Swirl flap blank off plugs

[wezza320d]

Has anyone ever replaced their swirl flaps with the avaiable blank offs? Blank offs not avaiable through BM dealers in East Rand. Are the blank offs avaiable locally and where?

 

[ChefDJ]

Has anyone ever replaced their swirl flaps with the avaiable blank offs? Blank offs not avaiable through BM dealers in East Rand. Are the blank offs avaiable locally and where?

Greetings.

These are not available locally at all. eBay is your best bet. Paid around R400.00 for mine and it took a month to get here. Make sure you order the correct size for your engine.

:thumbs:

 

[Nikhil]

Paid R550 for mine took about a month to get also. Price variations due to exchange rate fluctuations :thumbs:

 

[DieselFan]

Ebay

I'm currently wait on those...

 

[///Moose]

If u need the 33mm ones I have a set

 

[wezza320d]

Thanks Moose, I am just not sure whether my 320 d takes the 22mm or the 33mm. If you look at the ads for the blanks on the net, they supply the 22mm in 4's and the 33mm in 6's. Am I correct in saying that the 22mm is for the 2 litre and the 33mm is for the 3 litre?

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Where did you order them from and what size did you order. I am not sure which size (22mm or 33mm) to order?

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I see you have the 3 litre. Did you fit 22mm blanks or 33mm?

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Did you fit them on your 530d? I'm asking cause I'm not sure what size my 320 d takes. Are the 33mm for the 3 litres and the 22mm for the 2 litres?

 

[DieselFan]

99percent of e46s will have the 22mm flaps. According to the info online

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[DieselFan]

Most of the guys that sell them will ship you both and you fit which ones your car has and then ship it back to get refunded. Shipping isn't very expensive just for the flaps

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[///Moose]

My gut says you probably have the 22mm but it's best is to physically check the size or you could order the 22mm and if it's the 33mm then u have me as a backup lol
You will need a set of 6 on both sizes

 

[ChefDJ]

Are the 33mm for the 3 litres and the 22mm for the 2 litres?

No.

The 530d has 22mm.

 

[DieselFan]

He has the 4 cylinder moose. So 4 blanks.

I'll also keep that in mind that you have the 33mm ones =)

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[///Moose]

He has the 4 cylinder moose. So 4 blanks.

I'll also keep that in mind that you have the 33mm ones =)

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Ah u right, I was thinking bout the 6cyl motors. Yeah I ordered a set of both and just decided to keep the 33mm in case I needed it in the future so happy for anyone to use it

 

[wezza320d]

Thanks for the reply. What if you just cut the shaft that the flap mounts to off? That will eliminate the flap or screws going into the intake and you wouldn't have to pay for the blank from overseas.

 

[DieselFan]

I think that's what my mech has done to mine. But I want peace of mind and just do it properly.

There are guides online for what you want to do.

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[ChefDJ]

Thanks for the reply. What if you just cut the shaft that the flap mounts to off? That will eliminate the flap or screws going into the intake and you wouldn't have to pay for the blank from overseas.

Do not do this.

 

[DieselFan]

:fencelook:

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[Hellas]

Thanks for the reply. What if you just cut the shaft that the flap mounts to off? That will eliminate the flap or screws going into the intake and you wouldn't have to pay for the blank from overseas.

Do not do this.

Yes you can. Do not cut the shaft though, just remove the flap from the spindle and re insert the 'empty' spindle. The flap is held to the shaft with two small screws. Lightly grind the bottom of the screws as they are clinched at the bottom, then unscrew them. They take a small torx.

I took the flaps off mine more than 3 years ago and no problems to this day.

 

[ChefDJ]

Thanks for the reply. What if you just cut the shaft that the flap mounts to off? That will eliminate the flap or screws going into the intake and you wouldn't have to pay for the blank from overseas.

Do not do this.

Yes you can. Do not cut the shaft though, just remove the flap from the spindle and re insert the 'empty' spindle. The flap is held to the shaft with two small screws. Lightly grind the bottom of the screws as they are clinched at the bottom, then unscrew them. They take a small torx.

I took the flaps off mine more than 3 years ago and no problems to this day.

That sounds like a much better way to do it. I would not suggest cutting anything up near there. Firstly you may end up with a problem and may need to put the swirl flaps back (not likely but still a possibility), and secondly you don't want any metal shards anywhere near that intake manifold. If that gets sucked into the motor you can prepare for a pricey rebuild.

The safest bet is to just order the aluminium blanks, and you have peace of mind for the rest of your time with the car.

:thumbs:

 

[netercol]

there is a third option, i have done it this way for some of my less well funded friends..

take the flap off the way hellas described, then pull the shaft out of the plug.. use a selftapper that !securely! grips the hole FROM THE OUTSIDE!! together with prattley steel. refit when dry. makes for a secure seal.

obviously this is the poor mans solution, an engineer's solution would be to use the aluminium replacement plugs.

 

[Solo Man]

I did the same as Netercol but i hammered the ends of the brass screws flat so the nuts can in no way unscrew! Also used Pratley putty to seal it!

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I actually have a six pot inlet manifold hanging in my garage already modified the same way!