Metal VANOS Cover Failure - MUST READ!

I bought these from a forum member. Do these look like genuine slon covers?

Don’t the genuine SLON covers actually say SLON on the cover itself? I just checked my previous pictures and there’s SLON engraved on each cover…

LKN624 wrote

Don’t the genuine SLON covers actually say SLON on the cover itself? I just checked my previous pictures and there’s SLON engraved on each cover…

The first edition didn’t have any laser engraving or logo. Mine were also wrapped in similar cellophane.

Nickco43 wrote

I bought these from a forum member. Do these look like genuine slon covers?

Yes these look like original first batch Slon covers. The first batch of 30 sets (I believe that's what Slon said) did not have logos. The China copies do have the machining ring marks but they are not as shiny as the Slon ones. The China ones also come individually packed in a bubble wrap pocket, not cling wrap.

Redd wrote

Yes these look like original first batch Slon covers. The first batch of 30 sets (I believe that's what Slon said) did not have logos. The China copies do have the machining ring marks but they are not as shiny as the Slon ones. The China ones also come individually packed in a bubble wrap pocket, not cling wrap.

That is good to hear that these covers are earlier genuine ones.

After reading this thread I am still debating on dropping $500 on the Evolve tuning covers as they seem to have the nicest fit and finish of the clip on Vanos Covers. I don't want to worry about these things while I am trying to get my car to 300k miles.

Nickco43 wrote

I bought these from a forum member. Do these look like genuine slon covers?

Genuine first gen SLON. Same ones I have. With bubble wrap and in a cardboard box with no Slon logo. I ordered directly from him via Whatsapp.

I can tell you responsibly. The earliest SLON vanos covers had no logo. I purchased SLON at the second time, they have logo.
I'm in China, I can tell you the truth, Chinese replica can also copy SLON's logo. So if you want genuine SLON, you have to ensure the right purchase channels.

As far as I know, there are three kinds of Chinese replicas here at least(even one of them have almost the same face grain as SLON). The picture shows one of them (which don't have the same face grain)compare with genuine SLON. At the time of installation, to feel by hands touch and press, it is obvious that SLON has more accurate matching data.

Thanks Eric,

had a look and what do you know... immediately found one clip (one of the small) loose. Easy to click back with a screw driver.

Turned the engine around and checked as good as possible, thought maybe one of the lower clips was lose but couldn't confirm it really.

Mine are btw SLON' from the first unmarked set. The shop doing the job 2y/5k miles ago did screw up first time and had to do it all over again. As its an "easy" clip to get in place I found it hard to believe that they fokked up again.

Think I decide that it was the tiny clip only and the caps will stay put. I'll take a look after driving from now on. Even after almost 10 years this car never stop driving me crazy, but still a keeper. What love does to you.

I honestly think the OE plastic are the best replacement. They’ve lasted almost 20 years on some cars.

e92ben wrote

I honestly think the OE plastic are the best replacement. They’ve lasted almost 20 years on some cars.

Maybe but can't be bought from BMW....

Helmsman wrote

Thanks Eric,

had a look and what do you know... immediately found one clip (one of the small) loose. Easy to click back with a screw driver.

Turned the engine around and checked as good as possible, thought maybe one of the lower clips was lose but couldn't confirm it really.

Mine are btw SLON' from the first unmarked set. The shop doing the job 2y/5k miles ago did screw up first time and had to do it all over again. As its an "easy" clip to get in place I found it hard to believe that they fokked up again.

Think I decide that it was the tiny clip only and the caps will stay put. I'll take a look after driving from now on. Even after almost 10 years this car never stop driving me crazy, but still a keeper. What love does to you.

Thanks for sharing. This lends less weight to my slon covers being an install failure. Again, never noticed anything was off during the course of 2 years until now. The mega concerning bit here, is we have no idea what the drivers side bank looks like without pulling the valve cover.

Currently pursuing options to get some bolt on vanos covers installed.

A special reminder, no matter which Vanos covers you use, you have to manually rotate the crankshaft when you install them. When I installed them, I couldn't see the lower clips, I felt they were OK. When I turned the crankshaft to check, I found one or two clips were not at the right position, but when they came to the top, I could easily finish them.

I wonder if the spring, as it moves during operation, is pushing against these covers and working them lose. I have an original set of Slon covers that I anodized but haven't yet installed.

Zark get a spanner wrote

A special reminder, no matter which Vanos covers you use, you have to manually rotate the crankshaft when you install them. When I installed them, I couldn't see the lower clips, I felt they were OK. When I turned the crankshaft to check, I found one or two clips were not at the right position, but when they came to the top, I could easily finish them.

after reading this thread again, this actually shocked me that no one wet out of their way to rotate the crank to see if the covers were clipped in all the way.

drwankel wrote

Thanks for sharing. This lends less weight to my slon covers being an install failure. Again, never noticed anything was off during the course of 2 years until now. The mega concerning bit here, is we have no idea what the drivers side bank looks like without pulling the valve cover.

Currently pursuing options to get some bolt on vanos covers installed.

Can't see in your picture mate, was that one of the small clips?

Would be interesting to hear from Ajolives as well.

Cheers

rantarM3 wrote

I wonder if the spring, as it moves during operation, is pushing against these covers and working them lose. I have an original set of Slon covers that I anodized but haven't yet installed.

Springs movement will leave traces of friction in the face of inside. I disassembled a set of SLON's replica. But I don't think springs will push them out, the problem of the replica is the inaccurate production.

Helmsman wrote

Can't see in your picture mate, was that one of the small clips?

Would be interesting to hear from Ajolives as well.

Cheers

It was not one of the small clips.

I think evolve automotive just developed the vanos cover. What do you guys think about it?

https://evolveautomotive.com/products/evolve-s65-vanos-covers-bmw-e90-e92-e93-m3

M3E93 wrote

I think evolve automotive just developed the vanos cover. What do you guys think about it?

https://evolveautomotive.com/products/evolve-s65-vanos-covers-bmw-e90-e92-e93-m3

still a clip on type just one solid clip, i would imagine this might be harder to clip on. since the og slon ones could be slightly manipulated to get over and clip.

if anyone does buy this, just make sure you spin the crank to check that it's fully clipped on like other ones.

drwankel wrote

It was not one of the small clips.

The small one (one per cap) maybe, maybe, could bent from centrifugal force, but find even that strange. The large clips are rigid big time, simply can't believe they would bend as there is no weight on the ends really. Starting to lean towards assembly fokk up after all.

And regarding the inputs on worn clips, how is that even possible as the cap can't rotate? Weird stuff this...

What I did when I installed mine was to lightly tap each tab with the lightest nylon hammer that I had to make sure each tab was seated correctly. They are sometimes a bit hard to get on there to seat correctly.

How about a couple spot welds for the snap on versions?