Mini R57 N18 Timing Adjustment / Chain fitting Tips

Tips on adjusting the timing and replacing chain on an N18 engine.
I am an amateur mechanic and am learning as i'm doing.
I found most video's on this subject to be incomplete, this fills in the gaps.
Links to complete guides on how to replace the timing chain at the bottom.
I recommend that, if like me you haven't done this before, you watch these first and refer back to this video for the parts they missed out.
I mainly followed The Mini Specialists video on how to do this.
Also, big thanks to my friend John for helping me work all this out!

Instructions.

1, Adjust timing if needed before replacing the chain, skip to that step.
2, Check vanos adjuster lock in case they are faulty.

Note 1, watch other videos on how to replace the chain.
The flywheel and cams should be locked at this point.
Note 2, ONLY ROTATE ENGINE CLOCKWISE!

3, Torque crankshaft bolt to 50nm, then tighten a further 180 degrees
4, Fit exhaust vanos first, only tighten bolt finger tight.
5, Fit intake vanos finger tight.
6, Fit top guide, tighten bolts to 8nm, (i used blue lock-tight on these, this was my decision and not in any instructions i found)
7, Pull the chain tight by rotating both vanos anticlockwise, we want right side of chain tight, the left will be taken care of by the tensioner.
8, Fit chain pretensioner and torque to 0.6nm.

Note 1, skip if just doing timing and not replacing the chain.
Note 2, Download or buy chain pretensioner torque ratchet from bimmerzen if you don't have one.
Note 3, Even if your timing is correct, i recommend rotating engine by 720 degrees, pinning crank, and re-torquing pretensioner several times until it no longer needs torquing to make sure there's no slack.

9, Torque intake vanos first, then exhaust. ONLY TO 20nm! They'll need further torquing later, but they are stress to yield, so if you need to loosen them to adjust timing, you'll need to replace them again if you fully torque at this point.
10, Remove cam and fly wheel locks and rotate the engine 720 degrees.
11, Pin fly wheel and torque pretensioner again.
12, Check timing. If off, loosen vanos bolt on whichever cam is out, use 27mm spanner to adjust until the lock fits, fit cam lock.
13, Torque loose vanos bolt back to 20nm only.
14, Remove all locks and rotate 720.
15, Pin flywheel and torque pretensioner again
16, Check timing.

Note, repeat from step 12 until both timing is correct, and pretensioner no longer needs torquing, ie clicks as soon as turned.

17, With fly wheel and cams locked, finish torquing intake vanos by turning 180 degrees, then do exhaust vanos.

Note, To be clear, both vanos should already be torqed to 20nm, step 17 is the finishing torque.

18, Remove cam locks, leave pin in flywheel.
19, Remove pretensioner.
20, Fit chain tensioner, torque to 80nm.
21, Remove flywheel lock and rotate 720.
22, Check timing one last time by fitting all locks, then remove them.
23, Done.

Links.

The Mini Specialist, BMW Mini Timing Chain DIY Replacement for N12, N14, N16 & N18 engines - The Definitive Guide
   • BMW Mini Timing Chain DIY Replacement for ...  

Mini Adventure, 2007 Mini Cooper S Timing Chain Replacement Part 3
2007 Mini Cooper S Timing Chain Replacement Part 3
   • 2007 Mini Cooper S Timing Chain Replacemen...  

BimmerZen, N42/N46 Safe Valvetronic Removal & Detailed Timing guide
   • N42/N46 Safe Valvetronic Removal & Detaile...  

N14 Timing Chain Replacement Guide
Note, Scroll down to find download link for PDF.
https://www.mini2.com/threads/1-6thp-...

BimmerZen Torque Wrench
https://bimmerzen.com/store/product/5...

Vintage Engine Repairs, CALIBRATE YOUR TORQUE WRENCH IN UNDER 5 MINUTES (NO SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED!)
   • CALIBRATE YOUR TORQUE WRENCH IN UNDER 5 MI...