Throttle Valve Actuator (E60 535D)?

[Andy M]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 17 November 2011 at 18:21

[T-bagger]

Hi,

That's a bit baffling really as in line with all BMW diesel engines the 535d does not have a throttle actuator! What it does have however is an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve, which on the M57TuTOP engine is electronically controlled by an actuator (much like a throttle valve). These do occasionally give problems but it's not that common, and if you haven't noticed any running or performance faults then it may just be a sporadic fault.

[Andy M]

T-bagger said:

Hi,

That's a bit baffling really as in line with all BMW diesel engines the 535d does not have a throttle actuator! What it does have however is an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve, which on the M57TuTOP engine is electronically controlled by an actuator (much like a throttle valve). These do occasionally give problems but it's not that common, and if you haven't noticed any running or performance faults then it may just be a sporadic fault.

Hi Darren,

Hmmm...odd! How easy is it to replace the EGR's actuator?

The car seems fine, but then again I've not driven another 535D

[T-bagger]

It's a pretty straight forward job to replace it, but i'd be a little suspicious of the code reader, and would like to see what the BMW diagnosis equipment have the fault as before i went too far.

[Andy M]

T-bagger said:

It's a pretty straight forward job to replace it, but i'd be a little suspicious of the code reader, and would like to see what the BMW diagnosis equipment have the fault as before i went too far.

I'll whip it into the dealers. If it's as you expect, would you know if they carry the part in stock, and how long the replacement takes?

[T-bagger]

Difficult to say but quite unlikely to have one in stock, if it is the EGR actuator. Don't be surprised if it's something elese though of even if the dealer draws a blank. EGR faults can be tricky because the engine control unit (DDE) factors in EGR when making airmass and fueling calculations and therefore a fault with the airmass meter for example can cause EGR problems and vice versa (although not necessarily open circuit faults).
This isn't an excuse for the dealer not doing their upmost to locate the fault, but I've personally spent many hours chasing elusive EGR and airmass faults only to find nothing; then having to make an educated guess!

Let me know how you get on.

Regards
Darren