[andyw1971]

Hi all.

Sorry for the long post and as a relative newbie to the forum.

Still not as yet got my E92 335d, (Going to look at one this week ) and was wondering on peoples thoughts both those in the trade, professional bodies and general modifiers on the new and upcoming changes to the MOT with regards to removing and/or gutting the infamous DPFand egr valve.

I believe the car i'm hoping to buy is standard as in it has the dpf without any mapping done. I probably won't do anything to it for a little while, just going to enjoy the fact i've managed to get one and be an excited child for the foreseable future

I've read quite a few posts stating at present it is just a smoke test and visual inspection, and that many owners have got through the mot without a dpf. I know you take your chances, but as the cost of replacing dpf's is pretty expensive for what they are, is it worth the risk of removing it only to be told you need it or your car won't pass the mot. I know they can be cut open, gutted and re-welded, but aren't the mot testers getting wise to this?

Can a car still be mapped with the dpf in place? same with the egr valve? does this have any major negatives or positives for that matter?

My current car, a VW Passat 170 Tdi, has had its issues with the dpf, but at least it still regenerates ok, although i can tell when it's doing it now.

Thanks again for reading and i look forward to your responses.

[('_')e90('_')]

My previous car was a Leon fr and I had major dpf issues so had it removed like you described above. It would sail through its MOT but I was told in future this would not be the case as the test to see if it was present would be more stringent.
So I bought an e90 m sport 325i and haven't looked back.

[MsportFury]

Although this may not be what you want to hear, i'd recommend leaving the DPF alone to avoid the hassle, cost and worries of removal & MOT failure, soot always being all over the back end of your car, and also to avoid the guilt of causing unnecessary pollution! Buy a 335i instead of a D if a DPF isn't unattractive.

I thought about doing this myself but avoided it in the end, the 335d will be more than substantial with its DPF intact and I don't think you'll feel the need to remove it once you have the car. Unless there is a reason that you NEED it removed, what mileage is the 335d you're looking at running? The car can be mapped with a DPF, but I think gains are slightly more significant when the DPF is removed.

Please read the thread before this which states the following:

''Diesel vehicles face charges after UK government loses air pollution case
Ministers now bound to implement new measures to cut toxic air quickly after high court ruling that current plans are so poor they are illegal

Diesel fumes are a category 1 carcinogen, which puts them in the same IARC as mustard gas & asbestos.''

Personally, I wouldn't risk making your car any less economical with legislation like that coming in!

With the above said, there are plenty of people on the forum who have had their DPF gutted and don't seem to have any major problems.

Just my 2 pence, but at the end of the day its your car so whatever makes you more happy and comfortable will always win!

[andyw1971]

Originally Posted by MsportFury

Although this may not be what you want to hear, i'd recommend leaving the DPF alone to avoid the hassle, cost and worries of removal & MOT failure, soot always being all over the back end of your car, and also to avoid the guilt of causing unnecessary pollution! Buy a 335i instead of a D if a DPF isn't unattractive.

I thought about doing this myself but avoided it in the end, the 335d will be more than substantial with its DPF intact and I don't think you'll feel the need to remove it once you have the car. Unless there is a reason that you NEED it removed, what mileage is the 335d you're looking at running? The car can be mapped with a DPF, but I think gains are slightly more significant when the DPF is removed.

Please read the thread before this which states the following:

''Diesel vehicles face charges after UK government loses air pollution case
Ministers now bound to implement new measures to cut toxic air quickly after high court ruling that current plans are so poor they are illegal


Diesel fumes are a category 1 carcinogen, which puts them in the same IARC as mustard gas & asbestos.''

Personally, I wouldn't risk making your car any less economical with legislation like that coming in!

With the above said, there are plenty of people on the forum who have had their DPF gutted and don't seem to have any major problems.


Just my 2 pence, but at the end of the day its your car so whatever makes you more happy and comfortable will always win!

Thanks for the reply.

The 335d has 98k on the clock. Tbh, don't think I would remove the dpf, too worried it would fail the mot. And as said I would be quite happy with the standard power....... Initially anyway.

Looking forward to seeing it on Friday.

[BMW Steve]

I know there is a lot of "leave alone" or "remove it" or "gut it n weld it back", and scare mongering when it comes to DPF issues.

On my 535D F11 I had the DPF gutted and put back on, then mapped. As I was discussing this with my last MOT tester, its all about emissions, and a tester is not going to start removing the under tray and start looking at parts that don't require testing.

[Chappers 71]

Andy, why do you want a deisel?

[mob17]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Andy, why do you want a deisel?

Because its better Come to the dark side chappers...

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by mob17

Because its better Come to the dark side chappers...

I will never join you!

Make the most of that old oil burner of yours. Its only a matter of time until compulsory scrappage & then you will have to enter the light

[mob17]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

I will never join you!

Make the most of that old oil burner of yours. Its only a matter of time until compulsory scrappage & then you will have to enter the light

Don't fight the attraction! Let it be and give in chappers

To be honest i doubt i will have this car if and when any scrappage scheme comes. I honestly can't see that happening any time soon. Whever it happens it will be a sad day, and i don't think petrol cars will be safe forever either. Saying that i'd still prefer a petrol to those electric cars. They have no spirit. No offence intended to anyone that has them.

So until then i will happily enjoy my 335D with the brutal torque it has. I absolutely love this car and can't think of anything else to replace it with. Sorry for going off topic OP!

[old grey steve]

This has been brewing for some time working in a garage it's been evident that VOSA are tightening their belts regarding the very subject and I'd say I've seen tweaks certainly in the last 2 years.

Now I'm seeing things starting to happen, the screws are being turned and one of the first things to hit the streets is the rule for advertising DPF removal there have been a number of challenges by the ASA re advertising the service and I'm aware of several garages being sued for offering the service add to the fact that it's an MOT no no a garage offering the service who has an MOT licence could be in hot water. Recent press re Nix Oxide and high pollution facts now in the news only go to heighten everyone's awareness.

At the moment on the test diesels are tested for smoke via metered smoke test which from memory was realigned in 2002 to aid testing which is a diesel fast pass, this is one part of the test which I think will be altered dramatically I suspect as time moves on quite how it'll be altered I don't know but I can see change looking harder at the various "headline issues currently overshadowing Diesel engines and their exhaust pollution issues"

The legal requirement for checking the DPF was introduced 3 years ago and it's clear that the rules governing it are weak how many MOT stations /Garages openly operate a 'friendly MOT tester' policy where they'll pass a car knowingly in possession of the fact that the car they are testing may not have a DPF fitted?

The answer is it's going on (you've only got to hit the net or look at forums like this to see it's happening)VOSA are well aware of this and how the laws being manipulated if that's the correct phrase to get cars through the emmission test and in time the rules will change above all public pressure and what we all see in the press regarding diesel vehicles and pollution information will force the issue.

Summing up I'd say be aware, very aware of what in time will change regarding the rules and how the tests conducted. I suspect the rule governing covers will change (on the current system the statement isn't in the menu but can be typed manually by the tester from memory) time will tell but times are changing for the derv vehicle

[mestonian]

What people dont seem to realise is that GDI, FSI, DI whatever the individual manufacturer wants to call it is bad. People will happily moan and groan about dpf's been gutted and removed but when someone removes their cats no one seems to care?
Once they have screwed the diesel drivers then the direct injection petrols will be next.

Little bit of evidence here:

http://articles.sae.org/13624

[andyw1971]

Well, I knew this would be a bit of a hot topic.

I suspect from reading various press releases and forum posts on varying makes of diesel cars that people are starting to get a bit edgy. I don't personally think that drastic change will happen quickly. I think that the "Policing of the DPF" by garages will be scrutinised closer and that a more thorough inspection/test will happen if only just to prove that the government is trying to do something about polution. From what i've read, any testing equipment may be expensive and garages may not be able to afford them. Will there be government subsidies? Will that mean that there will be fewer testing stations? who knows?

The first stage is nearly here with big cities banning diesel cars. What about lorries and probably more common, white van man? How many Transits, Sprinters, Movano's etc are petrol? Will they be banned? doubt it, cities would become inaccesable for deliveries. London are now even having to rethink about the expansion of Heathrow.

Me, well I think i'll still go for the 335D, keep the dpf, and just enjoy it while i can. If and when the time comes when it becomes unfinancial to run a diesel, then i'll go petrol. (By the way, i'm not against petrol, i have a classic Mini Cooper which loves to burn the stuff) I just feel a big diesel is right for me at the moment.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by mestonian

What people dont seem to realise is that GDI, FSI, DI whatever the individual manufacturer wants to call it is bad. People will happily moan and groan about dpf's been gutted and removed but when someone removes their cats no one seems to care?

Once they have screwed the diesel drivers then the direct injection petrols will be next.

Little bit of evidence here:

http://articles.sae.org/13624

Yep agree with this but on the radar as you rightly say there's not so much "public pressure" currently applied to the fact that in some cases CATS may have been removed don't get me wrong as stated its an emission control device and therefore listed but the eyes are currently on diesel's and all the issues they face