Do E46 M3 need Valve Adjustment? How To: BMW M3 S54 Valve Adjustment!
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
This video goes over the valve adjustment procedure on the BMW S54 engine. You should be checking and adjusting the valves every 20-30k miles (in the video I had it confused since the 1st valve adjustment needs to be done at 15-20k miles and then its every 20k-30k miles). I have various links below for the parts needed as well as other videos and information that will help with this DIY.
Here are the clearance measurements:
Intake: 0.18mm - 0.23mm. (0.007in - 0.009in)
Exhaust: 0.28mm - 0.33mm (0.011in - 0.013in)
Parts:
Valve Adjustment Kit by ECS (Shims, Tools, VCG):
click.linksynergy.com/link?id...
S54 Special Crank Socket (Check if you need it):
click.linksynergy.com/link?id...
Digital Caliper:
click.linksynergy.com/link?id...
Videos:
How to remove the clutch fan and fan shroud:
• Waterpump & Thermostat...
Valve Cover Gasket DIY:
• How To Change S54 Valv...
S54 Playlist (Vanos and More):
• S54 E46 M3 Videos
Ultimate E46 M3 Torque Values Guide:
drive.google.com/file/d/1elAi...
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Disclaimer: Some links will contain affiliate links.
00:00 Intro
00:42 What is a valve adjustment?
01:24 How often do you need to do them?
02:38 Important Info
03:13 Prerequisites
03:50 Tools Required
05:04 Beginning of Procedure
09:49 Measuring Clearances
13:30 Removing Shims
15:00 Measuring Shim With Caliper
15:38 Putting in New Shim
20:13 Rechecking Clearance
21:07 Final Tips
Пікірлер: 103
Your a godsend to the e46 community..
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate it man! Hoping to cover more chassis soon!
I have never done a valve adjustment.. this guide makes me feel confident enough to do a valve adjustment for the first time, on my s54 motor. A little nervous but I think I’m gonna go for it… I’ve done a lot of good work thanks to your DIYs. Thank you
@oni5909
11 ай бұрын
HOW WAS IT
@itsAC9O8
6 ай бұрын
puscee..... jk
As an e46 m3 owner here in the uk, this channel and this guys attention to detail and how he explains the video gives me great confidence and insight to try some jobs and also know and prioritise jobs. Thanks
Your DIY’s articulated efficiently. I can tell comes from skill and experience. That sets you apart from everyone else. Great job guys! Feel better Ankur.
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks man!
Fantastic demonstration. When a mate of mine bought his E46 M3 we spent the whole afternoon getting the valve clearances perfect to the maximum gap. It's totally overkill but as a valve or valve seat wears the gap gets tighter. After doing all the valves to the max gap it ran so nice and has never given him any issues. As my father always taught me, a slappy valve is a happy valve.
@crz1364
2 жыл бұрын
Is that to the lowest spec you set them to? (Intake side closer to 0.18 and exhaust side closer to 0.28)?
@CalebJNelson
Жыл бұрын
@@crz1364 I second this question.
@oni5909
Жыл бұрын
@@crz1364 .
@huh0123
2 ай бұрын
Could you answer the first question if you are still around? I’d also like to know if you meant the high or low end.
I've had my E46M3 for about 15 years now. Have done the adjustment 3 times. Each time I had to replace shims. Absolutely necessary. Always follow BMW's recommendations regarding this car. Its a finicky beast.
Another excellently detailed video Jason. Your details are sufficient for DIYers to do the job properly - Thank You!
Your videos get better and better thanks for all your great work man. Much appreciated!
Your shirt looks cool! And nice video, sad truth is that many mechanics don‘t know how to do this job anymore.
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thank You! Shirt is on sale at: www.shoplifetv.com
Thanks for this demonstration, I feel now I can do this myself, and the best thig is that in the Z4M because the front of the car is so long, EType style, there is plenty of room round the engine to do this. This a simple but repetative job, I would err on the side of a closer to maximum, might make a little more noise, but you have 10w60 there to help with that. I will be watching more of your great vids on the joys of owning these cars and how you can save a ton of money on doing it yourself.
we love you kul, you're a legend
Jason, thanks for the great video. I did mine and it took me ~6 hours. Two of the 24 valves in mine were a bit out of spec (high). Not a difficult job but certainly need a lot of patience. Keep everything super clean. Cheers!
Just finished a valve job thanks to your video 👍👍
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help
I love every Video with the S54.
Greetings from London! You’re a top notch guy! Keep the good work up! Such an amazing walk thru! 💯
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Happy New Year! Thank you!!
@burakasiliskender
2 жыл бұрын
@@ShopLifeTV happy new year mate 🎈
My man, fantastic video as always! Well done and THANK YOU!!
I had dealer quote me $2K. I did at independent shop that stated that most M3 E46 they come across under 100k miles did not need valve adjust, just change valve gasket. My car had 67K miles, no valve adjustment was needed but gasket was leaking and that’s only thing they replaced.
I was planning to get help and suggestion from him for my 2001 BMW325XI with 92k that I haven't been able to get it smoged for the past 3 yrs. The email didn't go through and realised you have to be a member and etc... However, wish him and his members a great success. I wish I was younger and knew how to work on cars, at least on my own car and help others.
damn you are expert on bmw e46 bro
Good video, tons of value!!
Very well explained video, thanks!
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it helped!
great video! very detailed, thank you very much! I will use this and your vanos video to do the vanos and valve job on my car as its never been done hah
Glad I found this channel 👍👍👍👍👍
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Welcome aboard!
Quality video as your Vanos episode. we (son ad myself) are just about to finish a full overhaul/ restuaration of my 2001 E46 carbon black M3. We went all the way even changing the synchro mesh of 2nd 3th and 4th gear.( do not try at home). My son was 7 when i bought it and he loves it. Now how to get 3 of those cool Shirts to the Netherlands. .
@planet3bike
Жыл бұрын
Peter, please share some insights into the synchromesh job! Mine is sometimes grinding into 3rd and the whole internet says it's impossible.
Love my M70s hydraulic valve adjusters. I hated this on the M10 four cylinder on my old 1981 320i.
Excellent informative video!
Such a great video. Thanks dude!
@ShopLifeTV
Жыл бұрын
Anytime glad to help!
Excellent video! Looks like a really tedious job, though.
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Michael, it sure is!
Awesome content!
I just did mine this weekend. Ordered a second shim kit because there were only 3 per size. I actually was able to finish it with just the 1st kit since as I moved on to other valves, those shims worked for the valves I didn’t have any left of in the kit. I had a helluva time getting the rocker arms to slide over. Had to take brake clean on a rag and toothbrush to clean the rocker tube, and still needed to take a prybar to wedge between the rocker and cam bearing caps to, as gentle as I could, get it to slide over. Also found a couple of deteriorated and broke nets that cover the oils galleys, I just pulled the pieces out. They’re just plastic. I changed to oil too when I did this. My car runs rougher now and feels slightly down on power. I triple checked my go/no-go clearances, they were all good. (Actually only had 3 that didn’t need adjustment). I think maybe now I have a vacuum leak. Common issue I see in the forums after valve adjustments on these cars since they’re getting pretty old and you do take off the tube from the intake to valve cover. Did my spark plugs last week.
@mojo331
Жыл бұрын
Did you fix your issue?
Great , informative video !
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Thanks.... great video....
nice one Patel
I wish you was in England I’ve got to m3 what needs work on and I trust you
@georgecaspira3637
2 жыл бұрын
Thorney Motorsport are brilliant with BMW's. all the engineers are the dogs bollox.
One more tip. Honda told us in school no magnets for this job. If you magnetize a shim it could possibly stick to the cam and come out at high RPM’s. We all know what that leads too.
That actually did seem rather easy. You should see "I do cars" "my unnecessary BMW collection." This guy has seven and he'll give you the rundown on how he acquired them. I think you will be in heaven 🤣
Excellent video thanks a lot Have done my clearances similar to yours but sounds like 1 or 2 shims are still not right as still get a tick Should I set it closer to the lowest tolerance? (0.18mm on intake and 0.28mm on exhaust side)
Last night my M52B28TU suddenly had low oil.. shocked me and I jumped onto one of your oil burning videos. Then halfway through I realized I had a new CCV, valve cover and gasket.. how’s that possible? And it dawned on me maybe I should let the car warm up and let the oil get to operating temperature.. voila! All good 😂 it was just -3 degrees C outside 🥲
good afternoon! Congratulations on your channel... Can the M54B30 engines make these adjustments?
Nice...keep going
nice video! does the cam on cylinder #1 intake fwd. still look ok for you?
Great video!!!! I have problems set cams before valve adjustment.I put pin to crank shaft.l. put timing bridge ,but I can’t turn intake or exhaust cam with 24 mm tool. Can’t you tell me way please???thanks
Damn bro. Wish you were in south afrcia
I’ve seen elsewhere that the valve cover gasket may be re-usable. I’m doing this job myself on a Z4M with this engine. With 45K miles on the clock, I suspect mine have never been done as what I’ve taken off up to now looks like it has never been touched! My gasket looks fine visually and intact and didn’t even light off the cylinder head at all when I lifted the valve cover. What are the opinions on just re-using it? Obviously, this would significantly reduce the cost of doing the job! Thanks in advance!
Feel better buddy, have some ginger tea.
Hope your voice gets better Ankur!!
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Julian!
Bearings ACL. Bolts ARP. Full Vanos overhaul by Beisan. Everything else from springs, shocks, trailing arms etc. BMW original. A good one iis getting rare . We have amateur track days at the Nurrnburg ring.
I got lucky I changed my vanos stuff in time, I actually had a Brocken hubtab and it could have fallen Into the engine 😱
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
You are super lucky to catch it in time!!
Hey, so if I’m doing a valve adjustment, spark plug change and valve cover gaskets, would I do the valve adjustment first, then valve cover gaskets then spark plugs at the end?
Excellent
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@e55v86
2 жыл бұрын
@@ShopLifeTV You are welcome. You are very skilled and your videos are helpful and informative. It would be nice to see M57 videos too, but I guess there are not many there
Is this what causes the valves to hit the top of the cylinders or is that a vanos rrlated issue? The adjustments seem to be very minor
Ultimate E46 M3 Torque Values Guide is not work. Could you update the new link? Thanks
What would the measurements be if I've got Schrick 288/280 Cams?
I'm in the middle of doing this job right now. My rocker arms don't like moving over to the side at all. At least on the intake side. And the shim kit I got from Turner doesn't have enough of the sizes I need. 3 each is all you get. Frustrating.
Hello sir, have you any experience working on n43 engines
How would i know if i need a valve adjustment ?
I find it’s best to be on the loose side because valve lash will never loosen up only tighten. So you can get more life out of the adjustment setting them loose.
@cygnus1965
Жыл бұрын
Most engines will run better set Up a little loose also.
Ayo what a voice. I love that mutation xD
Do you know the average labor charge for this and what a vanos rebuild would be? trying to get that done for mine soon . . .
@georgecaspira3637
2 жыл бұрын
Garage / shop dependant on labour costs. Also before you choose, GOOGLE the garage / shop you are thinking about choosing. Good luck.
where can I get that tshirt ? 😁
I will have to say no on 286k e46 m3 and have never adjusted it once
my x5 says it has an m54 is it the same?
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
no this only applies to s54
Nice valve adjusting DIY guys. Thanks for sharing. Dutch regards Nico.
Correct me if I'm wrong but seems like you went smaller on your pucks when they were already in spec and I used to be a machinist to and diemaker thousands of an inch or much easier to spec that millimeters just saying
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
I put a smaller shim to get the clearance to .2mm. They were around .18-.19 before so closer to the tighter end of the spectrum.
@markt9438
2 жыл бұрын
@@ShopLifeTV I understand that but they were still in spec and that means the last longer I've never changed mine out more than 40,000 miles and they were like 1,000 out of spec too tight it's not a major issue as long as you maintain oil changes that's monumental and you can't say it enough you know thanks buddy you do a great job!
@Baba-yz3kp
2 жыл бұрын
@@markt9438 they were in spec but he aimed for .2mm clearance whatever the measurement. And so he can tell each valve clearance is set closest to the middle of the spec. Not mecanicaly essential since it's in the spec but mentally it count haha
@markt9438
2 жыл бұрын
@@Baba-yz3kp I totally understand that In spec but when you have something that's inspect already you don't lower the amount That's why I tried to correct him that means you have a longer factor so it's okay to be at the top of the tolerance
Lost his voice after seeing the new BMW XM 😄
@ShopLifeTV
2 жыл бұрын
Hahaha no kidding!
ONLY s54
how do I contact you? I sent a couple emails, but no reply. Need some advice, if you have a few minutes to reply. My email might be in your spam folder. Thinking of working on a project, would like to know two major things. Easy way, can I drop off teh car and you build it for me? Second option, if you can advise where to get or provide the BMW advice, and what BMW tools would I need.
Dose this apply to the m54 engine
@DowntimeMedia
2 жыл бұрын
2:47 “This DOES NOT APPLY to non-M engines”
Valve maintenance every 20K? Not happening. Purchase another vehicle.
@Baba-yz3kp
2 жыл бұрын
So you'll miss the s54.