Swirl flaps..?

[ryanvs]

Been reading a fair amount on swirl flaps, does a E39 530d have these?
And if so what are the risks etc?

 

[Sith]

No expert on this, but have also glancingly read a fair amount on this issue. As far as I know, your car does have these dreaded swirl flaps. I think BMW upgraded them at some point, not sure tho if before or after your car's release. I believe they can be removed altogether. If I were you, I'd check this out with a dealer, and remove the buggers just in case they decide to lunch your motor. Hope this helps

 

[P1000]

I removed mine. If it is a manual, there is a chance that it does not have them, but otherwise it definitely has them.

 

[Hellas]

I removed mine. If it is a manual, there is a chance that it does not have them, but otherwise it definitely has them.

Why does the box affect whether the car have flaps?

 

[P1000]

AFAIK, the E39 530d manual did not have the flaps... But I'm not entirely sure when it changed to all having flaps.

 

[Christo]

I had a e46 330d and at 98765km it sucked in one of the swirl flaps.... Apparently the are made of carbon fiber, it DESTROYED the engine. Luckily I had like 1000 odd kms still left of my motorplan. So BMW replaced the engine assembly, turbo ect. Total cost R128 000 :shocked::shocked::shocked:

Needless to say 2 days after I recieved it back I sold it

If you can remove them, I would do just that

 

[Hellas]

Great timing on the motorplan there, Christo
I don't think the flaps would be carbon fibre though. The problem is the failure of teenie screws that hold the flap to the spindle.

I removed the flaps and simply replaced the spindle. 100%

 

[P1000]

I Machined blanking plates for mine, installed them at 267kkm, the flaps were still perfect then, but they are most definitely not carbon fibre.

 

[Hellas]

Importing the blanks turned out to be cheaper than having them machined in my instance. (I'm not too handy with the metal lathe, gimme the wood lathe and I'm fine )

Maybe get a production line running, P1000?

 

[P1000]

Importing them will be much cheaper, I am not willing to do that much work for someone else... I also got our machine shop to work out a quote on them, it was much more expensive than the imports...

 

[ryanvs]

Crikey! I'll have to take it to BMW and let them advise me if the flaps are still in.
The motor was rebuilt in 2007 by BMW AutoBavaria in Midrand, cost BMW 64k. They couldn't tell what caused the motor to knock tho. I just hope that they removed them then!

 

[P1000]

I don't think BMW will remove them for you, they will stick to their guns that there is nothing wrong with their swirl flap design, either way, it is easy to tell if you have them, will post pics tonight if I remember...

 

[ryanvs]

Awesomeness!!! Should never have sold my M5. My brother's got a 1985 745i with 340k on the clock, on it's 3rd box, but that M88 motors' still the business! You must see it on the skid pan...

 

[StK]

AFAIK, the E39 530d manual did not have the flaps... But I'm not entirely sure when it changed to all having flaps.

As far as I know the EARLY 520D and 320D manuals did not have them but the 530D and 330D do-when the face lift came out then all dervs got them.......there is a list that I will up later of all swirl flap cars....BMW will not remove them but it doesn't take long to remove them and replace them with blanks.I'll post up a guide later too...It doesn't take too long if you know how to use a tool :thumbsup:

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M47-no flaps
M47N common rail engines 2001 onwards has flaps and turbos that fail-in 2004 an uprated manifold was introduced and in late 2003 an new design turbo was fitted
M57 engines(M57D)(525D & 187bhp 330D) manual no flaps...autos do have flaps
M57N engines(M57TUD)(525D and 204bhp 330D) all have swirl flaps

 

[ryanvs]

http://www.swirlflaps.co.uk/buy-now.html
Will order some asap!!!
@ P1000, simple DIY or best get it to a BMW tecci?

 

[P1000]

Simple DIY. just be carefull not to drop anything into the intake ports on the head.

M57 engine was the only one that the E39 came with, stk, so the manuals have no flaps then...

 

[zaleonardz]

Having just read this post now,

Christo, that was a gift from heavin, I so would have kept the car after that, if it was a complete replacement motor and plumbing, its a frikken new car, with a one year warentee on the motor...

 

[P1000]

From the passenger side, looking in under the intake manifold from the fender:

if you see the part in red, that is part of the swirl flap...

Swirl flaps still looking healthy at 267kkm (all looked like this):

This is the swirl flap blanks blank:

And the final blank (crappy phone pic):

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Having just read this post now,

Christo, that was a gift from heavin, I so would have kept the car after that, if it was a complete replacement motor and plumbing, its a frikken new car, with a one year warentee on the motor...

+1

 

[netercol]

http://shop.ebay.com/sparkesandnoise/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

or give this bloke a try, i have bought from him a few times already, absolutely no hassles.. and cheapest you will find.

 

[Christo]

Great timing on the motorplan there, Christo
I don't think the flaps would be carbon fibre though. The problem is the failure of teenie screws that hold the flap to the spindle.

I removed the flaps and simply replaced the spindle. 100%

Having just read this post now,

Christo, that was a gift from heavin, I so would have kept the car after that, if it was a complete replacement motor and plumbing, its a frikken new car, with a one year warentee on the motor...

Yea, I was very lucky. BMW gave me a 2 year guarantee on the new engine, but I was scared that other things might go wrong such as gearbox or OBC :dropjaw::dropjaw: