VANOS

VANOS units on the intake and exhaust camshafts of a BMW N52 engine

VANOS is a variable valve timing system used by BMW on various automotive petrol engines since 1992. The name is an abbreviation of the German words for variable camshaft timing (German: variable Nockenwellensteuerung).

The initial version (retrospectively renamed "single VANOS") was solely used on the intake camshaft, while the later "double VANOS" systems are used on intake and exhaust camshafts. Since 2001, VANOS is often used in conjunction with the Valvetronic variable valve lift system.