[335dFan]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

Its interesting that you're in my area, I loosely looked at finding a shop in the area that would do a carbon cleaning for cheaper than the dealer but never really came across anything. You might have some luck though asking around the California/Northern california regional areas of the forum here, on bimmerforums, maybe a mazdaspeed forum, audi forum, mini forum, etc since they ALL have known carbon buildup issues. Let us know if you find a shop to do it.

No help for you west coast fellows, but here is a response from a highly respected Philly speed shop:

"We do offer Walnut blasting, but that system uses a specific tool for the cylinder head orifice of the 335i, not sure if that will fit the d’s intake port... and I’m not sure how much of a benefit it would have on the ‘d model. It could in theory, but are people experiencing clogged intakes on the 335d?
We did get three other inquires this past week!… This question must be up on the forum?

[Hoooper]

It will take some shops getting their feet wet for the walnut blasting on the D to take off. If you look on REALOEM (and I confirmed this when I had the manifold off) there are two sets of intake ports, the top set of ports actually pass through the valve cover which means that cleaning down into the ports requires removing the valve cover. The second (lower, larger) set of ports curves into the head and out of sight, from what I saw these curve and travel in the head until they are underneath the smaller ports. Its certainly more difficult and involved than a standard cleaning for say a mini or any other the other gas engines Ive seen so maybe it takes a little more time, but I wouldnt say its really any more difficult, just more time consuming.

[Jhayd11]

I am told by 7 different independent shops and two BMW dealerships here that walnut blasting will not resolve this issue. As Hoooper noted the intake ports are set up is different from the gas engine and are "tucked away" require dismantling. The level of effort to do so automatically explodes the cost to the labor.

Also, I am told that carbon buildup in Diesels are much grimier. As mentioned in my post, I am up to 23 shops in the DMV who will not touch my engine.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by Jhayd11

I am told by 7 different independent shops and two BMW dealerships here that walnut blasting will not resolve this issue. As Hoooper noted the intake ports are set up is different from the gas engine and are "tucked away" require dismantling. The level of effort to do so automatically explodes the cost to the labor.

Also, I am told that carbon buildup in Diesels are much grimier. As mentioned in my post, I am up to 23 shops in the DMV who will not touch my engine.

walnut blasting doesnt resolve the issue in any car, it just treats the problem. To get rid of the problem you need to get the PCV (CCV) completely filtered and shut off the EGR. I suspect the shops arent willing to do it because they havent tried and dont know how involved or not that it is, if they actually took the time to check it out and were willing to give it a go it shouldnt cost more than double what they charge for a 6 cyl carbon cleaning normally. I dont see any reason that walnut blasting wouldnt work though, its still just blasting stuff off the walls albeit maybe a more oily/sticky substance, but it is less baked on than gas engine carbon deposits.

[Jhayd11]

I haven't read or seen a youtube of one single diesel walnut blasting. Anyone have any experience?

Also, and probably more importantly, anyone have suggestions on proper maintenance once a cleaning has been done?

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by Jhayd11

Also, and probably more importantly, anyone have suggestions on proper maintenance once a cleaning has been done?

unless you plan on doing an EGR delete and PCV catch can, continue to drive like you did before and save up for the next cleaning

[montr]

If you think that is the fault of the emission control systems and that the car, as is, does not meet or pass these requirements. Maybe one option is to contact CARB or EPA and BWM on this. The emission system is warranty for 80K miles.

If there is enough complaint on file, maybe BMW will address the problem finally instead of offering to pay half of cost on a case by case basis.

[Hoooper]

but there is nothing wrong with the system, its working fine and not causing any excess smog. CARB and EPA would both probably cheer BMW for this since it will 1) cause some people to shy away from diesel because of a bad experience (the EPA and especially CARB have a strong dislike for diesel) and 2) cause these cars to not last as long so when these cars are dumped at the junkyard it will cause more old cars to be replaced with newer emissions cars.

Has anyone tried venting the PCV to atmosphere in this car, even for short term? All of my care for emissions goes right out the window when it causes my engine to have a shorter life so if venting to atmosphere works I would be totally on board. I have mixed experiences with that working on newer cars though.

[strz0001]

To add another data point. 2011 335d with 47.5k miles that I've owned for around 10k miles. Sent car to dealer for a rough idle, belt squeal and reduced mpg. They fixed the belt squeal and the tech said he could feel the rough idle as well. They sent a request off to BMWNA who authorized the head removal. SA just called indicating they found a good amount of carbon in the head and were going to send the head to a shop for cleaning and resurfacing.

I'm pleased that they made the decision to get into it as I'm looking at the end of original warranty and into the CPO shortly.

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by strz0001

To add another data point. 2011 335d with 47.5k miles that I've owned for around 10k miles. Sent car to dealer for a rough idle, belt squeal and reduced mpg. They fixed the belt squeal and the tech said he could feel the rough idle as well. They sent a request off to BMWNA who authorized the head removal. SA just called indicating they found a good amount of carbon in the head and were going to send the head to a shop for cleaning and resurfacing.

I'm pleased that they made the decision to get into it as I'm looking at the end of original warranty and into the CPO shortly.

Thanks for the update and for sharing your experience. Have 41k on mine. Looks like everyone is getting the dreaded carbon issues and engine 'refurb' between 40 and 50k. Looking forward to it!

[joe_planet]

so basically every 50k you have to clean off carbon

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by joe_planet

so basically every 50k you have to clean off carbon

That has been my plan all along, but I didn't anticipate having trouble finding someone to do it at a reasonable cost, reasonable cost being south of US$1K.

[Hoooper]

^^^ this is why I am hoping that meth proves to be helpful, and I dont mean smoking meth to help you forget you have build up

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by joe_planet

so basically every 50k you have to clean off carbon

That's my plan once I reach the big 50!

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

That has been my plan all along, but I didn't anticipate having trouble finding someone to do it at a reasonable cost, reasonable cost being south of US$1K.

That's the problem. Lots of info walnut blasting spark ignition engines, have yet to see a single reference for the diesel. It's always a tear down with head removal. That will never be under a $grand. The convoluted intake paths of the diesel seem to be an issue for 'simple' cleaning.

[strz0001]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Thanks for the update and for sharing your experience. Have 41k on mine. Looks like everyone is getting the dreaded carbon issues and engine 'refurb' between 40 and 50k. Looking forward to it!

Saga continues with the D. Was sent home with a nasty stumble that it seems they were hoping a fix through 'adaptation' - or something. Codes revealed unable to trim #5 injector. Sent it back and they swapped out injectors didn't fix and so now they are sending the dme to BMWNA for a swap.

So we are darting around now in the f30 328xi sport. In spite of it's overboosted steering and buzzy powerplant, it's growing on me.

[yatzee]

1st post - my father leased 1 of those last year - it drives quite well - i was seeing about 35 mpg at 80mph when it was nearly brand new which was impressive. Super is much more expensive than diesel up here, so I still hold the advantage for cost per mile/km

Originally Posted by strz0001

So we are darting around now in the f30 328xi sport. In spite of it's overboosted steering and buzzy powerplant, it's growing on me.

[strz0001]

Picked up the D today after being at the dealer most of the month. Steering feels almost too heavy coming out of the F30. Alarming at first, my wife said something was wrong with the steering on her first drive. It does feel under boosted now. We'll see how it goes.

Speaking of how it goes, the oil pedal is back with all the torque. Nice. It has a clean head and intake, new #5 injector and new DME. Wondering... will it last? will the new DME and recent software reduce the future problems? Is our typical urban drive pattern going to reduce it to a carbon blob? We shall see.

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by strz0001

Steering feels almost too heavy coming out of the F30. Alarming at first, my wife said something was wrong with the steering on her first drive.

That's how a real car is suppose to feel my friend. It's all about being connected to the road!

[Pierre Louis]

Originally Posted by strz0001

Picked up the D today after being at the dealer most of the month. Steering feels almost too heavy coming out of the F30.

I found it once that the dealer underinflated the tires. If you put them up to the recommended pressures (mine is 35/42 PSI for sport package) it makes the steering much better and less "heavy."

PL