Swirl Flaps done today

[jagr]

I have today replaced my swirl flaps on my X3 and it was a lot easier than I thought.

I have a couple of queries though:

1 Anyone know what the torque of the 11mm nuts at the swirl flap end of the inlet manifold?

2 The bar that opens and shuts the flaps is removed but there was an electrical box that was connected to it via a rubber pipe. Now that the bar isn't there should the electrical connector be plugged in or not?

Cheers

[X5Sport]

[quote="jagr"]
2 The bar that opens and shuts the flaps is removed but there was an electrical box that was connected to it via a rubber pipe. Now that the bar isn't there should the electrical connector be plugged in or not?
[/quote]

Might be a good idea in case the car throws a tizzy fit.... . Can't do any harm as it's not going to do anything after all.

Richard

[kjb1]

When i did swirl delete, we left bar and the mechanism in place!! so effectively the car still controls it back n forth, its just connected to no swirl flaps, but always in correct position car is requesting etc!! best way I would say.

[jagr]

Cheers for replies

I have since noticed that the electric valve 11747810831 was broken and the hose towards the front of the engine had a screw screwed into it. The back one to the vacuum box controlling the swirl flap rod was ok.

Does anyone know what it controls if anything?

I bought and fitted a new one today just in case it was causing any damage.

[jagr]

Pics showing how much crud was on my swirl flaps at 45k

[X5Sport]

Good grief!  How the h3ll does all that crap get in there?  Where's it coming from?  Must change them on our E46!

Richard

[Sanj]

jagr does it feel like it's running better now?

[jagr]

[quote="Sanj"]
jagr does it feel like it's running better now?
[/quote]

Yes it feels like a different car. It is more responsive and the fuel economy is better.
I drove 120 miles the other night at motorway speeds and it averaged 43.6mpg, When I did a similar journey last month I averaged 38.7mpg.

Now I could have cleaned them up and refitted them and it could have given the same improvements but I now feel safe knowing they won't snap.

[Horizon]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Good grief!  How the h3ll does all that crap get in there?  Where's it coming from?  Must change them on our E46!

Richard
[/quote]

I think all that carbon that gets in to the inlet valve is probably from the EGR valve, when I took my EGR valve off the E53 to clean it you could see all the inlet manifold coated in gunge and carbon. It's not surprising that these swirl flaps break up with all that stuck to them.
In surprised there is so much though

[iiyama]

This may be a dumb question, but if the engine runs as well without them, whats the point of them being there in the first place?

[kjb1]

emmisions, low down drivability, really un noticeable however!!

[sprintman]

I had a e46 320 tourer and removed the swirl flaps , same as yours covered in crud! refitted all electrical connections etc and blanked off the vacuum hose controlling the egr valve did this when car had done 65k sold it when it had got 110 k still returned between 55 and 65 mpg on motorway depending how heavy you drove it got to say it drove as good with the swirl flaps removed as it did before!, got it remapped by ecotune in Scotland and was very impressed with the results(also got the s/s front pipe from ecotune which did away with the primary cat got to say it did sound well -miss that car!! still get emails from the guy who bought it telling me how good it is on fuel think he just likes to rub my nose in it!!

[iiyama]

[quote="kjb1"]
emmisions, low down drivability, really un noticeable however!!
[/quote]

So still begs the question "why?" !!

If the car still goes through emissions at MOT, is still ok to drive and still returns good fuel mileage without them, why go to the expense of the R&D and manufacture to come up with something that breaks anyway? Very odd!

[kjb1]

really? i don't find it odd

[X5Sport]

It only gets through our emissions check because the diesel MOT is a smoke test.  Other countries have more stringent tests and if removed in those countries then they may fail.  It all depends upon which standards the car is trying to meet.  The E53 never had them because it was only ever EU3 but other cars with the same engine were tested to EU4.

I now have the bits to do our E46 so I now have a wee project to be getting on with.  The E46 330Cd vert was only ever released as a manual because it could not pass the emissions regs with an auto - even with swirl flaps fitted.

I wonder if other manufacturers who use the same type of technology for their engines also have similar failures?

Richard