Vanos Covers

[sergbaja5t]

How good are the vanos covers from Evolve? Im doing NRW valve covers and plugs and everything related very soon. I might as well do the vanos covers as well. What are y'alls thoughts?

[Johnny E92]

Originally Posted by sergbaja5t

How good are the vanos covers from Evolve? Im doing NRW valve covers and plugs and everything related very soon. I might as well do the vanos covers as well. What are y'alls thoughts?

I’m doing the same thing and I have the NRW valve covers, NRW billet spark plug tubes and the NRW gasket kit.

I’m also doing the throttle actuators (better rebuild ones) at the same time, as well as the vanos covers. However I opted for the Mporium bolt on vanos covers, I’m not saying the Evolve ones are not good, but the bolt on ones from Mporium look to be a better solution in my personal opinion.

The Mporium ones are a bit more labour intensive to fit though, as they require the motor to be re-timed, as they involve removal and replacement of the vanos stretch bolts (if you get the complete kit from Mporium it includes OEM stretch bolts and also the gaskets for the vanos cover housing).

[sergbaja5t]

Originally Posted by Johnny E92

I’m doing the same thing and I have the NRW valve covers, NRW billet spark plug tubes and the NRW gasket kit.

I’m also doing the throttle actuators (better rebuild ones) at the same time, as well as the vanos covers. However I opted for the Mporium bolt on vanos covers, I’m not saying the Evolve ones are not good, but the bolt on ones from Mporium look to be a better solution in my personal opinion.

The Mporium ones are a bit more labour intensive to fit though, as they require the motor to be re-timed, as they involve removal and replacement of the vanos stretch bolts (if you get the complete kit from Mporium it includes OEM stretch bolts and also the gaskets for the vanos cover housing).

Re-timing the engine is something I don't want to do right now. I kind of want to keep cost down, as I am putting back capital for an F80 in the very near future.

[ThisIsTheWay]

I have a friend whose Vanos unit spring exploded and put a hole in the valve cover and upper timing cover. After seeing this I don't think the clip-on covers can handle that force. Something to think about.

[spammysammich]

Originally Posted by ThisIsTheWay

I have a friend whose Vanos unit spring exploded and put a hole in the valve cover and upper timing cover. After seeing this I don't think the clip-on covers can handle that force. Something to think about.

Your friend had bigger problems than his choice of vanos caps if his spring exploded. The plastic caps would never have prevented that either. Nothing short of Carbahn or Mporium caps would have worked but again, what causes the spring to dislodge in the first place?

[FazerBoy]

I’m going to get my vanos covers changed and NRW valve covers fitted.

Can this be done without changing the oil - or does the oil need to be drained? I’m asking because my oil is only a couple of thousand miles old, so if it doesn’t need to be drained I’d rather leave it.

[Redd]

You don't need to change engine oil.

[Johnny E92]

Originally Posted by FazerBoy

I’m going to get my vanos covers changed and NRW valve covers fitted.

Can this be done without changing the oil - or does the oil need to be drained? I’m asking because my oil is only a couple of thousand miles old, so if it doesn’t need to be drained I’d rather leave it.

No, Or just wait and do it all when the next service is due.

[MechEngineer408]

I have the Evolve caps. They're developed by Mr. Vanos so I don't expect them to have issues, but only time will tell. The MPorium/NRW caps are a superior alternative, but the installation is much more involved than the snap on covers. Something to keep in mind if you're planning to DIY.

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by Johnny E92

..........

The Mporium ones are a bit more labour intensive to fit though, as they require the motor to be re-timed, as they involve removal and replacement of the vanos stretch bolts (if you get the complete kit from Mporium it includes OEM stretch bolts and also the gaskets for the vanos cover housing).

The Mporium ones are a lot more labour intensive!
Agreed they're stronger, but overkill IMO.

Originally Posted by spammysammich

Your friend had bigger problems than his choice of vanos caps if his spring exploded. The plastic caps would never have prevented that either. Nothing short of Carbahn or Mporium caps would have worked but again, what causes the spring to dislodge in the first place?

It's likely his plastic caps failed a while back, and then the spring gradually crept out. People have run without any caps, for a short while anyway! But the springs will 'walk out' sooner or later.

Originally Posted by ThisIsTheWay

I have a friend whose Vanos unit spring exploded and put a hole in the valve cover and upper timing cover. After seeing this I don't think the clip-on covers can handle that force. Something to think about.

Sorry, but that's rubbish, the OEM plastic covers have for the most part kept the springs in place for well over a decade.
Assuming something else didn't happen, what probably happened to your friend's car is that the plastic cover dis-integrated and the spring gradually walked off.
These covers do restrain the spring, but clearly their isn't much force involved or the plastic covers would've failed a long time ago.

Clip on ally covers are plenty strong enough to keep the springs in place.