[Rustic_potato]

Guys,
I was planning to check and if needed clean out the intake valves in my 335i that i got a few months back.
It has 100k+ miles on it but I don't know if it has been walnut blasted/cleaned before.

My questions:
walnut blasting vs cleaning with brushes rags and carb cleaners : other than the extra effort required with manually cleaning them is there any other disadvantages?

The one question that I could almost never find my answer online : How long does it take to access the intake valves? An approximate range for a new person getting involved with cars please.


Also appreciate any possible tips to help/ tips to follow during the DIY procedure: It is going to be my first DIY on my beast and I'm really looking forward to it!

[BashShah]

Experience is your skill and tool set.....and how often you will read the manual or watch a video before doing a step.

Allow yoursrlf the day.
Enjoy it, of you get done early.

To get to the intake ports, first time, average knowledge.
About 1.5 hours.....at the most.....that's pushing it.
And no breaks....or opps...

Indy and shops charge 4 hours for proper walnut blast.
Get it done via walnut blast.

DN

[Rustic_potato]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Experience is your skill and tool set.....and how often you will read the manual or watch a video before doing a step.

Allow yoursrlf the day.
Enjoy it, of you get done early.

To get to the intake ports, first time, average knowledge.
About 1.5 hours.....at the most.....that's pushing it.
And no breaks....or opps...

Indy and shops charge 4 hours for proper walnut blast.
Get it done via walnut blast.

DN

Thing is, I do not know if my previous owner has taken care of the intake valves, I don't want to spend cash for them to inspect it. My idea was to have a look at the intake valves, if it looks just a bit bad, I'd run down to a store get some supplies can clean it out myself. If it looks bad, I'd put it back together and take it for walnut blasting ..

[BashShah]

Originally Posted by Vignesh_335i

Thing is, I do not know if my previous owner has taken care of the intake valves, I don't want to spend cash for them to inspect it. My idea was to have a look at the intake valves, if it looks just a bit bad, I'd run down to a store get some supplies can clean it out myself. If it looks bad, I'd put it back together and take it for walnut blasting ..

Then don't take is apart just to inspect it.
Get a hour diagnostic and have someone reputable do a borescope of each intake port.
They could even get you pictures of what it looks like.
Borescope - camera with led light at the end of a fish wire.....digital pictures....bonus.

DN

[Rustic_potato]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Then don't take is apart just to inspect it.
Get a hour diagnostic and have someone reputable do a borescope of each intake port.
They could even get you pictures of what it looks like.
Borescope - camera with led light at the end of a fish wire.....digital pictures....bonus.

DN

I found a guy whos gonna charge me 300 for walnut blasting and 100 if we realise that the intake valves are clean enough and walnut blasting is not required

[BashShah]

Originally Posted by Vignesh_335i

I found a guy whos gonna charge me 300 for walnut blasting and 100 if we realise that the intake valves are clean enough and walnut blasting is not required

Take it, its a good deal.
Don't forget to get new gaskets for the intake manifold.
Just get them, they are cheap.

DN

[Sgop335]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Take it, its a good deal.
Don't forget to get new gaskets for the intake manifold.
Just get them, they are cheap.

DN

DN, can one diy a borescope and check intake valves? How much these borescopes cost?

[BashShah]

Harbor Freight tool.
69.99 + your labour and time, and you well probably never use it again.

Better to go to a shop and have then do it

If your guy is charging you a 100, take it, don't cheap or on this.

DN

[Rustic_potato]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Harbor Freight tool.
69.99 + your labour and time, and you well probably never use it again.

Better to go to a shop and have then do it

If your guy is charging you a 100, take it, don't cheap or on this.

DN

Gotcha! Thanks bud

[Abax335]

Even if the carbon blasting has been done there is nothing stopping it from happening again so might be better off. But there is a test in the BMW diag equipment that test the "intake coking" and weather it should be performed.

My suggestion do not try cleaning it yourself, will spend hours and probably score the valves when the carbon blasting takes maybe 5 minutes a cylinder.

How does it feel at idle and light acceleration? If it is a little rough and a slight hesitation bucking during accel probably can use it ( not saying those are the only things that cause that ) but common enough if you don't have faults

[Rustic_potato]

Originally Posted by Abax335

Even if the carbon blasting has been done there is nothing stopping it from happening again so might be better off. But there is a test in the BMW diag equipment that test the "intake coking" and weather it should be performed.

My suggestion do not try cleaning it yourself, will spend hours and probably score the valves when the carbon blasting takes maybe 5 minutes a cylinder.

How does it feel at idle and light acceleration? If it is a little rough and a slight hesitation bucking during accel probably can use it ( not saying those are the only things that cause that ) but common enough if you don't have faults

It's good at idle, but I believe there's room for improvement. Anyways I've got a friend who's offered to take apart the intake manifold for 100 bucks and if needed , walnut blast it fro an additional 200

Decided to have a look at it to know for myself

[Abax335]

Pretty good deal. It's not hard at all to remove. I've charged 300 myself to do it