what are car vanos
BMWâs Variable Valve Timing system is called VANOS (Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung), and hereâs how it works! 1  The VANOS unit lifted off, notice how the cam and the cam gear are independent of each other without the VANOS gear in place. Image courtesy of Beisan Systems. This is the single VANOS engine (found in M50 engines). It controls the intake cam gear, which is mechanically linked to the exhaust gear with a chain. The key of the VANOS design is that the cam gear and the cam itself are independent, and both have splines. The gear/cup in the VANOS system inserts in between these two parts, mechanically linking them. The VANOS gear has two sets of splines, the outer for the cam gear and the inner for the cam itself. The splines have a twist to them, also known as a helical gear, so as the gear inserts itself further between the cam and cam gear, the relative position changes, if by only a few degrees.