bip78 Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Just been reading linked PDF. I know my engine is on that list think I might need to get some of those blanking plugs. Anyone else had this "safety" mod done?! Is it that serious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 If they come loose they can be ingested into the cylinders and cause serious damage to your engine. They end up inside the combustion chamber where the piston crown will impact it probably hundreds of times before you can do anything about it. And thats if you're lucky! Bits can even end up being spat through the exhaust manifold and wiping your turbo out As you can imagine this would cost thousands to repair. There are a good few threads on here concerning the issue as it seems to be a fairly common failiure. All BMW diesels from 2001-2005 are potentially affected (M47N M57 and M57N engines) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Definately worth doing mate! As above, can cause MAJOR problems.. Its on my to do list in the new year for my car too. Probably the highest priority for me next I think.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Do it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Boy ACS3d Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Bought the Swirl Flap blanking plates and was all set to install when I did the next service myself. When the inlet manifold was off found out mine didn't have them! Happy days. This is a very important mod and when I found out that this can happen to diesels of any age or mileage it was on the urgent list of things to do, as didn't fancy having to fork out £5-8k for new engine & turbo £90 for blanking plates verses £5000-8000 for new engine = No brainer !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 The blanking plates are £60 here but im sure ive seen them cheaper still. You can even make your own for next to nothing. http://www.swirlflaps.co.uk/buy-now.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bip78 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 This is top feedback gents. Its def a no brainer but why would BMW not fit these blanking plates/plugs under a TSB or eq of what they use. If these things are known for having this problem I would argue that this is a design fault therefore Bmer should foot the bill. Has anyone had this conversation with any of the dealers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayse Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Is this really a DIY job or are there specialists out there to do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 As far as I know there ARE some dealers who will like split the bill if things go wrong but it's a case of pot luck.. Either way you're still looking at a grand or two for labour.. As in the OP it can be done yourself but I guess any indie should be able to fit the blanking plates for you.. I've been quoted approx £150 in labour for doing it via my local indie.. It's not the cheapest quote I've had but knowing it can't go wrong after that I think £150 (excluding he blanking plates) from a BMW specialist isn't that bad at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Just ordered mine from the link e46wirral posted up I would've bought them from PMWltd but they only accept paypal.. I HATE paypal!! lol. Will be getting my car booked in with the specialist in early January methinks.. Also just to add quickly - i've heard of some people dismantling their current swirl flaps to solve the problem. Literally all they do is remove the flap from the plate and fill the hole up with a screw and some glue or something. I'd be tempted by this but then again for me there is still the possibility of the screw coming loose so you're back to square one. With a proper blanking plate hopefully you should have no problems ever again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bip78 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 From what I could see the 330d's 6x from PMW = £110.81 From BMW Swirl Flaps 6x = £72- No Brainer again I think. I will call my local dealer and ask how much they would charge, then at least we can all make an informed decision Id personally steer away from a simple mod the exsisting ones, I would guess any part that falls in will not be nice to your internals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Only thing im unsure about with the ones I just ordered is that they look like they're made from plastic (obviously not - I hope anyway! lol) as they're that funny matt-black colour. I know the PMW ones are machined from some sort of metal so I was wanting them instead. If the ones I ordered are just spray painted then its a bargain in my book! Also with my car being 2003 - according to PMW it could be wither size so i've had to order 6 of both the 45mm and 55mm sets. Whichever doesn't fit will be returned! Im almost 99.9% sure that it'll be the larger ones on my car but thought its best not to risk it.. Don't want to have to take off the manifold again if i've ordered the wrong ones! lol I'll let you know when I get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul72 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I'm not sure where to go with this one! It looks fairly straight forward from the 'How to' on fitting the aluminium blanks. Surely this has got to be the safest way of removing the potential problem, but then I have seen arguements from other owners reporting MPG drop and more lag at low revs. One to ponder over but not for too long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bip78 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I'm not sure where to go with this one! It looks fairly straight forward from the 'How to' on fitting the aluminium blanks. Surely this has got to be the safest way of removing the potential problem, but then I have seen arguements from other owners reporting MPG drop and more lag at low revs. One to ponder over but not for too long! How would you get drops in MPG and lad on low revs? All the feedback/reports I have heard state no performance effects - the flaps are pure emissions hardware ? aint they lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Tbh i've read things too like Paul72 mentions.. But tbh the only ones i've heard complaining about this are the E39 5-series owners really.. I've heard of a few people complaining about it on latter cars but tbh even if you DO lose a mpg here or there and gain a tad bit of lag, 1st its nothing Colin from CNL or the likes can't sort out and 2nd id rather have that than a £2-6k bill for a new engine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Tbh i've read things too like Paul72 mentions.. But tbh the only ones i've heard complaining about this are the E39 5-series owners really.. I've heard of a few people complaining about it on latter cars but tbh even if you DO lose a mpg here or there and gain a tad bit of lag, 1st its nothing Colin from CNL or the likes can't sort out and 2nd id rather have that than a £2-6k bill for a new engine! I know which one id rather Umm new engine or lose 3bhp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bip78 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I agree completely. Think ill be ordering some once my expenses come through and fitting them myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Boy ACS3d Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 If your doing it yourself, when your removing the inlet manifold make sure you have a towel handy, as you need to cover the inlets to ensure nothing goes down them whilst your doing the job. As it only takes a screw to fall down one of them to bugger your engine, and if anything goes down there is no way of getting it out without stripping the engine! Whilst you have the inlet manifold off it's an ideal time to get some heavy degreaser and clean out all the crud that the EGR valve chucks back in (will also make the engine breath easier and pull better, until it starts to clog up again). If your really doing all this yourself, and have an M57D30 engine, I would seriously recommend fitting an EGR bypass at the same time. This stops all exhaust fumes being recycled into the engine, giving 2 major bonuses: 1 - Colder air being used for combustion, giving more power 2 - Stops your engine blocking up with exhaust crud and reducing power and performance When I fitted mine I also noticed that the turbo kicked in earlier & more smoothly giving a hell of a lot better performance. Again this was due to reduced air temperature in the engine as no hot exhaust fumes were being recycled through the engine. As colder air is now being used, this will also help to extend the life of the turbo. All this for only £45, bargain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Just got my swirl Flap plates through from swirlflaps.co.uk - they're the real deal! Look like they're machined from aluminium or something. VERY lightweight and come painted black. Look like they're good quality so if you're thinking of ordering some, deffo recommend them! Once this damn weather has settled and it stops snowing i'll probably get it booked in with my mates garage to get them fitted. Sorry about the quality (taken on my phone) but here's pics:- I've had to order both sizes for mine as it could be either on a 2003 car. Later models have the larger 55mm flaps. Im pretty sure mine will be the larger plates but got both to be sure.. As above, £130 for the parts or £4k for an engine!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazzo Posted May 20, 2010 Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 If your really doing all this yourself, and have an M57D30 engine, I would seriously recommend fitting an EGR bypass at the same time. Hi Jamesy According to the PDF from PMW only the TU engines are affected. As I have the early 2001 330d (which i believe is the M57D30 engine) so do you think my engine also has these swirl flaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
