[fastloop]

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

If you have the correct walnut shell blasting tool then it is actually quite simple from what I have heard. But if you don't, and you have to manually clean every valve from every cylinder with a toothbrush, then it certainly is a pig of a job and ideally needs at least two days (to let the valves soak in cleaning fluid before brushing them off).

I've ordered the BMW blasting tool and will hopefully be able to document how this is done in the next 2-3 weeks or so.

Alpina_B3_Lux

The walnut blaster does look pretty good and would definitely reduce the elbow grease/effort to clean the valves. However you want to make sure the cylinder is at TDC as otherwise it can be pretty easy to fill the entire cylinder with walnut shells. There is no doubt that the blaster will do the job quicker and possibly to a better standard, but depending on how severe the carbon build up is then doing it manually is not too bad. The chemical cleaner will soon loosen up the deposits and you don't need to let it soak for that long.

I'm looking forward to see how your valves look before and after the walnut blaster. The new HPFP and clean has definitely made a big difference on mine. The car feels a lot stronger and I might be looking at a new clutch in the near future as it slipped a bit in 4th after a few launches. Currently leaning towards HPF as I want to keep the feel the same as OE.

[LivnLife31]

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

If you have the correct walnut shell blasting tool then it is actually quite simple from what I have heard. But if you don't, and you have to manually clean every valve from every cylinder with a toothbrush, then it certainly is a pig of a job and ideally needs at least two days (to let the valves soak in cleaning fluid before brushing them off).

I've ordered the BMW blasting tool and will hopefully be able to document how this is done in the next 2-3 weeks or so.

Alpina_B3_Lux

What is the BMW blasting tool? Do you have a PN? Where can I purchase?

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by neil@JuicedUpTuning

JB4 has built in code reading and deleting

Forget the jb4 code reading.. probably the same as the can tool ... it doesn't display via monitor .. for every digit the rev or mph needle would move to say 10mph=a 20mph=b 30mph=c and somehow you need to work the codeout yourself.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I found that method hard and annoying to use.

Any code rea der with a display is much better! And also our cobb ap which displays many function and code reading display

[idnan]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

Forget the jb4 code reading.. probably the same as the can tool ... it doesn't display via monitor .. for every digit the rev or mph needle would move to say 10mph=a 20mph=b 30mph=c and somehow you need to work the codeout yourself.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I found that method hard and annoying to use.

Any code rea der with a display is much better! And also our cobb ap which displays many function and code reading display

All you need to do is run the USB through the glovebox and connect it to a laptop and you can read the codes within two clicks with the JB4 interface.

The in dash code reading is more of emergency thing and I agree it is a bit of a ballache.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by LivnLife31

What is the BMW blasting tool? Do you have a PN? Where can I purchase?

Part no. is 81292208034. I ordered it from a car parts retailer (still waiting for it to be shipped though). You can also buy a normal blaster in a DIY shop and buy the N54 vacuum blaster adapter (part no. 81292208037). There's a thread in the US forum where you can also find a link to the user manual of the blasting tool.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[335iLondon]

It seems I am suffering from something similar. 07 335i with 52k miles on the clock.
No miss-fires as such, just a jerky sort of on/off wobble in 4th, 5th and 6th at 3-4k rpm. It does seem pretty specific to that rev range and no issues elsewhere.

Will book it in for check up at an indy soon, but have a suspicion carbon cleaning maybe needed.

[Josh1a1h]

Phil, did you get a reply from birds for the cleaning job? I would be tempted to do this next year as I am at 65k. I am sure the engine needs a cleaning.

Do you guys not just change all your plugs and coils when you start getting misfires?

[335iLondon]

I had changed plugs and one coil, which fixed the misfire. But this is less pronounced problem, just a stumble, not enough to throw misfire codes. Some threads on US forum seem to recommend running at 4.5k rpms in 4th for 20 mins to burn some of the buildup and seems to have a short term benefit, but not long term fix.

The funny thing is the stumble is only between 3-4k rpms in 5th & 6th at WOT.

Probably no coincidence that I have been pootling round in 6th for a while and not being able to give the engine a proper run out very often.

[idnan]

I did a manual clean on mine with a set of rifle cleaning brushes a month or two ago. My car has done about 85k, with me doing the last 25k of them modified. My valves had hardly any carbon buildup on them at all. I don't know if it was a combo of the fact I drive my car hard, have an OCC, occasionally run meth and have had a new valve cover fitted recently. I heard a 135i race car had a valve cleaning done on the other side of the forum and despite average mileage, the valves were pretty clean.

The process didn't take too long because they weren't too bad and honestly speaking, it felt exactly the same and it still has a very slight stutter on idle.

Oh and I managed to completely ruin my hoover in the process.

[nicktyler]

There is an old saying 'a redline a day keeps the carbon at bay' I may have just made that up but there is a lot to be said for a spirited drive everynow and then to give the carbon a harder time building up.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by idnan

I did a manual clean on mine with a set of rifle cleaning brushes a month or two ago. My car has done about 85k, with me doing the last 25k of them modified. My valves had hardly any carbon buildup on them at all. I don't know if it was a combo of the fact I drive my car hard, have an OCC, occasionally run meth and have had a new valve cover fitted recently. I heard a 135i race car had a valve cleaning done on the other side of the forum and despite average mileage, the valves were pretty clean.

The process didn't take too long because they weren't too bad and honestly speaking, it felt exactly the same and it still has a very slight stutter on idle.

Oh and I managed to completely ruin my hoover in the process.

So you cleaned them with the head still bolted to the block?

[idnan]

Yep, there's a few DIYs on how to do it on here. It is not too hard, just needs removal of the manifold, throttle body and preferably the rad fan. As long as the valves are fully closed when you are cleaning them, there's no risk of issues.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by idnan

I did a manual clean on mine with a set of rifle cleaning brushes a month or two ago. My car has done about 85k, with me doing the last 25k of them modified. My valves had hardly any carbon buildup on them at all. I don't know if it was a combo of the fact I drive my car hard, have an OCC, occasionally run meth and have had a new valve cover fitted recently. I heard a 135i race car had a valve cleaning done on the other side of the forum and despite average mileage, the valves were pretty clean.

The process didn't take too long because they weren't too bad and honestly speaking, it felt exactly the same and it still has a very slight stutter on idle.

Oh and I managed to completely ruin my hoover in the process.

I reckon your OCC is your saviour...

[idnan]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

I reckon your OCC is your saviour...

Possibly, but I've never caught much oil in there. I've seen plenty with OCCs and bad carbon build up. It is a very messy process doing it by hand and does take a long while for the carb/break cleaner to break it down. I can see how it would make a big difference for those whose valves are caked in crap.

[Mitch.]

Has anybody on the forum used Terraclean?

The machine featured on Wheeler Dealers will only clean the combustion chambers but they also have a device specifically for cleaning inlet valves on direct injection engines.

[phil200tdi]

I got mine done by birds at 87k miles ish.

Apparently they weren't too bad, probably due to a lot of motorway miles and comparatively few short trip driving. Meth and oil catch can were fitted too recently to make a difference.

I hear every 50k miles is a reasonably interval for cleaning. I probably won't keep mine that long, on 95k now.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

I got mine done by birds at 87k miles ish.

Apparently they weren't too bad, probably due to a lot of motorway miles and comparatively few short trip driving. Meth and oil catch can were fitted too recently to make a difference.

I hear every 50k miles is a reasonably interval for cleaning. I probably won't keep mine that long, on 95k now.

noticed any improvement?...

how much roughly?...you can pm if u want!...

[phil200tdi]

Car felt like it was breathing better but didn't solve my issues (turbos/vacuum issue).

Was about £500+vat iirc.

[Josh1a1h]

Originally Posted by Mitch.

Has anybody on the forum used Terraclean?

The machine featured on Wheeler Dealers will only clean the combustion chambers but they also have a device specifically for cleaning inlet valves on direct injection engines.

I heard great results about lowering emissions, but a proper clean removes the buildup thoroughly.

[bmw130i]

08/2008 N54 with 120Tkm inlet valves. Should scare anyone still thinking if theirs should be cleaned or not. Only 5 cyl - not sure where I lost the 6th

[Josh1a1h]

Terrible build up. You cleaning them yourselves?

[bigandy]

Hi,

Apart from the usual running issues that people report with coked up intake valves, is there any other symptoms?

The reason I ask is that I get a lot black spots all over the back of my car and wandered if it is some of these carbon deposits working there way through the engine.

The car isn't in the best health at the moment as the HPFP is on it's last legs. Could the black spots be caused by that too?

Cheers
Andy