ottoweber1

Mini Countryman VANOS Trouble

Anyone else had trouble with the VANOS on their 2012 Mini Countryman? The check engine light is on, and the fuel consumption is way up. I suspect the inlet VANOS mechanics are faulty, maybe a camshaft solenoid valve or power issue. What do you think?

4 comment(s)

Sounds like VANOS failure. Does the engine sound rough at idle? I had similar symptoms on my Countryman check engine light and all. Have you checked for oil sludge? Sometimes that can gunk things up and cause problems with the BMW VANOS system. Could even be the timing chain, though that's less likely at your mileage.

Rough idle, yes! Oil sludge... where exactly should I be looking for that? Is it something I can check myself, or am I better off taking it to a shop?

Yep, rough idle is a classic sign. Honestly, unless you're comfortable pulling things apart, checking for sludge is best left to a mechanic. It's not always easy to spot. Given the symptoms, it's likely a solenoid valve issue or maybe even a VANOS failure itself. I would advise getting it checked rather than risk further damage.

Thanks for the info. I took it to a shop, and it turned out to be a faulty camshaft solenoid valve. About 250€ later, and the Countryman runs like new!

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