M valve adjustment shim kit

[xkegto]

Seems to be some confusion on this matter at least on my part. From what I can gather an M valve adjustment related shim kit is five hundred bucks but is not always needed to set the valves. Here's my question: roughly how often is the kit called for and does driving style, city driving or other "rough" wear factors come to play?

When I was younger I set valves on straight six 70's Mercedes and Nissan (Datsun) Z's; am I safe to assume we are talking about something completely different these days or does one still slide the flat metal feeler shims to set valves on Z4M's?

[SD ///M4]

You don't "set" the valves when you do a valve adjustment on the S54 M engine, you measure the gap for each valve, and if it's not in spec, you remove the existing shim, measure it, and then replace it with a shim that will bring the gap into spec. You still use feeler gauges, but the easiest ones to use are the ones that are slightly angled. You also need a magnet shim tool to pull the existing shim and to place the new shim. A micrometer is also needed, to measure the existing shim that is removed and the new shim to make sure it's the thickness that it's supposed to be. You don't need to buy a shim kit, you only need to have the shims that are necessary, but having the kit means that you will have all possible sizes. Try and find out if someone has one locally; generally they are loaned out or rented, and the shims used are replaced by ordering them individually, to keep the kit intact.

Valve adjustment is only needed approximately every 30,000 miles, but the system determines the exact time that a valve adjustment is needed by indicating that an Interval II service is needed.

I've only done this once, almost three years ago when I purchased my Z4 M Roadster with just over 30,000 miles on it, and determined that the previous owner never did the required valve adjustment, so I'm a little hazy on the exact details, but the procedure is what I described. There's plenty of DIYs online, particularly if you look for an E46 M3, also with the S54 engine.

[inTgr8r]

^good explanation.
Re sizes there are also some threads with that info as well.
There are only 6 to 8 different ones required.
You can buy shims and the tool individually rather than the expensive kit.
I think it cost me about $60 for shims which we did 2 cars with.
You don't discard the used ones either, you may be able to reuse them on the next interval.

[chickdr]

There is also someone on one of the forums that rents his kit out. You use the shims you need and pay for the replacements(which could be as few as zero). Very good deal.

[Shipkiller]

Just to be specific, the interval for a valve adjustment (Inspection I and II) is not 30,000 miles on the S54.

It is base on your driving style. The interval is calculated by the car, by the amount of fuel used in the engine. The figure is 660 galleons.

We have seen Inspection intervals come up as soon as 20K and as long as 33K. Its all based on your driving style.

[StickMon]

I just checked mine today and they haven't changed noticeably in the 25k miles since the last check.
Maybe after 117k miles it's settled in.
The only sizes I ever used were:
2.32
2.36
2.40 (3 times)

Get 5 of each of those and a size or two above and below and you'll come out way ahead.

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by StickMon

I just checked mine today and they haven't changed noticeably in the 25k miles since the last check.
Maybe after 117k miles it's settled in.
The only sizes I ever used were:
2.32
2.36
2.40 (3 times)

Get 5 of each of those and a size or two above and below and you'll come out way ahead.

Every engine is different so I don't think your recommendation would work. However, the only risk is not having the shims needed once you start the job.
Here you go! A used set for $300. I would go this route and re-sell it after you done with it (or rent that kit from the M3Forum guy).

[jdoublehcubed]

I have a rental kit on this forum. Details are here:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=763512

[Varinn]

I didn't see it mentioned, but there are always these wiseco shims available. I opted to go this route and so far I haven't had any noticeable issues with it (~5,000 KM since my last adjustment). I did only have to replace two of the shims and I do fully intend to do an early re-check to be safe.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-Z4-M_Co....2L/ES2748830/

[yousefnjr]

^^ that's what I'm doing next time. Picking up 2x to have plenty of shims, and still way way cheaper than the OEM kit. Going to check them with some calipers, but I don't expect them to be OOT. Shims are about as simple as parts get.

[Varinn]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

^^ that's what I'm doing next time. Picking up 2x to have plenty of shims, and still way way cheaper than the OEM kit. Going to check them with some calipers, but I don't expect them to be OOT. Shims are about as simple as parts get.

Calipers are not the best measuring tool for these, you'd be better to use a micrometer. I did during install and they were spot on, the bigger concern isnt thickness but metallurgy. A guy on another board tested the hardness vs oem and they came up the same, but I might pull my VC at say, 15,000km since the adjustment and see how they are holding up.