Glow controller swop and part identification needed

[marinaman]

Afternoon all
while sun out i thought will tackle the glow controller. Found on You tube a video showing how without the need for removal of manifold. seems to work but my findings were,
You can manage with a 1/4 ratchet and small extension bar to reachg both nuts easily, the tube showed him taping the bits together to stop them dropping of into the pit. it works,  tape them bars together.
The large multiplug is a right........  to get off, also tie wrap the various hoses etc up to give more access.
on the photo is a pipe i found, it doesnt seem to go anywhere, could someone tell me what it is. Again dont know why every pic i upload turns sideways    Thanks
Photo and you tube link attached

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQn5J47ElwU

[X5Sport]

It's a vent tube but I can't remember what for.  I think it could be for the gearbox.

[marinaman]

Ah  Thanks,  did wonder if a vent, but didnt know if knocked something off while generally removing skin from hands and arms  )    workhop nitrile gloves are usless by the way, they get shredded by all the hose clips and sharp bits.
must have used 10 pairs.

[Horizon]

Well done for managing to change the glowplug controller without removing the inlet manifold. I did mine a few months ago, but changed the glowplugs too so had to remove the inlet manifold.
It was a tricky job then even.
As you say the large multiplug doesn't want to come out does it

[kkx5]

Front diff vent.

[marinaman]

Bad lanuage afoot  >:( >:( >:( >:(
put scanner on and still getting glow plug fault on 1,2,3,4,6  but not no.5    thought i would take a chance on just controller but no change.
is it common for 5 plugs to fail ? 
Thanks :'(

[Horizon]

If you can get a meter to them , you can do a resistance check on them individually to see if they are good or bad.
I changed mine when I did the controller, and while I had the inlet manifold off I did the swirlflap delete.
As yours doesn't have swirl flaps, that won't be a problem.

[marinaman]

is it manifold off to even test the glow plugs then, doesnt seem to have any problems starting or idling from cold when last cold weather it was 2c    all i get is a puff of white smoke when starting if cold.

[Horizon]

[quote="marinaman"]
is it manifold off to even test the glow plugs then, doesnt seem to have any problems starting or idling from cold when last cold weather it was 2c    all i get is a puff of white smoke when starting if cold.
[/quote]

As you can see in the photo, the glowplugs are just below the intake port, also they have the caps on them which need a good tug  to remove them
I would be very surprised if you could see them never mimd access them and remove the caps with the inlet manifold in place.
I replaced the plugs and controller at the same time as mine was showing 3 glowplugs faulty on my Carly app.
All clear once back together.
I replaced mine as it's got a DPF and won't regen if the plugs are faulty. I also did the thermostat for the same reason.
The E53 doesn't have a DPF so not as critical, but will still start ok even with several plugs down.
The puff of smoke is quite common.

[marinaman]

Thanks for that info, will research how complex a job it is.