VANOS System: Overview

The VANOS system has been optimized to provide even faster adjustment speeds of the VANOS units. The aluminum VANOS units are much lighter and are also less susceptible to soiling. It can be seen by comparing the N54 VANOS system with the N55 VANOS that fewer oil passages are required and that the non-return valves are no longer on the cylinder head but rather incorporated into the solenoid valves on N55.

Fig 1: Identifying VANOS With Oil Supply - N55

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.