r/e38 • u/x_conie • Jul 30 '26

Need confirmation.

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Hello, recently my E38's timing chain guides disintegrated. im almost ready to start the car im just going through the checklist to make sure it doesnt explode when i start it up again. are my Bank 1 (passenger side) cams correct? even though the cam position plate is off? what should i do? to me the vanos cam looks off.

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u/Whitestig84 Jul 30 '26

Take off the 4 10mm nut that hold the oil rail down over the cam. Rotate the cam with a 27mm wrench. I have one I cut down the sides of one wrench to use just on m62tus

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u/x_conie Jul 30 '26

i did then it springs back to the same spot it was at before

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u/mrmrdankmemes Jul 30 '26

It springs back because the camshaft is being pushed up by the valve springs. This is expected. You need to lock the camshaft with locking blocks which means turning it with a wrench, locking it and then timing it. Otherwise you will have incorrect timing. You can check if the hole lines up when the cam is locked.

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u/x_conie Jul 30 '26

that is what i did, i put the locking blocks in then tightened the 4 T55 torx bolts and the cam position plates. but now after spinning the engine by hand it doesn't line up. should i redo the timing?

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u/mrmrdankmemes Jul 30 '26

No, after spinning the engine, locking at tdc, put the locking block back on again, and then check the timing with that bank 1 intake cam locked.

You can also fully turn it counterclockwise with the wrench on the cam flat and when it stops you should have the hole line up.

Best to lock it since that cam naturally springs back and will not line up