Just gotta ASK , WHAT THE HECK IS A VANOS?

now that i am chip shopping , i keep bumping in this :
engines with and without vanos???

what the hell is a Vanos?
Do I have one?? - 95 525 auto 01/95 DME -200 413

Is it a good thing or a bad thing?>?

Yes, you have VANOS. It's variable valve timing, sort of like VTEC I think. It changes valve timing of the intake cam. It's a good thing, basically. More info here:

http://www.bmwworld.com/technology/vanos.htm

thanks , good link