E92 330D LCI swirl flaps , what i need to know ?

E92 330D LCI swirl flaps , what i need to know ?

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Discussion

celebration608

Original Poster:

17 posts

87 months

Monday 4th September 2017
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Hi all,

iv recently bought my first BMW after years of coveting the e92 coupes, i finally found myself in the position to afford my dream spec of metallic mineral white paint ivory leather sun roof and bamboo wood with the logic 7 stereo. Now i find myself wanting to keep this low mileage example in the best order possible. Deleting the swirl flaps is something i have heard of but not sure of the pros and cons ......


Any opinions or advice or recommendations appreciated

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Monday 4th September 2017
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What age is it? (Last seven digits of chassis no would be even better). This is to identify what engine it has and swirl flap solution.

Mike-tf3n0

573 posts

89 months

Monday 4th September 2017
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I have an E39 530d facelift and deleted the swirl flaps about 4 years ago after hearing all the horror stories. Absolutely no difference at all to drive when hot, tiny - and I really do mean tiny - flat spot for the first quarter mile or less when cold and it has sailed through it's subsequent MOTs without any problem or comment. Later cars don't have them and there are 2 different sizes for those that do so do the research first!

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
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Removing flaps will make no difference to the car's performance. If you need blanks go for metal ones.

celebration608

Original Poster:

17 posts

87 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
quotequote all
i will grab the last 7 of the vin while on lunch. Im genuinely not to fussed about performance the car is quick enough as is at 245hp and ball park 600nm if i remember right. didn't buy it for that i bought it to enjoy the experience and set up from factory . but do find the sport mode of the auto box better ( my personal opinion ). last night i was given 22mm flap blanks by a friend who owns a work shop but these were from a pre lci estate i understand that to be the old engine . where as i think mines ins the newer engine .Excuse the vagueness im better versed in Honda so BMW is a whole other language to me just now.

Kuroblack350

1,385 posts

207 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
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celebration608 said:
i will grab the last 7 of the vin while on lunch. Im genuinely not to fussed about performance the car is quick enough as is at 245hp and ball park 600nm if i remember right. didn't buy it for that i bought it to enjoy the experience and set up from factory . but do find the sport mode of the auto box better ( my personal opinion ). last night i was given 22mm flap blanks by a friend who owns a work shop but these were from a pre lci estate i understand that to be the old engine . where as i think mines ins the newer engine .Excuse the vagueness im better versed in Honda so BMW is a whole other language to me just now.
They are very reliable cars, my E92 330d has covered 92k, 85k on my watch and has been a great experience, but not without one or two glitches. I had the EGR and EGR cooler replaced under warranty at 45k, and have just had the inlet manifold replaced (including swirl flaps obviously) as well as the EGR valve and a glow plug controller after a fairly unassuming Check Engine came on the other week. (2k plus, covered under extended warranty)

This is a car that's covered 92k in 6 years, mainly motorway, never used on short journeys, serviced religiously and running V Power for the last 60k smile

I guess my point is they do develop problems, especially in this area, my swirl flaps were coked up pretty badly, and that's despite the motorway use and not hanging about. It may be worth looking at regular inspection, regardless of blanking them off.

iSore

4,011 posts

151 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
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The N47 and N57 have a different swirl flap set up to the old engines. They are now on a common longitudinal shaft (Ford style) and give less trouble. But over time, the shaft wears out where it passes through the manifold (Ford style...) and in extremis, the shaft can snap when the inlet ports get too clogged up with carbon. Flaps won't fall in but without any air being able to enter the cylinder, it'll just keep pumping in diesel.

It's worth having it all removed and the end hole blocked off behind the actuator motor. After you've done this and cleaned all the black death out of the manifold you will notice it goes a bit better.

Depending on where you are, I can probably recommend a good garage to do it for you.

celebration608

Original Poster:

17 posts

87 months

Monday 11th September 2017
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i checked over the weekend ( one day off in 12 ) i have an n57 Im in glasgow if you know anywhere good i was considering eco tune or automeck ?

Tony B2

657 posts

182 months

Monday 7th October
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Kuroblack350 said:
They are very reliable cars, my E92 330d has covered 92k, 85k on my watch and has been a great experience, but not without one or two glitches. I had the EGR and EGR cooler replaced under warranty at 45k, and have just had the inlet manifold replaced (including swirl flaps obviously) as well as the EGR valve and a glow plug controller after a fairly unassuming Check Engine came on the other week. (2k plus, covered under extended warranty)

This is a car that's covered 92k in 6 years, mainly motorway, never used on short journeys, serviced religiously and running V Power for the last 60k smile

I guess my point is they do develop problems, especially in this area, my swirl flaps were coked up pretty badly, and that's despite the motorway use and not hanging about. It may be worth looking at regular inspection, regardless of blanking them off.
Thread resurrection time!

I have exactly the same problem on my E91 330D, and I have the BMW extended warranty in place, Comprehensive cover. This cover includes "wear and tear", but now Mondial (warranty administrators) are saying the problem is not covered by the warranty.

Car is on 64k (owned since 6k), full BMW service history.

Did you have to push for them to cover it, or was there no question regarding the claim?

Kuroblack350

1,385 posts

207 months

Monday 7th October
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Hi Tony,
I too had the Comprehensive Warranty and everything was covered, horrendous bill but no issue with Lloyd Blackpool. It's worth doing a search as another chap contacted me about the same issue a couple of years ago - I ended up finding the service invoice and if I remember rightly he even travelled to Lloyd Blackpool to get similar work done with success.

What sort of miles are you on, it may be that they're applying some sort of adjustment factor if you're on higher miles. I can't remember when I got mine addressed, but based on the thread above it was before 85k.

Sadly sold now, 145k when she went - one of the best cars I've owned smile

Tony B2

657 posts

182 months

Monday 7th October
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Kuroblack350 said:
Hi Tony,
I too had the Comprehensive Warranty and everything was covered, horrendous bill but no issue with Lloyd Blackpool. It's worth doing a search as another chap contacted me about the same issue a couple of years ago - I ended up finding the service invoice and if I remember rightly he even travelled to Lloyd Blackpool to get similar work done with success.

What sort of miles are you on, it may be that they're applying some sort of adjustment factor if you're on higher miles. I can't remember when I got mine addressed, but based on the thread above it was before 85k.

Sadly sold now, 145k when she went - one of the best cars I've owned smile
Hi - thanks very much for coming back to me so quickly.

Very interesting!

The car is on about 66k miles currently. Full service history with BMW dealer (local) who looked at the car in April, when I complained of the symptoms which are still apparent now - higher fuel consumption, very low cat temperatures (from the BMW Drive Analyser app) and somewhat lethargic performance (i.e. it needs more accelerator input than before).

I am convinced that the EGR valve is the root cause, but "computer says no".

They changed the main thermostat, 5 glow plugs and the GP control unit in April but I really cannot detect any difference since then.


Edited by Tony B2 on Monday 7th October 16:31


Edited by Tony B2 on Monday 7th October 16:31