Yeah, but BMW's valve timing is much more widely variable than Honda's, which just switches from one cam profile to another. True, VTEC does have the advantage of changing the lift, but I thought VANOS could change the duration? And I've heard otherwise about Honda's system being more expensive, but I really don't have any first-hand experience...

is more effective offering changes in lift duration and timing while bmw's only altered valve timing. And the honda system is much more complex to produce. Now that bmw is talking about electrically actuated valves in the new 7 series you will see variations in lift timing and duration, almost infinite combinations are possible now

VANOS is BMW's electronic variable valve timing system. It varies the valve timing in a similar way that a distributor advances and retards ignition timing. VTEC is Honda's system, which switches between two different cam profiles, one for low-RPM and one for high-RPM. BMW's system is more effective, although it is also more complex and expensive.