[chilledn52]

Hey I’m here to give my funnnnn story of 2A87 Exhaust Camshaft Mechanism. 2007 BMW 328xi N52

TLDR; low on oil on track, started 2A87, more and more common. Replaced scored camshaft ledge then the scored camshaft then the sprockets. Problem was most likely just camshaft sprockets.

Story begins at my first track day, went in, had fun each session. Half way through we had a check engine light for 2A87 which at the time I brushed off, cleared the code and told others nahhh I shouldn’t have to worry.

I don’t remember much on how frequent the code was but until recent. On stage 2 tune, N54 manifold it would show up after 20-30 minutes after getting to temp, so my daily commutes didn’t really see it. For me it was some high idle or shake at idle either or, and timing being off by a few degrees or just a check engine light with little difference.

I’m also a beta tester of the 22RPD Trumpets, as we were tinkering with each revision I always had a limp condition occur, a lot of them were AWD related which we got the car to not freak out. But with my 22RPD trumpets, you are removing the safeties of the throttle, which means if your timing is off, the car will send you into limp mode which is a turn off of the car and a turn back on after a few seconds.

Back to the first track day, reason for the check engine light was not being topped up on oil. I was in between min and max but not full. It’s a tight course and pulled up to 1.5Gs. I starved the exhaust camshaft and housing.

Timing job 1:
Digging into the cars timing for the first time, I expected just the metal seals being scored, when in reality, I didn’t catch any groove with my fingernail on the ledge but the oil journals for the exhaust camshaft was scored up. I sanded the camshaft oil journals smooth, installed the nylon seals and installed the camshaft ledge I bought new fcp and reinstalled everything.

Also installed MILVs, hell yeah feels great. Power everywhere when car was running well

Started sourcing camshafts but used, local guy was 500$, yea ouch. 2 local n52s were scored up like mine, a friend within the 22rd beta tester helped source a camshaft from his local junkyard in the states and I paid for it to be shipped up. $33 for camshaft plus shipping. No complaints. He ended up sending the ledge as well so at I got a bonus good ledge to sell to a local shop.

Timing job 2:
Replaced the camshaft ledge and timed myself. 4 hours including spending time looking for a bolt in the skid plate. Timing tools from Amazon do just fine for my job as well. 100$~ CAD. Same situation after trying velocity stacks, limp mode after every 5 minutes.

At this point I feel defeated, I haven’t heard of anyone online mention the pre-lci, pre recall for replacing timing sprockets for this code. But it is part of the recall of the Teflon seals to replace the camshaft sprockets and it’s the last thing that could be causing my fault so I ordered a Viaco timing kit, cheap but if it’s faults again oh well, I do it again. FCPeuro offers this brand for sprockets in their site and offer lifetime, so they do choose good brands. Even if it’s a cheaper version, I chose this. Rockauto, and got it in 24 hours in Canada!!

Timing job 3:
This Vaico timing kit came with cam sensors, vanos solenoids, and can sprockets. Replaced all them within 3 hours this time, i now can offer doing this for other as i can fly through this job.

Sprockets seemed to be the actual main problem, camshaft oil journals were scored and the camshaft ledge was surprisingly not feeling of a ridge. Happily I have my timing correct and testing again with the velocity stacks to get my final tune.

[chilledn52]

Some photos

[Hotter]

And what about VANOS selenoids or VANOS selenoid filters?
I am having same issue, already changed selenoids, will try to clean VANOS selenoid filters soon, if that wont help, will need to change camshaft sprockets...

[colorado.e9x]

With my "new" used engine I got the 2A87 code as well. As it turns out, there was sand somewhere in the oil passages from the junkyard. Replaced vanos solenoids, did vanos gear bolts, milvs. Code hasn't come back since. Engine will still be toast eventually, the damage gas been done. For now though, will ride it till it windows.

Old vanos solenoids were either stained over time with oil, or were burnt. Either way, they were gold colored. Vanos filters didn't really have much on them surprisingly

[Hotter]

I have inspected my VANOS non-return valves, but they were only lightly dirty.

2A87 error has returned.

VANOS selenoids are new, VANOS gear bolts were replaced, I guess I need to replace whole VANOS gears?

[chilledn52]

Originally Posted by Hotter

I have inspected my VANOS non-return valves, but they were only lightly dirty.

2A87 error has returned.

VANOS selenoids are new, VANOS gear bolts were replaced, I guess I need to replace whole VANOS gears?

It’s possible. I would double check everything else you can before tearing in

[Hotter]

Originally Posted by chilledn52

It’s possible. I would double check everything else you can before tearing in

What else to check?

[chilledn52]

Topped up on oil, not low
Oil filter cap - installed properly
O ring on filter cap
Oil change + engine flush
Vanos solenoids
One way check valves.

If you pre 2009? You might have the metal teflon seals, if you replace that I would change both sprockets too just to do the job once

[Hotter]

Originally Posted by chilledn52

Topped up on oil, not low
Oil filter cap - installed properly
O ring on filter cap
Oil change + engine flush
Vanos solenoids
One way check valves.

If you pre 2009? You might have the metal teflon seals, if you replace that I would change both sprockets too just to do the job once

All of those were checked/replaced, seals were replaced to teflon, sprocket bolts were replaced too.

So I guess whats left to replace is sprockets itself. But they are not cheap, I guess I need to search from junk yard and replace them when valve cover gasket starts leaking...