Possible new car with swirl flaps removed??

Bmwjc · 03-15-2016, 05:05 PM

Hi all just looking at a new car and wondered what your thoughts were about it having its swirl flaps removed! I know plenty of people have this done but im not too clued up on why people have it done. Just wondering if this would cause anyone any cause for concern. Is it a sign of possibly hidden problems or something that has gone wrong previously?

Cheers

Aragorn30d · 03-15-2016, 06:20 PM

I presume its an M47 or M57 diesel engine?

Early engines (E46 era mostly, but some early e90 320d's too) had swirl flaps which fell apart, got sucked into the engine and caused ruin.

BMW redesigned them for the E90 models (though my brothers '05 320d had the early type) and made them a bit more robust, but they're still not perfect, and sort of break up a little bit. They also start to leak.

So its a common modification to remove them and blank them off, as its cheap to do, removes all risk of them imploding, and has basically no negatives at all.

So buying a car with it already done would suggest to me that its been fairly well looked after, given its a level of pre-emptive maintenance that many owners dont bother with.

bishbosh · 03-15-2016, 07:29 PM

I removed the swirl flaps in my n47 engined e91. As the car is a keeper I didn't want to risk flap failure so removed them as preventative maintenance.

Had no issues in the last 30k odd miles.

bhurd320 · 03-17-2016, 05:16 AM

will be removing the swirl flaps on my E91 320D N47 engine this weekend, you only need 1 blanking plug that goes in the actuator hole after removing the flaps which is £15 on ebay for the plug, will be cleaning out the intake manifold as well as an EGR valve clean whilst its all apart, if they have been done on the car your buying saves you a job and give piece of mind imo.

bishbosh · 03-17-2016, 06:40 AM

I'm also using the same blanking plug. However you can leave in the plastic actuator spindle holder if you want.

bhurd320 · 03-19-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishbosh

I removed the swirl flaps in my n47 engined e91. As the car is a keeper I didn't want to risk flap failure so removed them as preventative maintenance.

Had no issues in the last 30k odd miles.

did mine today

03-15-2016, 05:05 PM	#1
Bmwjc Private 4 Rep 64 Posts Drives: 330d Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	Possible new car with swirl flaps removed?? Hi all just looking at a new car and wondered what your thoughts were about it having its swirl flaps removed! I know plenty of people have this done but im not too clued up on why people have it done. Just wondering if this would cause anyone any cause for concern. Is it a sign of possibly hidden problems or something that has gone wrong previously? Cheers
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03-15-2016, 06:20 PM	#2
Aragorn30d Lieutenant Colonel 169 Rep 1,596 Posts Drives: E90 330d Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Fife iTrader: (0)	I presume its an M47 or M57 diesel engine? Early engines (E46 era mostly, but some early e90 320d's too) had swirl flaps which fell apart, got sucked into the engine and caused ruin. BMW redesigned them for the E90 models (though my brothers '05 320d had the early type) and made them a bit more robust, but they're still not perfect, and sort of break up a little bit. They also start to leak. So its a common modification to remove them and blank them off, as its cheap to do, removes all risk of them imploding, and has basically no negatives at all. So buying a car with it already done would suggest to me that its been fairly well looked after, given its a level of pre-emptive maintenance that many owners dont bother with.
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03-15-2016, 07:29 PM	#3
bishbosh Colonel 980 Rep 2,156 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW 335d [0.00]	I removed the swirl flaps in my n47 engined e91. As the car is a keeper I didn't want to risk flap failure so removed them as preventative maintenance. Had no issues in the last 30k odd miles.
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03-17-2016, 05:16 AM	#4
bhurd320 Private 13 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2008 320D msport Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Essex iTrader: (0)	will be removing the swirl flaps on my E91 320D N47 engine this weekend, you only need 1 blanking plug that goes in the actuator hole after removing the flaps which is £15 on ebay for the plug, will be cleaning out the intake manifold as well as an EGR valve clean whilst its all apart, if they have been done on the car your buying saves you a job and give piece of mind imo.
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03-17-2016, 06:40 AM	#5
bishbosh Colonel 980 Rep 2,156 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW 335d [0.00]	I'm also using the same blanking plug. However you can leave in the plastic actuator spindle holder if you want. __________________ if I've helped - an Appreciate would be, er, very appreciated!
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