nah, pretty much everyone who replaced it only had to do it once. It's not a part that fails frequently. If I were to estimate, maybe once every 40K+, if that.

+1. Had to replace it just once for 3 years of track events, it's not something to focus on. Look at it as a $100 consumable. Catch it (via BT or other scanner) before it causes you downtime at the track.

Originally Posted by orionredwing

+1 And that's not even factoring in tires and brakes, plus more aggressive maintenance, lol. I just spent $3K swapping out a set in Jan, and they were gone by April Time to invest in a 2nd set of wheels. Ok ok, not trying to scare off the first timers. We want to encourage more track addicts here! lol

That's the real cost of the sport. Track day fees are peanuts compared to the money you spend planning, preparing for the event and later on reacting to what happened at the event.

But it's all worth it

[firechicken99]

actually jealous of the easy access you guys have!! I gotta get out of NY

[mid-corner fun]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

actually jealous of the easy access you guys have!! I gotta get out of NY

???

You have 4 tracks within a 3-hr drive, another 2 tracks within a 4-hr drive.

It doesn't get better that that.

[firechicken99]

Im a solid hour+ onto LI. I am just barely getting into this so im going to chalk part of my previous statement up to newbie status

I also should've said access to high profile tracks like laguna and sears point. Ran those tracks on xbox so many times would be a dream to race on!!

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

Im a solid hour+ onto LI. I am just barely getting into this so im going to chalk part of my previous statement up to newbie status

I also should've said access to high profile tracks like laguna and sears point. Ran those tracks on xbox so many times would be a dream to race on!!

off topic so let's get back on...after this . You can't even imagine how good Sears is. My favorite by far. Laguna is 3rd favorite behind Thunderhill.