[AzRiz]

Bought my E92 330d a couple of months ago and my usual rule would be to do a full service including all filters and engine oil etc. With this car, due to it being on a full BMW Service Schedule, I made the assumption that it would be Ok since it was last serviced in August. 37.5k mileage.

However, yesterday I decided to have a quick look at the air filter just for the hell of it, and was shocked at what I found when I lifted it out. Filter was clogged to death, with lots of leaves/debris and cigarette butts stuck to it. The suffocation must have had the turbo working its ass off to get the air through to the poor engine...

I replaced the filter immediately as I had one from a purchase a few weeks ago and vacuumed out the bottom of the air box to remove the grit and stones. Feel annoyed at myself for not sticking to my usual rules of checking everything myself.

Car now feels more lively (I was feeling a tiny bit underwhelmed by the performance of this engine before) and economy seems to have improved a small amount, too. I am going to do a full service this weekend with an oil change, replacement of oil filter, and also the fuel filter.

Just goes to show that most dealership service technicians are as much a bunch of monkeys as a dodgy back-alley garage and should never be trusted to go anywhere near a car!

Pic is attached.

[AWBimmer]

Damn that's shocking! At least you've replaced it now.

[Icekube]

mine was exactly the same, bought the car at 180k with a full main dealer service history, with the last service done at 175k, and the filter was just as bad as yours

(my fuel filter was also horrendous, i could bearly blow through it, so if you haven't changed that, I would get that swapped out too)

[330d xdrive Scotty]

Did you buy it from Vardy in Edinburgh - http://www.petervardybmw.co.uk/approved-used-bmw/

At Peter Vardy our qualified technichians go a long way to ensure all our vehicles meet the standard of an Apporved Used BMW. We want you to have complete peace of mind when buying with us and carry out independant milage and history checks. As a guarntee of the level of quality all Approved Used BMW's come with 12 months unlimited milage warranty, emergency service cover and MOT cover.

[Icekube]

I didn't, no. Do you work there?

Given the amount of effort it takes to get to a 320D air filter, I'm not surprised that the BMW techs cant be arsed doing it....

what were they thinking when they buried such a common service item in the depths of the engine bay....

[AzRiz]

Originally Posted by AWBimmer

Damn that's shocking! At least you've replaced it now.

Yeah man, looking forward to dropping the oil out for some fresh golden oil and replacing the oil+fuel filters.

So are you back from holiday now? How was it? I could tell that you were loving it out there :P

Originally Posted by Icekube

mine was exactly the same, bought the car at 180k with a full main dealer service history, with the last service done at 175k, and the filter was just as bad as yours

(my fuel filter was also horrendous, i could bearly blow through it, so if you haven't changed that, I would get that swapped out too)

Yeah it's absolutely disgraceful to be honest, people trust the "technicians" at stealerships way too easily!

Thanks for the tip on the fuel filter, this is definitely on the list already as I'm not leaving it to chance!

Originally Posted by new 335d m sport owner

Did you buy it from Vardy in Edinburgh - http://www.petervardybmw.co.uk/approved-used-bmw/

At Peter Vardy our qualified technichians go a long way to ensure all our vehicles meet the standard of an Apporved Used BMW. We want you to have complete peace of mind when buying with us and carry out independant milage and history checks. As a guarntee of the level of quality all Approved Used BMW's come with 12 months unlimited milage warranty, emergency service cover and MOT cover.

LoL! Best plug ever. Thing is, every dealership says this same thing unfortunately

[Ajerthan]

Say facked.

[Alex.J]

Originally Posted by Icekube

I didn't, no. Do you work there?

Given the amount of effort it takes to get to a 320D air filter, I'm not surprised that the BMW techs cant be arsed doing it....

what were they thinking when they buried such a common service item in the depths of the engine bay....

The above is the n47 engine air filter and is really easy to get to!

So its not even an excuse they can use, the m47 filter as in the most horrendous place ever!

[Black Steel]

Checked out my air filter the other day. It was exactly in the same con as the one shown in the pic!

Inside the air filter box/housing were leaves, twiggs and dirt (can't figure out how so much got in there?)

Yet the car had a major service around 6 months ago!

I decided to replace the standard filter with a K&N performance filter, so far so good and the motor seems to be running better.

I wonder whether by fitting this filter (as it's claimed),that it does actually increase the power slightly?

[AzRiz]

Originally Posted by Ajerthan

Say facked.

Yeahhh pretty much.

Originally Posted by Alex.J

The above is the n47 engine air filter and is really easy to get to!

So its not even an excuse they can use, the m47 filter as in the most horrendous place ever!

N57, no? But yeah, I'm so glad I don't have the M57n2 or M47 lol.

Originally Posted by Black Steel

Checked out my air filter the other day. It was exactly in the same con as the one shown in the pic!

Inside the air filter box/housing were leaves, twiggs and dirt (can't figure out how so much got in there?)

Yet the car had a major service around 6 months ago!

I decided to replace the standard filter with a K&N performance filter, so far so good and the motor seems to be running better.

I wonder whether by fitting this filter (as it's claimed),that it does actually increase the power slightly?

6 months ago? More negligence and lazy 'workmanship' by whoever 'serviced' it.

Power would probably increase a small amount as it does on many cars, but it would not really be noticeable by the driver/passengers. A remap, however, would make more significant use of it where the power gains would probably be seen on the dyno. Mainly in the higher end of the rev range.

[Black Steel]

Originally Posted by AzRiz

Yeahhh pretty much.


N57, no? But yeah, I'm so glad I don't have the M57n2 or M47 lol.


6 months ago? More negligence and lazy 'workmanship' by whoever 'serviced' it.

Power would probably increase a small amount as it does on many cars, but it would not really be noticeable by the driver/passengers. A remap, however, would make more significant use of it where the power gains would probably be seen on the dyno. Mainly in the higher end of the rev range.

I'm seriously thinking about a remap or fitting a tuning box, as these could increase the power to another 25-35 bhp.

I'm going to start saving!

[Kuroblack]

Originally Posted by AzRiz

However, yesterday I decided to have a quick look at the air filter just for the hell of it, and was shocked at what I found when I lifted it out...

Top stuff, do you fancy doing a quick idiots guide (presume there isn't one already?)

Wouldn't mind swapping mine out if it's a simple job, how much would I be looking at for the filter?

Presume all 330d's regardless of age will be very similar?

[regy53]

looked at mine earlier, identical to this also.

[AzRiz]

Originally Posted by Kuroblack

Top stuff, do you fancy doing a quick idiots guide (presume there isn't one already?)

Wouldn't mind swapping mine out if it's a simple job, how much would I be looking at for the filter?

Presume all 330d's regardless of age will be very similar?

Hey man, unfortunately pre-LCI 330ds are a PITA to access the air filter, whereas the LCI 2010+ N57 engine are a 2-minute job. Which one have you got? What year?

Originally Posted by regy53

looked at mine earlier, identical to this also.

Was yours last serviced by BMW or someone else?

[Black Steel]

Originally Posted by Kuroblack

Top stuff, do you fancy doing a quick idiots guide (presume there isn't one already?)

Wouldn't mind swapping mine out if it's a simple job, how much would I be looking at for the filter?

Presume all 330d's regardless of age will be very similar?

Yes it's a very simple job, should'nt be more than 10-15 mins max and that included cleaning all the shite from the box/housing area.

I got mine from fleabay, cost me £40. Not to sure though, whether the 330d filter is the same as the 320d? You need to shop around for the best price obviously, as you'd be amazed how it varies (£40 -£65).