[rsmallwo]

Hi All,

Should I be concerned about the Swirl Flaps on my 335d failing and destroying my engine?

My car is a 08/2006 build with 74k on the clock.

Going here:
http://www.swirlflaps.co.uk/

and my local indy:

http://www.autologichessle.co.uk/swirl_flaps.phtml

I might be worried.

Here doesn't point to my car though:

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

Checked realoem and my car does have some fitted but will be the newer plastic only type.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=11&fg=40

Anyone had this fail on a 335d, anyone had them "blanked out" on a 335d, if so how much does it cost.

Thanks

[dxb335d]

Its a E46 320d problem.

[toxicnerve]

Does the 35d engine even have swirl flaps?

[rsmallwo]

Apparently it does have swirl flaps

see here, http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=11&fg=40

Part no: 01

Those other links I've provided point to 6cyl aswell as 4cyl. Some are quoting that the 2004 revisions to plastic flaps still results in some failures alber of less frequency

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Its a E46 320d problem.

That's not what the blurb says? they reckon it can affect all BMW diesels from 2001, 4 and 6 cyl - or is that marketing BS?

There was an article in last months BMWCC mag about it, if you got em - blank 'em!

The swirlflap website lists the models affected, including 535d and 635d, but not 335d, but do they have the same engine??

[rsmallwo]

I know doughboy, abit confusing isn't it.

[creepy coupe]

The 330d from the E46 ingests its own flaps (sounds pervy, I have a friend who's has done just that.

[Dr Dave]

I was confused about all this flap stuff back along but I then stopped giving a fuck about it all!

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Its a E46 320d problem.

I beg to differ.

I understand it is more of a problem with the sixes rather than the fours, but they have had problems too. I speak from experience with the 5 series E60/61where the modified flaps were fitted from 2004 on. They aren't plastic, but are brass (?) covered in a rubber gasket. The modification included spindles 0.5mm larger diameter than the earlier flaps. My car is a 2004, with later spindles, but for peace of mind and for want of an hour or so to do the job, I removed the flaps. Performance (on a 530d) was unaffected, as was driveability and (according to my MOT station) emissions were unaffected too. The only difference I found was slightly better fuel consumption. Speaking to a fellow forum-ite last week, he has had better fuel consumption ex-flaps on his E90 320d.

Certainly on 5 serries cars, there have been many, many replaced - just ask the likes of PMW - they wouldn't be in the business of manufacturing the blanks if it was all scaremongering. Admittedly, there doesn't seem to be as much said on the 3 series forums as on the 5 series forums - possibly because a higher percentage of diesel 5ers are six cylinder, rather than fours.

So back to the OP - yes, your 335d will have the dreaded flaps. I would suggest that as you are out of warranty, get them thrown away!

BTW - if you look, with the aid of a mirror, on the right side of the engine, next to the block, under the inlets (no need to take any covers off), you should (just) see the flaps operating arm that runs the length of the engine to the actuator at the rear.

I'm looking at getting a 335d E91 very soon, hence my presence on the forum, and one of the first things to happen is the swirl flaps will be binned.

Mike

[toxicnerve]

Interesting post Alwyn,

If I choose not to extend my warranty I guess removal of the flaps is essential.

Heaven forbid the engine decides it eat them for lunch!

[rsmallwo]

How much we looking at to remove my intake flaps.......hehe

Serious, how much labour/blanking plates ££

Thanks

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by rsmallwo

How much we looking at to remove my intake flaps.......hehe

Serious, how much labour/blanking plates ££

Thanks

I am guessing here.
For the 5er, there are two sizes of blanking plugs. I understand that most suppliers will supply both types and refund for the unused set. PMW charge £9 + VAT each for the plugs, although there are others cheaper. BMWLand has an informative article on Swirl Flaps, including engine types that are affected.
I would imagine a non-specialist would take about 1.5 hours to replace the flaps - knock off half an hour for someone who's done it before.

When I did mine, it took me about 2.5 hours, but I went the cheapskate route and just removed the flaps and spindles, plugging the spindle holes with a suitably sized and sealed bolt, so mine cost a couple of pence for the bolts and about 20p worth of Loctite that I had in the garage anyway. (When the spindles are removed - the screws that are supposed to hold the flaps to the spindle have to be filed/ground off - the bush that the spindles run in has to be tapped to the same thread as the bolt. The bolt is then sealed with Loctite and screwed in from the outside, so there is no possibility that the bolt can drop into the engine and do the same damage as a swirl flap!). The actuator and mechanism remains on the car, so the ECU doesn't see anything missing - unplug the actuator and an error code will result. With the manifold off, you take the opportunity to clean the EGR valve and inspect everything else that is normally covered up!

Mike

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Interesting post Alwyn,

If I choose not to extend my warranty I guess removal of the flaps is essential.

Heaven forbid the engine decides it eat them for lunch!

My car is still under Warranty (with Warranty Direct), but I consider the removal of the flaps preventative maintenance. Sods Law dictates that if it throws a flap, it will be at the most inconvenient time imaginable - probably late at night, on a motorway, pulling the caravan, heading towards a Ferry. You get my drift!

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

My car is still under Warranty (with Warranty Direct), but I consider the removal of the flaps preventative maintenance. Sods Law dictates that if it throws a flap, it will be at the most inconvenient time imaginable - probably late at night, on a motorway, pulling the caravan, heading towards a Ferry. You get my drift!

If you have an issue and they find the flaps have been removed will they honour the warranty?

[MattOz]

It's a BMW diesel "problem" and I've had a 330d ingest a flap in the past. Luckily the car was still covered by BMW warranty as it needed 1 piston, a head, 24 valves and new inlet manifold. wouldn't have been cheap.

I've de-flapped my current 330cd and would recommend it to anyone. Used the PMW blankers and the car is quieter at idle without the 6 flaps rattling away and it also revs more cleanly and quickly.

Matt

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

If you have an issue and they find the flaps have been removed will they honour the warranty?

Who knows!!
With all the negative publicity about these Insurance based warranty's, would they pay out anyway???

I would imagine that if any problem was due to the lack of flaps, then fairy nuff, they don't pay out. Nothing I have read anywhere or spoken about has been negative as regards flap removal.

There is enough evidence around that flap removal is not a bad thing, and could be viewed as being "warranty friendly" as it is one less thing to go wrong.

On my 335d - whenever I get one - I will leave the flaps until it is out of BMW warranty (assuming I get one less than 3 years old), then they are gone!

[Ant Man]

Pls do not buy them from swirlflaps. PMW in Chelmsford were originators of this product and those slimey swirly bastards bought all the different types from PMW, copied them and started selling them online

They offer no technical back up and actually make effing dental products so they must be short of work and thought they would rip off someone else's idea and make easier money

[zeroXTC]

I removed the swirls on my 320D, E90. They looked good when removed except 1 of them had a screw a bit loose, that woudl eventually get sucked into the engine i reckon. Just get them removed for peace of mind?

[EssexIan]

Hi All,

PMW removed swirl flaps and fitted blanking plugs to my 335D, all in cost was les than £200, £186 I think. Can feel no difference in the way the car drives or behaves, not sure it is any more economical but certainly no worse.

I believe some of the blanking plugs out there are of dubious quality, stick with buying them from PMW, they are a very high quality item.

Ian

[dxb335d]

Never heard of them going on a 335d. Considering it supposedly has them.

[ram33]

im sure i read in a bmw mag last week that the e90 series has modded flaps that are to big to get sucked in

[zeroXTC]

True the new version do have modded flaps that a a bit bigger, 0.5 mm so they cant get sucked in, but the screws can, and they can do ALOT of damage.