[sav_e92]

So - I was getting ready to re-flash my 07 328xi with the 330i tune to test the DISAs that came in the 3SIM I purchased a little while back. Needed to pull the car into the garage a bit farther... wouldn't start. Discovered that the starter had failed.

So - I pulled out the stock manifold and have put in the new starter. But now - the question is, do I install the 3SIM without testing the DISAs, flash the tune, and see what happens?

Or, do I put the stock manifold back in, flash, test the DISAs, and then install the 3SIM?

I'm leaning towards just putting in the 3SIM and seeing what happens because if it works, I'll only have to do one install. If there is an issue, I can put the stock manifold back in. Whereas if I put the stock manifold in, I will for sure then need to uninstall and reinstall w/ the 3SIM.

Am I overlooking any other options for testing the DISAs, and would I do any harm by installing them and seeing what I get? They look good visually with no play, but I understand from what I've read that this may not be an indication of whether they will actuate or not.

[bluewater328]

Well, technically you could just turn the car ON -- two button pushes no pedal (not start; esp as you probably shop towels in the ports), and then test the DISAs with the manifold off. IIRC DISAs dont test well with the car started anyway. You just need to connect the wiring.

If you installed the 3IM and the DISAs were dead, you just would have power loss. It wont send you into limp mode, the car will run and it'll have a little less power as the airflow wont be what it expects. Other than that you'd be fine -- I've driven without a functioning DISA beforer.

[Biginboca]

I would install the 3IM. If the disa’s work you are done. If they don’t you have to pull the manifold and swap the disa.

With the other way you will be pulling the oem manifold off again no matter what. So installing the 3IM first you have a good chance of only having to install a manifold once.

And like was said; you can run a 3IM without working DISA anyway. Just won’t have full power.

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

I would install the 3IM. If the disa's work you are done. If they don't you have to pull the manifold and swap the disa.

With the other way you will be pulling the oem manifold off again no matter what. So installing the 3IM first you have a good chance of only having to install a manifold once.

And like was said; you can run a 3IM without working DISA anyway. Just won't have full power.

Why not plug in the disa valves to the harness and check them by cycling the ignition switch?

If the are faulty, change them before installing the 3IM

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by rjahl

Why not plug in the disa valves to the harness and check them by cycling the ignition switch?

If the are faulty, change them before installing the 3IM

Good point!

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

Well, technically you could just turn the car ON -- two button pushes no pedal (not start; esp as you probably shop towels in the ports), and then test the DISAs with the manifold off. IIRC DISAs dont test well with the car started anyway. You just need to connect the wiring.

If you installed the 3IM and the DISAs were dead, you just would have power loss. It wont send you into limp mode, the car will run and it'll have a little less power as the airflow wont be what it expects. Other than that you'd be fine -- I've driven without a functioning DISA beforer.

Originally Posted by rjahl

Why not plug in the disa valves to the harness and check them by cycling the ignition switch?

If the are faulty, change them before installing the 3IM

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Good point!

It's like there's an echo in the room....

[sav_e92]

Originally Posted by rjahl

Why not plug in the disa valves to the harness and check them by cycling the ignition switch?

If the are faulty, change them before installing the 3IM

Wait so - is this possible without first doing the flash? I can just plug the DISAs in and they will cycle when I turn on the car (but not start the engine)? That would be too easy...

[The Nightman]

I assume you have INPA if you can flash your car. You can use that to test the DISA valves after you connect them

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1491906

[aphael]

Use INPA to test them, they should open immediately fully and quickly. thats your best bet to know if they are working.

[E92William]

You can do like this guy on YouTube and run the n52 without an intake manifold

But in all seriousness test them on inpa, you can do it with just the ignition turned on like basically everyone said here. I still don't get why people don't test the valves before they even do anything else. Changing a bad small disa is like redoing the entire job.

[sav_e92]

Thanks to all who have responded! Was able to test the DISAs tonight and I'm glad that I did. The small one actuated fully but the large would only close about 25%. I assume that means its done, so I'll shop for a new one before I continue....

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by SAVAGE_VT_E92

Thanks to all who have responded! Was able to test the DISAs tonight and I'm glad that I did. The small one actuated fully but the large would only close about 25%. I assume that means its done, so I'll shop for a new one before I continue....

Hold on, did you flash the DME already? If you haven't flashed it yet, then I would hold off on buying a new large DISA before you test it after you flash. Mine did not actuate fully when tested without the tune.

If the small one is good, I'd say you can install the 3IM and then see if the large one works well after the tune. The large one could be removed by just moving the airbox and power steering reservoir.

And again, if the large one doesnt work right after you flash, the worst thing that will happen is you will not get the full power potential.

[E92William]

For me they actuated the same way before and after the tune because well they were screwed out of a junkyard car. I think they would actuate fully with inpa regardless of the tune because some rebuilt ones I had actuated great when I tested them on a forum members stock tune 328i but maybe it's not the norm.

[sav_e92]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

Hold on, did you flash the DME already? If you haven't flashed it yet, then I would hold off on buying a new large DISA before you test it after you flash. Mine did not actuate fully when tested without the tune.

If the small one is good, I'd say you can install the 3IM and then see if the large one works well after the tune. The large one could be removed by just moving the airbox and power steering reservoir.

And again, if the large one doesnt work right after you flash, the worst thing that will happen is you will not get the full power potential.

This is exactly what I ended up doing - I installed the 3SIM with the potentially weak large DISA, flashed the tune, and everything fired up fine. The car seems peppier but not a night and day difference. I did notice a bit more low end grunt and some extra sauce about 5k rpms. I do plan to test the large DISA and will replace if it truly isn't functioning correctly, but for now all seems fine.

[E92William]

You'll be missing out power in certain rpm ranges if all valves aren't fully working. Mine has very linear pull specially between 2500 and 5k where you're missing