Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Functional description
To perform the adjustment, the variable camshaft timing control requires a feedback signal on the current position of the camshaft. Camshaft sensors on the intake and exhaust side record the position of the camshafts.
The exhaust camshaft sensor is designed as an inductive hall effect sensor. The camshaft sensor wheel has 6 different flank spacings. The flank spacings are detected by the hall effect sensor.
The engine control system uses these to calculate: here
- Camshaft speed
- Camshaft speed
- Exact position of the camshaft
This graphic shows the N63 engine (contents of brief component description apply in principle to other engines as well).
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cylinder head cover |
| 2 | Exhaust camshaft sensor and intake camshaft sensor |
| 3 | three-pin plug connection |
A controlled VANOS unit is fitted at both intake and exhaust camshafts. A VANOS solenoid valve activates the VANOS unit. The required positions of the intake and exhaust camshafts are calculated from the engine speed and the load signal (depending on the intake air temperature and engine temperature). The DME control unit activates the VANOS unit accordingly. The control of the intake and exhaust camshaft is variable within their maximum adjustment range.
When voltage is applied, it is detected whether the sensor is above a tooth or above a gap.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.