15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

BMW E46 323i Sedan / Repair Manuals and Technical Data / 11 Engine / 11 31 Camshaft /

11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Special tools required:

00 9 250

11 2 300

11 3 240

11 3 244

11 3 292

11 4 220

11 5 180

11 6 150

(refer to Operation No. 11 31 005)

Before carrying out adjustment work:
Check camshaft timing.

Crank engine in direction of rotation until cam tips

on inlet and exhaust camshafts on 1st cylinder face
one another.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 2 300 in TDC

position of 1st cylinder.
X3 only:
Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 5 180 in TDC
position of 1st cylinder.
Important!
Do not turn the engine back.
Remove special tools 11 2 300 / 11 5 180
before starting engine.

Unscrew studs.

Remove double VANOS adjustment unit.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Press down top of chain tensioner and lock off with

special tool 11 3 292 .

Important!
Cylinder for chain tensioning piston is under
spring pressure.

Remove cylinder for chain tensioning piston.

Install special tool 11 4 220 .

Fit adjusting screw to bow cover.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Release screws (1) by half a turn.

Release nuts (2) by two turns.

Release nuts (3) by one turn.

Important!
Toothed shaft (4) slips very easily from
splines.

Pull out toothed shaft (4) until approx. 1 mm of

splines can be seen.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Withdraw toothed shaft (5) up to stop.

Fit special tool 11 3 240 to camshafts on cylinder 6.

Align camshafts so that special tool 11 3 240 rests
without gaps on cylinder head.

Attach special tool 11 3 244 to special tool 11 3 240

and locate by way of spark plug thread.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Press down chain tensioner at top and remove

special tool 11 3 292 .

Preload tensioning rail with special tool 11 4 220 by

rotating adjusting screw with special tool 00 9 250
or standard torque wrench to 0.7 Nm.

Preload cup spring slightly by pressing on sensor

gear (1) and tighten nuts by hand.Important!
Do not tighten down nuts fully.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Remove gasket.
Check dowel sleeves (1) for damage and correct
installation position.
Keep sealing face clean and free of oil.

Important!
Fit special tool 11 6 150 ”without gasket” only.
If gasket remains underneath special
tool 11 6 150 , camshaft timing will be
”incorrectly” set.

Attach special tool 11 6 150 ”without gasket”,

tighten nuts by hand and then tighten down
uniformly until special tool 11 6 150 is in full contact
with cylinder head.

Insert screws (1) on exhaust side and initially

tighten to approx. 5 Nm.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Initially tighten nuts (2) on exhaust side and

nuts (3) on inlet side to approx. 5 Nm.

Tighten down screws (1) on exhaust side.

Tightening torque 11 31 3AZ.

Tighten down nuts (2) on exhaust side and nuts (3)

on inlet side.
Tightening torque 11 31 11AZ.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Pull special tool 11 2 300 / 11 5 180 back until

flywheel is no longer secured.

Remove special tool 11 3 244 and special tool

11 3 240 .

Crank engine twice in direction of rotation until cam

tips on inlet and exhaust camshafts on 1st cylinder
face one another.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Secure crankshaft in firing TDC position with

special tool 11 2 300 .
X3 only:
Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 5 180 in TDC
position of 1st cylinder.
Important!
Do not turn the engine back.
Remove special tools 11 2 300 / 11 5 180
before starting engine.

Fit special tool 11 3 240 to camshafts.

Note:
The timing is correctly set if the special
tool 11 3 240 rests without a gap on the cylinder
head or protrudes up to 1 mm to the inlet side.
The timing must be reset if the special tool 11 3 240
protrudes to the exhaust side.

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Unfasten and remove special tool 11 4 220 .

Install cylinder for chain tensioning piston.

Remove special tool 11 2 300 / 11 5 180 .

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15:08 19/04/2023 11 31 505 Adjusting camshaft timing (M52TU / M54 / M56)

Remove special tool 11 6 150 .

Install VANOS adjustment unit.
Assemble engine.

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