BMW Engine Parts for BMW Z3 (1996-2002)

A beautiful addition and durable upgrade for your engine

Tired of staring at that bright red plastic oil dipstick? Waiting for a way to add a nice touch to your engine bay without going over the top? ECS Tuning is proud to announce the billet aluminum oil dipstick! Designed to OE specifications with an easy-to-read fill line, offered in three different finishes. Available in black, polished, or clear anodized, we have an offering for every type of enthusiast. Not only does it look better, but also performs better. Because of the durability, it is easier to insert than the factory ribbon dipstick. So, no more fighting with your dipstick to re-install it.

The main reason all of the VANOS units will eventually fail is because the material used for the sealing rings from the factory is not designed for that type of environment. When this happens the only option that BMW leaves you with is buying a new and expensive VANOS unit with the same sealing rings that failed in your original unit.

The VANOS system found in BMW engines is a great feature (when it’s working properly), keeping your power curve smooth and responsive especially in lower to mid RPM range. What usually goes unnoticed is the gradual loss of power within this range as the vehicle's age due to slowly failing seals within the VANOS unit. The way the VANOS system works is based off of oil pressure triggered by a solenoid that allows for a small range of timing degree adjustment, this is where the power curve is affected. When the seals begin to fail (all of them do) there is less pressure to advance the timing reducing the power in that low to mid range. Because this happens slowly it's very hard to notice a difference until you refresh your VANOS unit, then you easily realize the response you've been missing.

There are a number of symptoms that will plague your car as a result of these failing seals such as erratic idle, engine hesitation, stalling, and increased fuel consumption to name a few. If you've been chasing down any of these symptoms with no fix then this could be your issue.

While you're replacing the seals in your VANOS unit it a good time to install anti-rattle spacers to tighten up the gaps in your stock assembly and get rid of that noisy VANOS clatter.

Seals & O-rings:

The seals  were the main focus of this project since the OE units are built with Buna-N rubber o-rings instead of the ECS supplied Viton rubber o-rings. The Buna-N material quickly hardens from the heat and chemical exposure within the engine, where the Viton is significantly more resistant to these chemicals. This knowledge was also used when it came to the commonly failed o-rings found on the VANOS seal plate, replaced at the solenoid.

Rattle Repair:

When it comes to the VANOS rattle this is commonly described as "marbles in a can", and can be heard throughout the different RPM ranges depending on the engine. These upgraded rings and washers are precision ground from hardened steel to resist wear and deformation keeping your VANOS rattle free. The rattle repair tools are designed specifically for this VANOS anti-rattle repair, design from hardened steel to stand up to the job. Designed to perfectly follow the splines of the shaft for a tight grip when applying the necessary torque to disassemble & reassemble the VANOS transfer gear. The keyed socket was designed with the intent to use a "common" wrench so this can be completed at home in your garage.    

When Servicing your VANOS unit we recommend getting everything you need to replace on the way to service which includes an oil change and valve cover gasket set. Fresh oil and gaskets is the best way to start off a fresh rebuild of any kind giving you the maximum performance of your freshly serviced components.

Don't forget to check out our rebuild PDF to make sure you have everything to get the job done and eliminate the rebuild guess work.

This item fits the following BMWs: 
2000-2001 E46 3 Series M3 M3 Convertible 2000-2006 
2001-2002 Z3 Roadster / Coupe Z3 M Roadster Z3 M Coupe w S54 Engine 
2006-2008 E86 E86 Z4 Z4 M Roadster Z4 M Coupe

Upgrade your vehicle's lighting with Ziza Platinum White 9006 bulbs, replacing stock bulbs with a clean white light for enhanced visibility. As a leading manufacturer and distributor of performance automotive lighting products, Ziza brings innovation to LED bulbs, HID bulbs, clear lens side markers, smoked lens side markers, and more. Take your automotive lighting to the next level with Ziza's high-quality products.

This non-DOT approved product is for Off-road/Track use only. Not approved for legal street use

If you're grappling with issues like crankshaft failures and oil pump breakdowns in your BMW 6-cylinder engines, you're not alone. Even seasoned mechanics can overlook the critical aspect of harmonic resonance control in these inline-6 motors, despite their optimal configuration.

Enter ATI Performance Products in collaboration with VAC Motorsports, presenting a solution in the form of new dampers tailored for BMW 2.5L, 2.8L, 3.0L, and 3.2L straight-6 engines found in various models like the E36 and E46 M3, E9X, and E6X, as well as newer Z3s and Z4s. These dampers effectively nullify crankshaft harmonic vibrations, paving the way for enhanced horsepower and torque output, alongside a reduction in internal engine wear. Say goodbye to issues like fractured oil pumps and timing chain mishaps! By pairing these dampers with a VAC accessory pulley, you seamlessly replace the OEM balancer. Featuring a 7” outer diameter and OEM-style timing alignment tabs, these ATI Super Dampers boast SFI 18.1 Safety Certification, ensuring they're competition-ready.

What sets the ATI SuperDamper apart? It's the remedy for vibration woes in inline 6 engines, especially those equipped with lightweight clutch and flywheel setups. Expect diminished wear on bearings, engine accessories, and oil pumps, all while being compatible with underdrive pulleys.

Included in the kit are the damper itself, a lightweight VAC Billet Crankshaft Pulley, along with all necessary mounting and installation hardware. Note that it's not compatible with S50B30 & S50B32 Euro Engines. For street/track vehicles with air conditioning, opting for the Additional A/C Pulley Option is imperative, given that the OE A/C pulley isn't compatible. Rest assured, all required mounting and installation hardware is included, and the entire package is proudly Made in the USA.

VAC's S54 Vanos Hub is designed as a direct replacement for the fragile BMW OE Vanos Hub which typically fails due to a broken drive pin. The VAC Hub has an Upgraded Drive Pin design, which is larger in diameter, as well as more material on the outside wall of the pin. In addition, the hub is made from 4340HT Billet Bar and heat treated to the same BMW OE Rockwell Hardness spec. The upgraded design is not only significantly stronger, but the larger diameter Drive Pins also minimize the huge clearance (approximately 1mm) that was in the original design by BMW and reduces the clearance to 0.2mm. This is critical in helping greatly reduce or eliminate the VANOS noise.

Also, this upgraded design eliminates the need for modifying the Pump Ring or having to buy a replacement, which further saves you money!!!

Crafted from high-grade domestic USA 6061-T6 Billet Aluminum, these pulleys are a testament to precision engineering. Rigorously tested through extensive hours of racing and street use, they've proven their reliability and performance excellence.

Each pulley is meticulously zero-balanced and thoroughly inspected to ensure zero-runout, guaranteeing optimal performance without compromising on reliability, noise, or vibration.

This comprehensive kit comprises a precision power steering pulley, water pump pulley, and an OE Contitech Brand drive belt. Experience a notable boost of 8hp and 7 ft/lbs. of torque to the wheels, making it ideal for stock vehicles, track cars, and even those with upgraded audio systems seeking consistent voltage output from their alternators.