ben m Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Well, after reading this thread I thought I'd check to see if my valve actually moved, surprise surprise, it was stuck solid! I gave it a few taps, and then a few harder taps and it was so jammed up that the butterfly actually bent backwards, leaving the left-hand side in place. I managed to solve this by smacking the join from the spindle to the valve until it actually came off, then I was able to extract it with some long-nosed pliers. Just thought I'd post this incase anyone else got stuck this way! I tried this and I actually cannot get it off!! I went nuts with a rubber mallet and chisels and it will not budge from the spinel. Although the right side does bend backwards! Anyone have any tips? Managed to do it, more brute force and ignorance was required! Edited February 21, 2013 by ben m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_F Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 ill be doing this mod at the weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calum001 Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 just thought i'd share with the masses that my 2005 325ci m sport doesn't have it either...........unfortunately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compactciaran Posted May 22, 2013 Report Share Posted May 22, 2013 Had a look under the rear of my 325ti at the weekend and could not find anything. It's soooo quiet! Hardly any decent back box's for the Compact (that aren't ££££) on the market! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimraynn Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 With the engine off the valve will be open. Engine on = vacuum. Vacuum = shut. And vice versa. The valve will then open at high revs, speed should have nothing to do with it. Mine is currently shut with the engine off and cold. I take it this isn't right? If I poke my finger in and try to move it, it won't budge... Also, I couldn't find the vacuum hose, unless I'm looking in the wrong place. Where abouts should I be looking in relation to the tail pipe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimraynn Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Well I did some googling and saw some people had found theirs was siezed and took to it with a screwdriver/chisel and a hammer to free it... so I found the vacuum pipe, plugged it with a screw... then took to the flap and it was so bad that I managed to bend it to start with, and eventually, the whole thing just snapped off No matter though as I'm happy with the sound now, and I was planning on getting an aftermarket exhaust fitted anyway... this may have saved me a few pennies for at least a little while Rebel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 I reversed mine very soon after doing it as the drone annoyed me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bram Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 I'm sure the exhaust is new on my car as it's mint, the flap moved so easy - so plugged the pipe and it sounds better than before. The pipe on the actuator can be tight but if you lightly grab it with some long nose pliers and turn side to side it comes off easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonBarber Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Just to say thank you for showing me this mod. I found my exhaust valve stuck shut, so I freed it up with WD40 and found the link arm had come loose from the valve lever. I replaced it and then plugged the vacuum hose. Sounds much better now! Thanks Again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bargain Bucket Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 I too found mine stuck. The flap is now removed which I'm happy with but I was concerned at why it got stuck. Plainly it wasn't being operated hence it seized. So either the car hadn't been used in the upper rev range for ages or the valve wasn't being operated for other reasons. I eventually tracked down the hose from the back of the inlet manifold to the vacuum reservoir had perished. It hadn't split but was crumbling and leaking. Worth checking folks as it's a vacuum leak that affects engine operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 My flap doesn't seem to close when the engine is running despite being able to freely push it closed. Maybe the pipe has a split or is perished... is that a concern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Nope, take it out IMO lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 My flap doesn't seem to close when the engine is running despite being able to freely push it closed. Maybe the pipe has a split or is perished... is that a concern? The valve remains open when the car is at idle but as you pull off the valve closes to keep the sound level low. I believe it opens up again at around 3 or 3.5k revs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telboy63 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Just done mine ..ended up removing it in the end it was stuck solid there was a hell of a lot of soot behind is pipe was blocked could have filled half a coke can ...defiantly sounds better at just under 2 k rpm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirate1066 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 mine was free to move and mint removed pipe and plugged it, exhuast still sounds like a pussy but its all coming off when the blower goes on enyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren4 Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Did mine last night and took about 2 mins after picking what colour screw to use lol. Defo sounds a lot better and feels much better low down the revs. Great mod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan ATR Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) Why do manufacuts put stupid annoying things like this on cars... Just an engine which is reliable and solid works well for me. Less to go wrong imo. Edited September 8, 2014 by Dan ATR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty02uk Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 because of German government noise restrictions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FLotraxx Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 because of German government stupid noise restrictions corrected it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtidaz Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Is this mod relevant to a diesel with the stock downfacing exit pipes? (05 330 CD) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husskid330i Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hello I know this is an old post but I need help, my 330i auto is annoyingly loud and I just realised the valve i stuck open! I tried to close it but it's stuck and I don't want to push hard just in case I might break it, the owner before me was an old lady and I doubt she done what you did so my guess is that it's suck, should I spray WD40? Or what? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_h Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hello I know this is an old post but I need help, my 330i auto is annoyingly loud and I just realised the valve i stuck open! I tried to close it but it's stuck and I don't want to push hard just in case I might break it, the owner before me was an old lady and I doubt she done what you did so my guess is that it's suck, should I spray WD40? Or what? Thanks You can pull the right exhaust tip off which will give you better access, i would try penetrating fluid on it once removed. Mine was also seized but in the shut position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBrog Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Mine is also seized in the open position-too much of a drone for me- or am I now old at 44? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan53 Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 i am older and have done it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacon Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 Me too and sounds sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
