e90 330d - Inlet manifold confusion

[rob_n_em]

Hi there,

Just had my BMW 330d looked at as there was some oil in the engine bay (although this was noticed by the same dealer in a routine service) and BMW main dealer have said that it needs a new inlet manifold. The cost seem high, so I called around and a couple of independent BMW specialists said that I just needed to get the swirl flaps removed, at a much lower cost than a new inlet manifold...

I'm confused as if there's oil in the engine bay, I don't seem how removing the swirl flaps would fix this?

So who do I believe? should I spend the money on a new inlet manifold, or go for the swirl flap removal route?

Does anyone have experience of this?

Cheers,
Rob

[8Tech]

The oil can leak from around the swirl flaps and the manifold seals. I would recommend removing the swirl flaps and installing the blanks and then renewing the seals when you refit the manifold.

You may find the manifold very coked up so depending on your patience, you can either clean it up or replace it. It will probably take longer to clean it than it will to remove and refit it and its a pretty messy job so thats why the dealer would rather replace it. However, doing this, you will still end up with the eventual swirl flap issues.

Spend some effort on it though and enjoy improved performance and the peace of mind you will never wreck your engine because a swirl flap let go.

[dandle]

The oil leak isn't actually oil but diesel(I know its oil but not in the sense of an oil leak) as its coming from the intake manifold. I have the same issue ATM on my 39k mile 07 plate 530d. I have a warranty with warranty direct so booked my car into BMW for them to diagnose the problem before warranty direct would approve any repairs. The diagnosis was that there is a leak from one of the swirl flap seals caused by a potentially blocked crankcase breather. Anyway BMW quoted for replacing the breather and putting a new manifold on for £839 which was declined by warranty direct in full because they say it was caused by a blocked or contaminated breather which is enough to void any claim. The breather on my car is a vortex type so cant actually block up but no one seemed to care when I was trying to argue it with warranty direct pointing me back to what the dealer has told them. The dealer told me that there will be no good will offer towards the cost even though my car has full BMWSH as I have an external warranty.

Anyway I have the car back after paying £103 to diagnose the fault and the leak is alot heavier than before they looked at it. Im going to do is have a look at the breather and see if they actually took it off to look at it, then I will have a look and see if its blocked. If they havent even taken it off I will be writing to BMW with pictures asking how they can justify writing my warranty off with no good cause.

The leak itself is from an O-ring around a swirl flap, now the o-ring could be replaced if the flaps are in good condtion and the system will work as before. Or the swirlflaps could be removed and blanks fitted, I'm a bit warry of this as the engine does run dirty when not on load and with a DPF this isn't a good thing. The third option is to buy a complete new manifold of Cotswold BMW for about £440 and either fit it yourself or get an indy to do it.

Keep us posted how you get on.