Swirl Flap group buy

[Hellas]

I'm ordering some swirl flap blanks from the UK and I'll be ordering some extra if anyone is interested.

To refresh the memory, swirl flaps are the little things on your diesel motor's intake manifold that sometimes breaks off and gets sucked into the motor and instantly destroys it. A simple solution will be to remove the flaps, but then you have to decently blank off the holes with these neat aluminum blanks which I'll be ordering soon.

http://swirlflaps.co.uk/what-are-swirl-flaps.html

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=6206&highlight=swirl

Shadow Worrior had a group buy earlier in the year, so if anybody is still interested, please reply or PM me.

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=4750&highlight=swirl

Cost is 6 pounds plus postage EACH at the moment and you won't find cheaper. (Other sites run for between 10 to 15 pounds each...) This is for the 22mm as well as 33mm blanks. I recon depending on import duties (or at least VAT @ 14%), you will look at about R110 EACH which will mean you can potentially save you 320d for about ZAR440 and you 330d for ZAR660.

Why import? I had 3 quotes from precision engineering shops and they all came to about ZAR190 a piece. (You gotta love SA's economy...)

Installation in done in 2 hours max if you are a novice, or 15 minutes flat if your name is Clutchplate or LeonardZ...

 

[zaleonardz]

LOL Hellas

Those good for the 730d, N57 motor I think, non TU.... ?

 

[Twinz]

A cheap and well worth preventative solution to a problem that could cost quite a few Rands...Good call Hellas. :thumbsup:

 

[Hellas]

Bumps... I'll be placing the order during this coming week.

 

[P1000]

I think you can have them machined locally for much cheaper. I have made drawings in Autocad with all the measurements, just need to find it...

EDIT: I'll speak to my machinist this week and see if he'll do a batch for you guys. I see only ten blanks, but what size? I only have the dimentions for the 22mm one, which is what mine took.

 

[Hellas]

That will be good if you can source them cheaper. I'll buy for sure. But like I said, the couple of quotes I got turned out more expensive since the labour required to manufacture the piece out of one solid piece of aluminum. Please keep us updated :thumbsup:

 

[zaleonardz]

Hi Hellas,

I also have a contact, what labour, a CNC can mill that thing out in a minute, the worst part is doing the cad design, I will own a CNC one day

 

[P1000]

And material cost is about R50 for more than enough material for 6...

ZL, also ask your contact, mine will most likely do it manually afterhours, so turnaround will be longer, but it might turn out cheaper.

 

[zaleonardz]

Well,

Having a quick look, it looks like a 3 phase machining process

1. Mill the basic shape
2. Cut the slot
3. Drill the holes.

My guy is only going to be cost effective if we do a production run of say 1000, then we will be looking at like R25 to R30 a unit, but what are you going to do with 1000 swirl flaps...

 

[Hellas]

OK, I'll hold back till I get some quotes from you guys. But remember another thing (a possible dealbreaker...)
I get the goodies to my doorstep for the full price. Having them made in SA will mean AT LEAST R80 or so courrier cost, so being R20 short on a blank doesn't really make it a less costly exercise...

 

[P1000]

Yeah, but you have to still courier them to the other guys in the group buy, so that makes little sense... How many do I need to find out for? 10 only? 6 for ZL and 4 for HELLAS?

 

[Hellas]

Spot on P1000 :thumbsup: I'm in.

 

[zaleonardz]

:thumbsup:

 

[P1000]

Spoke to the guy on monday, seems like he doesn't think it will be worth his while. Sorry.

 

[Hellas]

Ok, cool.
LZ, have you got any quotes or can I import?
Should I get 6 extra for you too?

 

[P1000]

Should I get 6 extra for you too?

If you are asking me, no thanks, I just machined my own the same day I got the car. :thumbsup:

 

[ryanvs]

Somewhat late on this thread, any still orders still going? Or local guys manufacturing?

 

[Hellas]

I see you got right here.

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=18509

 

[Technician]

I think you can have them machined locally for much cheaper. I have made drawings in Autocad with all the measurements, just need to find it...

EDIT: I'll speak to my machinist this week and see if he'll do a batch for you guys. I see only ten blanks, but what size? I only have the dimentions for the 22mm one, which is what mine took.

i could machine them if your cad design is accurate?
cnc machinist in jhb

 

[P1000]

i could machine them if your cad design is accurate?
cnc machinist in jhb

I believe it is. I'll see if I can find the drawing... PM me your email addy, then you can give us an approximate cost.