Shifterati

VANOS

Also called double VANOS, single VANOS

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

BMW's variable valve timing, which moves the camshafts against their drive as the engine runs.

The story

History: facts, each with its source

Wikipedia says VANOS is the variable valve timing BMW has used on petrol engines since 1992, first on the M50 in the 3 and 5 Series. The name shortens the German words for variable camshaft timing.1

Wikipedia says the first version, later called single VANOS, worked on the intake camshaft only. Double VANOS works on both the intake and exhaust camshafts, first on the S50B32 in 1996. It retards the camshafts at low speed for a smooth idle, advances them in the middle for torque and economy, and retards them again for full power.1

Found on

Every generation on the site whose dossier names it

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (VANOS)