Firstly check on:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/
by putting in the last seven digits of your chassis number and looking at the diagram of the inlet manifold. If the swirl flaps are not on the diagram they were not factory fitted to your car. I assumed that my 530d had the swirl flaps, being a 01 model but thankfully it had not, as was confirmed on realoem.
You can feel the diaphragm actuator underneath the inlet manifold. However the flaps may have been already removed and the actuator left in position.
Check out the folowing ad on Done Deal:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1747205
You need to be comfortable with the spanners to fit the blanking plates yourself. Cost about 80 euro on EBay.

 

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1747205
You need to be comfortable with the spanners to fit the blanking plates yourself. Cost about 80 euro on EBay.

The DoneDeal guy is looking for EUR150, I think thats a bit rich IMO.

Seems way OTT pricewise when Aluminium flaps with Viton seals are £6 to £8 a piece on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/33mm-BMW-Swir...acements-/250746100494?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a61a1db0e

 

I thought in late 2004 that BMW improved the design making this nearly a non-issue at that point? I ask as my mothers 535d is a 2005, we had assumed it was "out of the woods" in this regard.
EDIT... hmm, according to that link, the fix is mid-year 2005... confusing.

 

It's common knowledge and a common event on pre 2004 cars they updated the manifold design in sept 2003 and this improved the situation but it still happens it's just not as common , the GF had hers done on her 2005 E90 320d and there was one slightly loose flap , she put in a new manifold instead of blanks , but blanks are fine ,so if you plan on keeping the car for a while I'd still do it , otherwise u could be looking at a very very large bill for a new engine

 

Aren't swirl flaps only on automatic cars?

 

Mine have been inspected and are still in situ. Too many conflicting reports so I'm still not convinced if removal (if undamaged/worn) is necessarily a good thing.



Eh nope!

 

Well Ill be ordering me some blanks very soon, its alot cheaper then a new engine.

http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/?page_id=155

 

On the Realoem diagram for my car it mentions flap contol on the inlet manifold but doesn't show them on theparts list does this mean I dont have them ?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=NC32&mospid=48801&hg=11


..

 

No it only means that BMW doesn't sell the flaps seperate. Just check if you have the actuator. Also if you take the EGR off you can see the actuating rod from the front of the manifold.

 

This or last months Car Mechanics mag has/had a decent article on replacing the swirl flaps in a 530d as well as a few other things. Might be worth a look if ye are thinking of replacing them.

 

My bad sorry!

 

Ah Jaysus Gary we've kids lurking around here!

 

Really! Sorry I thought it was all adults. Didn't think kids would be on a BMW forum. I'll edit it right away

 

Ah i wanna know what was said now

 

ya i didnt have any in my 2003 330d either thankfully mut that was manual aswell

 

first thing i did when i got my 320cd was remove the swirl flaps, had the car about a week and did around 600mls in this time,

have not noticed any difference in performance, fuel use or iding!

if in doubt get them out!

 

if in doubt get them out!

Yep. It's for ease of mind really. The springs desintegrating is fatal.

/M

 

i got mine whipped out too shortly after i got the car and luckily i did one of them was seriously bent and ready to go!!
better safe than forkin out for a new engine!!!

 

I have an 02 Uk import 525d auto, Its in for service next week and thinking of asking garage to remove swirl flaps, I presume it has them fitted, Does anyone know is it a big job or not, Seem to remember somebody saying its not if filter is coming out its no big deal,

 

There is only 2 ways. Either you need a new manifold without swirl-flaps or you need to get blanking plates, which can't be got from BMW. You'd need to get them of ebay or the likes.

/M

 

think it cost me an hours labour afaik

 

I've been talking to a few places and the options seem to be, removing the swirl flaps and putting in a blanking plate or disabling the swirl flaps so they remain open.

Any opinions on which is better, quotes for the work seem to range from 150-250 as its fairly labour intensive. Would rather pay a bit now rather than a lot later.

 

Wouldnt trust 'disabling' them sounds quite unsafe. Either take em out and blank em, or get manifold that does not have them.

Blanking i believe is the most common and cheaper option.

 

Take them out, replace with blanking plates. They're have a use up to around 2K rpm, after that they are fully open.

 

has anyone replaced them or taken them out and noticed or not any difference at all??

 

In terms of warranties where does blanking them leave you?

 

Void on warranty for that part and associated parts.

 

Anyone who knows what they look like from the outside: is my car's M57 engine fitted with Swirl Flaps?

I can't find an actuator.

Here is a photo, with the EGR valve removed:

 

Impossible to say from the picture. The actuator sits back at the bulkhead side underneath right on the corner.
If you're not sure and pass Sandyford Ind. Est. giff me a bell and pop in I'll check it for you (free of charge)

 

take off the engine cover.

on the manifold side where the inlet manifold is, if you put in your hand and see can you fell a metal rod running the lenght of the manifold then you have swirl flaps. no rod -no flaps

 

I bought both sizes of Flaps off ebay for my mams 535d. Havent fitted them yet, but anyone want to buy the size that I dont use? Otherwise I just send them back to the seller (as per his auction) for a refund.

 

I believe the larger size is for all 6 pot diesels and the smaller of the 2 is for 4 pot diesels. So you should have a set left over for any E46/E60 2L diesel models

 

Anyone know if a inlet manifold that didnt have swirl flaps can be fitted to a 530d that has a mani with swirl flaps? If so how much would you expect to pay for a used mani?

 

Yes they can but... Don't bother, just remove them; that way you still have electrical connection to actuator and DDE stays happy.

Kind Regards,
Eddie.
www.bmwcare.com

 

I thought in late 2004 that BMW improved the design making this nearly a non-issue at that point? I ask as my mothers 535d is a 2005, we had assumed it was "out of the woods" in this regard.

 

Um, why is this guy reposting my posts word for word?
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showpost.php?p=266314&postcount=3