BMW Single VANOS Modified 18mm Socket — VANOS Piston Removal Tool

Make your BMW Single VANOS rebuild easier with our Modified 18mm VANOS Socket, specifically designed for removing and installing the VANOS piston during a rebuild. A standard 18mm socket has a beveled opening that prevents it from fully engaging the thin-profile fastener inside the VANOS unit. This socket has been machined flat at the end to remove the factory bevel, allowing the socket to achieve full engagement and provide a secure grip during disassembly and reassembly.

If you're installing one of our Single VANOS Rebuild Kits, this is one of the specialty tools you'll want to have before starting the job.

Why Is a Modified Socket Required?

Most standard sockets have a chamfer or bevel around the opening to make it easier to guide the socket onto a fastener. While useful for normal repairs, that bevel reduces the amount of internal hex that can engage a shallow fastener.

The Single VANOS piston assembly requires an 18mm socket with a flat, non-beveled face so the internal 6-point profile can fully engage the fastener. Our socket comes ready to use, eliminating the need to grind or machine your own socket before starting the rebuild.

Product Features

• Modified 18mm socket
• Machined flat to remove the standard socket bevel
• Full-depth 6-point engagement
• Designed for BMW Single VANOS piston removal and installation
• Helps provide better engagement on the shallow VANOS fastener
• Eliminates the need to modify your own socket
• Perfect companion to our Single VANOS rebuild kits
• Reusable for future VANOS rebuilds

BMW Engine Compatibility

Designed for Single VANOS units found on BMW engines including:

M50TU • M52 • S50 US • S52

Important 1993 Model Year Note

Some early 1993 BMW Single VANOS units require a modified 17mm socket instead of the 18mm socket. Verify the fastener size on your VANOS unit before ordering if you have an early-production vehicle.

The Right Tool for the Job

You can grind down a standard socket yourself, but getting a perfectly flat face while maintaining proper engagement can be difficult without the right equipment. Our Modified 18mm VANOS Socket arrives ready to use so you can spend less time making tools and more time rebuilding your VANOS.

An inexpensive specialty tool that makes a Single VANOS rebuild considerably easier.