Walnut Blasting

fructus · 05-03-2016, 10:28 AM

I have a quick question about the walnut blasting.
My car (N55 e90 '11 335i Xdrive currently at 50K miles) was in service at Circle BMW and I was trying to assess the need for carbon cleaning.
The outcome was the SA telling me that they have run my vin through the system and that this service is not required for my car and would be a waste of money. This contradicts everything I have heard and read before. Does that make any sense to anybody?
Thanks.

3.1L Z · 05-03-2016, 07:25 PM

Well, the N55 is "suppose to" have less carbon build up than the N54. Not necessary is really an opinion. How is the power? Is there any reason based on the performance of the car you need it done? Are you trying to get it done under warranty? (That won't happen without any symptoms.) Won't hurt to get it done...

CantCatchMe · 05-03-2016, 08:15 PM

My friend is a BMW tech and he claims every 70-80k miles is okay to get it done. I'll take his word for it since he messes with N55's at work.

fructus · 05-03-2016, 09:11 PM

The power seems to be fine, but I've had some occasional engine cutoff issues at 5,000 RPM in second gear at WOT. From the forums I've gathered that it could be related to either carbon build up or the throttle body. So based on that I wanted to see if they would cover it under CPO. But I'm not entirely opposed to pay for it myself. I was just surprised at their insistence that it's not necessary at all.

vivanapoli806 · 05-03-2016, 10:21 PM

N55 will still have carbon build up just not as bad as the n54. All direct injection engines will get it and will need to be blasted eventually. No way around that

Turbod · 05-03-2016, 11:18 PM

I had mine done at 50k while I was installing meth. It did not need to be done at all. I would wait until 80k or so to do it.

weehe126 · 05-04-2016, 08:02 AM

Did mine at 80k miles and it needed to be done. However, the pcv valve went bad in my VG and most likely cause the build-up as it was only on the right side valve. If the valve didn't go I would have been good till 100k.

slickBB1 · 05-04-2016, 09:39 AM

I have an '11 335xi as well. Had mine done at 50k and they were not bad at all.

fructus · 05-04-2016, 10:31 AM

Thank you everyone. I guess I'll hold off for now and see if the cutoff issue persists.

05-03-2016, 10:28 AM	#1
fructus Private First Class 16 Rep 116 Posts Drives: '11 335i Xdrive M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (2)	Walnut Blasting I have a quick question about the walnut blasting. My car (N55 e90 '11 335i Xdrive currently at 50K miles) was in service at Circle BMW and I was trying to assess the need for carbon cleaning. The outcome was the SA telling me that they have run my vin through the system and that this service is not required for my car and would be a waste of money. This contradicts everything I have heard and read before. Does that make any sense to anybody? Thanks.
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05-03-2016, 07:25 PM	#2
3.1L Z Private First Class 26 Rep 186 Posts Drives: '09 E92, Cobb AP Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (0)	Well, the N55 is "suppose to" have less carbon build up than the N54. Not necessary is really an opinion. How is the power? Is there any reason based on the performance of the car you need it done? Are you trying to get it done under warranty? (That won't happen without any symptoms.) Won't hurt to get it done... __________________ '11 E92, MSport 3 Pedal 3.1L Stroker Z
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05-03-2016, 08:15 PM	#3
CantCatchMe Lieutenant Colonel 340 Rep 1,744 Posts Drives: 2012 335i xdrive msport(E92) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: West Bloomfield, MI iTrader: (2)	My friend is a BMW tech and he claims every 70-80k miles is okay to get it done. I'll take his word for it since he messes with N55's at work.
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05-03-2016, 09:11 PM	#4
fructus Private First Class 16 Rep 116 Posts Drives: '11 335i Xdrive M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (2)	The power seems to be fine, but I've had some occasional engine cutoff issues at 5,000 RPM in second gear at WOT. From the forums I've gathered that it could be related to either carbon build up or the throttle body. So based on that I wanted to see if they would cover it under CPO. But I'm not entirely opposed to pay for it myself. I was just surprised at their insistence that it's not necessary at all.
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05-03-2016, 10:21 PM	#5
vivanapoli806 Captain 88 Rep 824 Posts Drives: 2012 535i Xdrive Msport Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (2)	N55 will still have carbon build up just not as bad as the n54. All direct injection engines will get it and will need to be blasted eventually. No way around that
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05-03-2016, 11:18 PM	#6
Turbod Major 396 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2014 E84 X1 35i M Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0)	I had mine done at 50k while I was installing meth. It did not need to be done at all. I would wait until 80k or so to do it. __________________ 2011 E92 335i \| 11.7@125 SOLD 2017 Camaro SS \| 12.7@114 SOLD 2019 Audi TT RS \| 10.5@130 SOLD 2020 F97 X3M \| 11.0@123 2023 G80 M3 xDrive
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05-04-2016, 08:02 AM	#7
weehe126 Brigadier General 1161 Rep 3,189 Posts Drives: 2017 340i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (2)	Did mine at 80k miles and it needed to be done. However, the pcv valve went bad in my VG and most likely cause the build-up as it was only on the right side valve. If the valve didn't go I would have been good till 100k.
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05-04-2016, 09:39 AM	#8
slickBB1 Private 7 Rep 55 Posts Drives: '11 BMW 335i x-Drive Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	I have an '11 335xi as well. Had mine done at 50k and they were not bad at all. Attached Images
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05-04-2016, 10:31 AM	#9
fructus Private First Class 16 Rep 116 Posts Drives: '11 335i Xdrive M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (2)	Thank you everyone. I guess I'll hold off for now and see if the cutoff issue persists.
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