[1edyson]

Suggestions? Contacted one vendor and doesn't sound like they've done a D before and sounded hesitant on taking mine. Haven't had it done yet but I'm at 50,xxx miles

[firstbimmer]

Try sonnen. They are doing a different procedure that is more reasonably priced. Call and talk to tim price in service and ask for more information. He can explain the process they came up with and costs. They seem to have a lot of experience dealing with carbon on the diesels.

[1edyson]

Awesome thx wouldn't mind making a trip to marin

[shnaggs]

Originally Posted by firstbimmer

Try sonnen. They are doing a different procedure that is more reasonably priced. Call and talk to tim price in service and ask for more information. He can explain the process they came up with and costs. They seem to have a lot of experience dealing with carbon on the diesels.

What??? Do you know anything about this "other way" they are doing carbon cleaning????
Thanks

[firstbimmer]

They are running a chemical solution through in place. Hopefully 1edyson could relay what tim says in more detail. When I had my brakes done he told me they have done a bunch of 335d cleanings using this new method and that somebody on the vw tdi forums came in and did a write up on it. I am just recommending 1edyson call to get more info and price because they acted like they deal with a ton of these cars.

[1edyson]

Plan on calling them today ill update u guys asap

[Hoooper]

Sounds like something like this

[gatordoc335d]

I'm taking my D is next month to Sonnen for service and i'm around 50K and my CPO ends in Nov. Does anyone have any experience with Sonnen for CBU with CPO?

[kong24680]

Try speed element in San Jose. They just recently blasted my car and did a phenomenal job. Plus they took before and after pictures!

[1edyson]

Originally Posted by kong24680

Try speed element in San Jose. They just recently blasted my car and did a phenomenal job. Plus they took before and after pictures!

I asked actually, was just there yesteday and they said they hadn't done a D before and didn't know if they'd be able to do mine. I'm waiting to hear back from them, hoping they'll be able to make it work.

[dragoncoach]

Originally Posted by 1edyson

I asked actually, was just there yesteday and they said they hadn't done a D before and didn't know if they'd be able to do mine. I'm waiting to hear back from them, hoping they'll be able to make it work.

If they haven't worked on a D before, do you really want to be their FIRST? I wouldn't take the chance. I would take the dealer route. It's not an iron clad guarantee, but I will bet they have more experience with CBU cleanings since they are a dealer.

[Marin_Oil_Burner]

I recently took my 335d into Sonnen for a replace mass air sensor, and they said that I was throwing "soft codes" for CBU. They looked in through a scope and saw the crud.

Of course, my CPO warranty ran out a few months ago. I did end up purchasing a 3rd party extended warranty (route 66). I'm hoping that this extended warranty will cover it.

I'd like to ask the group here, if you think that I have to have the CBU be so bad that it kicks on the SES light, before they would cover...Is that what would have happened if I was still under CPO warranty??

[Marin_Oil_Burner]

I recently took my 335d into Sonnen for a replace mass air sensor, and they said that I was throwing "soft codes" for CBU. They looked in through a scope and saw the crud.

Of course, my CPO warranty ran out a few months ago. I did end up purchasing a 3rd party extended warranty (route 66). I'm hoping that this extended warranty will cover it.

I'd like to ask the group here, if you think that I have to have the CBU be so bad that it kicks on the SES light, before they would cover...Is that what would have happened if I was still under CPO warranty??

FYI...The process that they are now doing is some chemical treatment. It takes 2 hours shop time (so $450-500) versus walnut blasting which is 4 hrs. Not sure if they have done any diesels yet, I didn't ask the question..

[kbsilver]

For anything to be covered under a BMW warranty the SES must be illuminated. The rules for a 3rd party warranty is whatever they establish them to be.

There are 2 parts to CBU cleaning. The plastic intake manifold is removed. Next they use walnut blasting with special tools/wands to clean the intake passages in the head (remember 2 paths for each cylinder), with the head in place. This is not a chemical process.

The plastic intake is also full of carbon and has the swirl flaps. They can remove the swirl flaps and clean the intake in an ultrasonic bath with cleaning solvents and some manual scraping. But this is sent out to a machine shop as most dealers do not have this equipment. Once cleaned it's reassembled with the swirl flaps and installed back on the engine. If you add up the cost/labor of doing all this, most of the time BMW replaces rather than clean the intake as the cost to replace is probably not that much more.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

Sounds like something like this

Is this bullshit or does it work?

I called Weatherford and they really did not have any good answers. In fact, it did not sound as though they had the walnut blasting equipment that BMW has developed. It could be that there are so few 335ds under warranty and generally that these dealers just don't see it as a priority.

[glitdi]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Is this bullshit or does it work?

Its not a silver bullet by any means.. After trying it on my first attempt to clean the intake it was helpful... thats about it.
When you use it couple of things I noticed, it makes one hell of a smell and you will need someone there to modulate the throttle. The engine knocks like a woodpecker.
The biggest warning I have is applicator tip isnt glued on and is held on by pressure fit, it caught on the throttle body of the intake. (I know its not technically a throttle body but I cant remember the weird German term for it.)
It popped of and I had to pull the intake anyways since I did not want a piece of plastic hanging out in my engine.
In my opinion good product if you are pulling the intake off and pulling everything apart and need something to clean the throttle body and intake with... but that's about it...
might be a a decent preventative maintenance thing, but pull that tip if you plan on running the engine, or keep the flap open with something...
Will throw codes so have a scan tool handy...
I would say I am decidedly neutral on the stuff...
Best way is to pull the intake disassemble, ultrasonically clean the intake, walnut blast the head, re assemble and block the egr, and tune out the codes.... oh yeah and bump up the power....

[fdawg4l]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Is this bullshit or does it work?

I called Weatherford and they really did not have any good answers. In fact, it did not sound as though they had the walnut blasting equipment that BMW has developed. It could be that there are so few 335ds under warranty and generally that these dealers just don't see it as a priority.

Terrible dealership. I asked about getting my n54 blasted and the service advisor had no clue what I was asking for and then said no my car didn't need it. He'd never been in my car and it's a maintenance item.

[WinnieBoom]

Hi everyone,

"Sonnen" that you recommended is this one? http://www.sonnen.com/

Would you recommend something else in Bay Area/Sacramento, maybe new methods? I just bought a car, and it looks like I should clean it.

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by WinnieBoom

Hi everyone,

"Sonnen" that you recommended is this one? http://www.sonnen.com/

Would you recommend something else in Bay Area/Sacramento, maybe new methods? I just bought a car, and it looks like I should clean it.

---
I would not use any kind of chemical cleaning methods, as they can and will screw up your sensors if any kind of sludge is pushed through the exhaust. The walnut blasting isn't that hard to do, its just time consuming, and you have to be careful and follow the procedure exactly.

[DougNBodie]

I hear a lot of people all over the US talking about walnut blasting......but hardly ever here in CA. Why is that? I just took my intake off and checked and everything was clean.....For a diesel I was shocked at 75K miles

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Is this bullshit or does it work?

Ever seen before and after of the manifold/ports/valves for spray treatments? That's right, me neither! Before/after pics are everywhere for walnut blasting though. And it's not like the only people with bore scopes also own walnut blasters... I think that says it all.

Also, try and find a solvent for carbon...