[radion_auto]

Hi guys,

I’ve just bought an 09 e92 330d with the n57 engine. All seemed well when I bought it, but the next day I noticed some rough running from idle when cold. After about 30 seconds this clears and the car drives fantastically, but initially it sounds like it’s missing and there’s lots of vibration.

I’ve done some reading and apparently these issues are really common, I guessed it would be EGR or glow plugs, or something like that. No codes showed on my OBD reader so I spent a considerable amount of time installing INPA and got a diagnostic cable.

I’ve got some typical fault codes:

MOSTGW A169 20
DME/DDE 49A5 61
DME/DDE 4E0F 21
DME/DDE 4A74 21
DME/DDE 4A79 21
DME/DDE 4DFF 21
DME/DDE 4E09 21

The first of these is something nonsensey regarding the stereo which I’m not too concerned about. The DDE errors regarding the preheating module and swirl flaps (3 codes each).

From what I’ve read the preheating module is a common failure and could cause rough running from cold, so I’ll get that swapped over. The failures are communication fault and module missing.

The swirl flap codes are plausibility and position control errors. Unsure the best way to tackle these, is it a case of getting the inlet manifold off and cleaning all the carbon build up, or am I better off removing these and buying a blanking kit?

Anything I’ve missed here? Seems a real common problem

[Andy198712]

I had those last two on your list.

The EGR one is the plunger under the plastic cover sticking, if you can spray some thin oil/spray behind the cover it will soften the gunk build up.
To remove the cover you need some picks to pull the tabs outwards.
The plastic cover is shaped like an A ish, and the two tabs are at the bottom left and right, it’s the left (as your looking at it face on) that’s the tricky one to get to.

Cleaning and lubing that plunger and may as well do the little cam and roller at the same time, will fix that code.
It’s fine to lube them. When i searched this people kicked up fuss saying it shouldn’t be lived ect.
Well I brought a new EGR and it comes lubed in a thin white grease from factory.....

The swirl flap one.
Yes it is the swirl flaps are propbably lightly built up with carbon (N57 isn’t as bad as M57)
You don’t need a blanking kit.
Remove inlet (took me a while first time) once out you can remove the actuator from the fwd end.(take a picture of how the linkage connects first)

Then you’ll see the long square dowel which runs the length of the intake, this holds the swirl flaps (there actually spheres on the n57) in place. Pull this out with mike grips or the like. It’s stiff!
Put to one side/bin then remove the swirl flaps.
Put the motor back on and refit the grommet and the motor arm. This blocks the hole.

Now the motor is free to move but won’t have any resistance so the DME is happy and non the wiser....

I noticed no change in power in mine..... I scraped out the intake and got about a 1/3 of a cup of dry soot, really not too bad for 80k miles.

Hope this helps!

I’ve not had the glow plug issue yet but a lot of thread so try the controller only first, sometimes that seems to fix it without the need to remove glow plugs

[radion_auto]

Thanks, that does indeed help. I didn't actually think those codes related to the EGR? I ran them through a code checked and they all seem to be prepeating module and swirl flaps, or is the EGR worth cleaning out at the same time as tackling this?

I'm about to buy a new preheating module, from what i've read i can probably change that without ripping the inlet manifold off - the plan is to change that, clear the codes and see where we are from there. I'll obviously need to tackle the carbon build up too though.

The temptation is to remove the flaps completely in the manner you suggest, i've done quite a bit of reading on this and most folk have said it made no noticable difference to power. I've seen a few posts that suggest you lose a bit of low end torque and mpg as a result though, any truth to that?

I'd really like the idle problem sorted without having to touch the glow plugs ideally, i've seen the horror stories about snapping plugs and it put me right off the job!

[dpopov]

The N57 engine does not have swirl flaps. At least they are not the same as in M57. I was recently about to remove my swirl flaps (I have an N57), but when we got to them, there was a totally different body. I guess BMW fixed this problem by replacing the traditional swirl flaps with something safer, which I really can't figure out how to call..

But yeah, one less worry to think about.

Cheers!

[radion_auto]

Really? But there are codes that specifically relate to the flaps. And there are posts which you can buy blanking kits for.

What do you mean there are no swirl flaps? I know it's a slightly different system to the m57 but they do the same job don't they?

[Andy198712]

Originally Posted by radion_auto

Really? But there are codes that specifically relate to the flaps. And there are posts which you can buy blanking kits for.

What do you mean there are no swirl flaps? I know it's a slightly different system to the m57 but they do the same job don't they?

your correct, there are items that replace the flaps and are shaped like a sphere so i guess you could say they aren't technically a flap.... but lets just call them that for ease.

again you don't need to buy any blanks fo the n57, the motor and linkage blank the only hole to atmosphere.

hope that helps

[Andy198712]

and sorry i read your 4E09 as 40E9, my bad (40E9 is an EGR code)

[radion_auto]

Thanks! I've taken delivery of a new glow plug module today. I reckon with pianists fingers I should be able to fit that without removing very much at the weekend. Really hoping that sorts the rough running from cold. Ready to totally clean out the inlet manifold at some point though regardless.. Better stock up on degresser!

[Andy198712]

Mine was quite dry so eaasier to scrape out with something hard rather then soaked and scrubbed the last bits

[radion_auto]

Inlet manifold looks like it should be fairly easy to remove. All straightforward? Just need a new inlet gasket I imagine

[dpopov]

I use this topic to ask something: in what interval of time do you clean your Intake manifolds? CBU is a really nasty thing and cause all sorts of troubles. My last interval of cleaning was 2 years, but from what I saw, I will probably do it every 12 (or less) months.

And so I'm not too off topic, here is the diagram from realoem which shoes the item that is in the N57, which has the so called swirl flaps:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_4259 - number 1 on this diagram. Flaps are inside.

I hope you figure out your problem. My car is starting to have very, very little signs of this vibration you talk about and I think it's all from the engine mounts. No codes whatsoever.

[radion_auto]

Have you read the codes with a specialised tool? I have a variety of OBD tools and they all showed no codes on mine. I bought the correct cable and installed the BMW INPA software which showed 7 codes. More generic readers often miss the more manufacturer specific codes.

[dpopov]

Originally Posted by radion_auto

Have you read the codes with a specialised tool? I have a variety of OBD tools and they all showed no codes on mine. I bought the correct cable and installed the BMW INPA software which showed 7 codes. More generic readers often miss the more manufacturer specific codes.

Not in the past 10 months. I am leaving my car at my local garage for a brake fluid change and a front axle bushing/mounts check, I will let them know to read the faults. Good advice, since I was using exactly what you said - a generic reader. Thanks!

[radion_auto]

Good news, I swapped the glow plug module over at the weekend and the rough running problem is sorted. It starts and idles perfectly now.

I'll still do the inlet manifold at some point but it's no longer desperate as the car is driving great.