$10 smoke test DIY / how I fixed my 30FF

TrollToll · 10-18-2015, 11:08 PM

Some of you may remember that I've been trying to fix a 30FF problem I've had since I bought the 5 series 6 months ago. I've tried:
Replacing all vacuum lines
Pressure testing the system
Vacuum testing
Checking solenoids
Checking wastegate actuators
All with no luck. Today I decided to smoke test to see if I could find any leaks I didn't hear. Rather than spending hundreds on a machine or paying a shop to do it, I bought a few supplies. The picture shows what I did, with good results. In the end I found that the non-serviceable clamp holding the rubber boot onto my factory charge pipe was leaking. I broke the clamp off, applied silicon, and installed a new clamp. I also (just for safe measure) applied silicon to the charge pipe o ring, though it wasn't leaking. Finally the car runs much better! Very cheap test method so I thought I'd share.
UPDATE: i forgot to mention, but I used the pvc cap idea from that N54 boost leak thread and added smoke.

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Name: Screenshot_2015-10-18-14-23-24-1.png
Views: 17062
Size: 1.01 MB

ATLIEN · 10-19-2015, 02:19 PM

Grape Swisher Sweet! Rofl. Were Black & Mild's sold out?

BeastMode335i · 10-19-2015, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATLIEN

Grape Swisher Sweet! Rofl. Were Black & Mild's sold out?

Probably not, he just didn't wanna spend $5 on a pack of dutches lmao..!!

Seriously though, nice job bro, glad u found out ur issue..!! Wasting a perfectly good swisher though

haha

TrollToll · 10-19-2015, 03:30 PM

Lol. All jokes aside, I used what I did because I don't think a black would have fit and I am partial to the smell of grape from my old blunt days. Yesterday was the first time I ever bought a pack of swishers with no intention of splitting them open.

NightStalker · 10-22-2015, 10:56 PM

Going to try this..this weekend. Have a leak some where but no codes.

NightStalker · 10-22-2015, 10:58 PM

By the way you only put one side of the PVC to only one side of the intake slot?

Chris@BoostConcepts · 10-22-2015, 11:19 PM

Dubbed the Bimmer Bong Smoke Tester.... Hahaha

Great work and nice ingenuity!

N54Society · 10-23-2015, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcvette

Dubbed the Bimmer Bong Smoke Tester.... Hahaha

Great work and nice ingenuity!

LOL

TrollToll · 10-23-2015, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVS 8

By the way you only put one side of the PVC to only one side of the intake slot?

I followed the guide over on n54.tech but instead of an air compressor, I used that device. You'll need two PVC caps. Also, don't overlook the step about blocking off the PCV system. I skipped that step and had lots of smoke the next time I started it.

NightStalker · 10-23-2015, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

I followed the guide over on n54.tech but instead of an air compressor, I used that device. You'll need two PVC caps. Also, don't overlook the step about blocking off the PCV system. I skipped that step and had lots of smoke the next time I started it.

So one side of the intake port is the smoke device part and the other side opposite intake port has to be closed off? Sorry kinda confused but placed an order for the pump..will be getting the dutches from my boy

TrollToll · 10-23-2015, 01:07 PM

Google "n54 30ff" and it should be the first link. That shows it all with pictures. Just substitute the air compressor with the smoke pump.

expressfish · 10-23-2015, 01:16 PM

loll, I didnt see the cigar in the first pic...i didnt know whaaat it was aside from the pump. I was like, why are they taking about blunts ?! after coming back to the thread twice i caught it, pretty genius! Im may have to use that trick to test my plumbing as Im throwing 30fe codes

deeLow · 10-23-2015, 02:16 PM

Them Grape Swishers or Games man....

Love em'!

J. Dub · 11-18-2015, 01:03 PM

Is 30FF boost leak?

TrollToll · 11-18-2015, 07:08 PM

Yes, usually. Turbocharger boost pressure low.

335NJ · 11-18-2015, 07:23 PM

Between the swisher sweets, and heavy meth use, were really beginning to look like quite the crowd here

TrollToll · 11-18-2015, 07:27 PM

If anyone cares, my 30FF came back today. I suspect the diverter valves are causing it, though they seem to hold while testing.

prelude2perfect · 11-19-2015, 12:15 PM

question is, will this pump build enough psi to effectively test high pressure leaks

TrollToll · 11-20-2015, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prelude2perfect

question is, will this pump build enough psi to effectively test high pressure leaks

Yes. This pump also comes with a shrader valve adapter to inflate tires. It would take a while for that but it works for this purpose really well.

AndyW · 09-17-2016, 12:40 PM

Did you use anything to seal the PVC caps?

TrollToll · 09-17-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyW

Did you use anything to seal the PVC caps?

I spread a thin layer of silicone around them, smoothed them, and let them dry.

Electrical tape kind of works too.

AndyW · 09-17-2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

I spread a thin layer of silicone around them, smoothed them, and let them dry.

Electrical tape kind of works too.

Thx!

10-18-2015, 11:08 PM	#1
TrollToll Banned 654 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 535i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	$10 smoke test DIY / how I fixed my 30FF Some of you may remember that I've been trying to fix a 30FF problem I've had since I bought the 5 series 6 months ago. I've tried: Replacing all vacuum lines Pressure testing the system Vacuum testing Checking solenoids Checking wastegate actuators All with no luck. Today I decided to smoke test to see if I could find any leaks I didn't hear. Rather than spending hundreds on a machine or paying a shop to do it, I bought a few supplies. The picture shows what I did, with good results. In the end I found that the non-serviceable clamp holding the rubber boot onto my factory charge pipe was leaking. I broke the clamp off, applied silicon, and installed a new clamp. I also (just for safe measure) applied silicon to the charge pipe o ring, though it wasn't leaking. Finally the car runs much better! Very cheap test method so I thought I'd share. UPDATE: i forgot to mention, but I used the pvc cap idea from that N54 boost leak thread and added smoke. Last edited by TrollToll; 06-09-2016 at 09:42 AM..
	Appreciate 5 AndyW667.50 Chris@VargasTurboTech1933.00 Tweet Quote

10-19-2015, 02:19 PM	#2
ATLIEN Captain 549 Rep 791 Posts Drives: 08 335i & 11 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	Grape Swisher Sweet! Rofl. Were Black & Mild's sold out?
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10-19-2015, 03:30 PM	#4
TrollToll Banned 654 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 535i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Lol. All jokes aside, I used what I did because I don't think a black would have fit and I am partial to the smell of grape from my old blunt days. Yesterday was the first time I ever bought a pack of swishers with no intention of splitting them open.
	Appreciate 6 bigdnno98288.00 BeastMode335i1130.00 desertman1232213.50 Quote

10-22-2015, 10:56 PM	#5
NightStalker ✰ 267 Rep 2,741 Posts Drives: Audi Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (12)	Going to try this..this weekend. Have a leak some where but no codes.
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10-22-2015, 10:58 PM	#6
NightStalker ✰ 267 Rep 2,741 Posts Drives: Audi Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (12)	By the way you only put one side of the PVC to only one side of the intake slot?
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10-22-2015, 11:19 PM	#7
Chris@BoostConcepts 171 Rep 311 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i, 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wilmington, NC iTrader: (2)	Dubbed the Bimmer Bong Smoke Tester.... Hahaha Great work and nice ingenuity!
	Appreciate 3 bigdnno98288.00 Quote

10-23-2015, 01:07 PM	#11
TrollToll Banned 654 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 535i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Google "n54 30ff" and it should be the first link. That shows it all with pictures. Just substitute the air compressor with the smoke pump.
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10-23-2015, 01:16 PM	#12
expressfish Private First Class 37 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335I Monaco Blau Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (1)	loll, I didnt see the cigar in the first pic...i didnt know whaaat it was aside from the pump. I was like, why are they taking about blunts ?! after coming back to the thread twice i caught it, pretty genius! Im may have to use that trick to test my plumbing as Im throwing 30fe codes
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2015, 02:16 PM	#13
deeLow DOPE 148 Rep 758 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Them Grape Swishers or Games man.... Love em'!
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11-18-2015, 01:03 PM	#14
J. Dub Bob Saget 355 Rep 2,229 Posts Drives: 2010 335i e92 N54 A/T Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: AR - 501 iTrader: (15)	Is 30FF boost leak? __________________ In memory of Robert E. Flynn (AR)
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11-18-2015, 07:08 PM	#15
TrollToll Banned 654 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 535i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Yes, usually. Turbocharger boost pressure low.
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11-18-2015, 07:23 PM	#16
335NJ Colonel 533 Rep 2,872 Posts Drives: 2008 335i 6MT E90 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ/Philadelphia Suburbs iTrader: (1)	Between the swisher sweets, and heavy meth use, were really beginning to look like quite the crowd here
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11-18-2015, 07:27 PM	#17
TrollToll Banned 654 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 535i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	If anyone cares, my 30FF came back today. I suspect the diverter valves are causing it, though they seem to hold while testing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-19-2015, 12:15 PM	#18
prelude2perfect Captain 60 Rep 621 Posts Drives: 2013 M5 and 2015 535i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Savannah, GA iTrader: (8)	question is, will this pump build enough psi to effectively test high pressure leaks
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09-17-2016, 12:40 PM	#20
AndyW Supreme Galactic Commander (one galaxy over...) 668 Rep 1,777 Posts Drives: '08 E93, '12 E82, '13 E93 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Washington, USA iTrader: (5)	Did you use anything to seal the PVC caps? __________________ Best, Andy '12 E82-PS2,Stoptechs,Clubsports+M3 bits,Accusump,Wagner DP+EVO III FMIC,ERCP,BMS Intake,Mason Strut Bar,Wedge Tune
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