A question about swirl flaps

[MitchT]

I keep reading scary topics on BMW diesels eating their swirl flaps, sometimes resulting in catastrophic engine failure. Can anyone categorically state which cars are affected?

My OH has an 2005 120d and at some point we're probably going to buy an 2007-2009 330d. Should we be taking proactive measures to avoid disaster?

[Mr Bimmer]

Speak to these Guys. They designed the mod and know exactly what the score is.

http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/

[rugbyfiend]

This certainly isn't gospel but from what i can remember it is generally on the previous generation of 6 pot diesels, ie e46 3 series and e39 5 series. From what I can remember the e60 hasn't been affected.

From approx 2004 they changed the design of the swirl flaps and made them stronger which has pretty much stopped the problem.

There are fixes which are either blanking off the swirl flaps or replacing.

I speak from experience after my e46 330d ate a swirl flap but was fortunately AUC so covered under warranty. £5,000 worth of repairs later with a new piston, head gasket, turbo and a few other bits I got the car back. Pretty scary if I'd had to pay out myself...

[Neil.D]

The problem was revised in 2004 with more plastic being used in the design to avoid as much damage.

Therefore, the e60 530d is prone, manuals and autos.

My MY 2006 535d has the 'stronger' ones but I had them removed.

There have been cases of the newer ones being ingested too.

Simple answer is that if you have no warranty, have them out IMO.

[Tea Pot One]

I think the age of car you are looking at will be fine - AFAIK there have been no failures after the E46 era ... or none to speak of - though the flaps remain.

[LooneyTunes]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I was wondering if anyone can give me some idea of how long the removal/blanking job should take a specialist (using the PWM parts) on an E60 530d? Just trying to estimate the likely cost of having this done.

Thanks in advance.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

It's not too big of a job so I would say a garage should charge no more than a maximum of three hours labour, you may find some garages are considerably quicker.

[LooneyTunes]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

It's not too big of a job so I would say a garage should charge no more than a maximum of three hours labour, you may find some garages are considerably quicker.

Thanks - I could only find ~4hr estimates for DIY and with all the spannering wasn't sure how much faster it would be at a garage.

[Neil.D]

Its an hours job for a BMW tech. However some wont actually charge for this by the hour (ie £45 or so like my local specialist), they may charge BMW's standard charge of manifold removal + refitting which is over £100 - probably an hours labour at a main dealer.

[LooneyTunes]

Neil.D said:

Its an hours job for a BMW tech. However some wont actually charge for this by the hour (ie £45 or so like my local specialist), they may charge BMW's standard charge of manifold removal + refitting which is over £100 - probably an hours labour at a main dealer.

Even better. Sounds like a no-brainer for when it's at the specialist for MOT in a few weeks time. Got to be better than the cost of a new engine and, having been outside the network for a couple of years, my expectations of any "goodwill" if the worst did happen are pretty low...

Thanks for the info.

[CPB31]

Indy charged £75 ( 1.5 hrs labour) to remove mine on 320d.

Blanks were £6 ea. from ebay for machined al alloy blanks. There are two sizes, and you don't know which one they are going to be, so buy both and get a refund on the ones you don't use.

Made no noticeable difference to how car runs.