Removing the swirl flaps in a diesel engine
#231
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kajaani, Finland
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: Bmw 530d 2004
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Another swirl flaps removed last weekend from a member's car. He drove about 650km plus made over a 300km boat trip to me (and the same back of course)
!
- Antti -
![Big Grin](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/biggrin.gif)
- Antti -
#232
New Members
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: united kingdom
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Ok guys, hello to you all.
I have a 2004 525d (177) which has covered 115k, I am going to be removing the swirl flaps and using the aftermarket alluminium blanking plates purely as it looks a nice neat job and should I experience any issues I have the complete original swirl flaps that can simply be reinstalled. Having read all 16 pages I have the following queries though if you could help:
1. Where is the engine breather filter located (so that I can replace this also whilst doing the flaps)
2. Am I correct in understanding you leave the swirl flap actuator and rod in situ and just remove the flaps only
regards Stew6
I have a 2004 525d (177) which has covered 115k, I am going to be removing the swirl flaps and using the aftermarket alluminium blanking plates purely as it looks a nice neat job and should I experience any issues I have the complete original swirl flaps that can simply be reinstalled. Having read all 16 pages I have the following queries though if you could help:
![Twoup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/twoup.gif)
1. Where is the engine breather filter located (so that I can replace this also whilst doing the flaps)
2. Am I correct in understanding you leave the swirl flap actuator and rod in situ and just remove the flaps only
regards Stew6
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
#233
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kajaani, Finland
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: Bmw 530d 2004
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Ok guys, hello to you all.
I have a 2004 525d (177) which has covered 115k, I am going to be removing the swirl flaps and using the aftermarket alluminium blanking plates purely as it looks a nice neat job and should I experience any issues I have the complete original swirl flaps that can simply be reinstalled. Having read all 16 pages I have the following queries though if you could help:
1. Where is the engine breather filter located (so that I can replace this also whilst doing the flaps)
2. Am I correct in understanding you leave the swirl flap actuator and rod in situ and just remove the flaps only
regards Stew6![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
I have a 2004 525d (177) which has covered 115k, I am going to be removing the swirl flaps and using the aftermarket alluminium blanking plates purely as it looks a nice neat job and should I experience any issues I have the complete original swirl flaps that can simply be reinstalled. Having read all 16 pages I have the following queries though if you could help:
![Twoup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/twoup.gif)
1. Where is the engine breather filter located (so that I can replace this also whilst doing the flaps)
2. Am I correct in understanding you leave the swirl flap actuator and rod in situ and just remove the flaps only
regards Stew6
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
If you mean the engine air filter, it locates here:
![Removing the swirl flaps in a diesel engine-breather-filter.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/128352d1482364199t-removing-swirl-flaps-diesel-engine-breather-filter.jpg)
![](http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/u/q/199.png)
2) Yes.
- Antti -
#234
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hi to everybody
I'm doing full check in and service to my car and I found this topic in right time. It's from last week I'm reading this DIY and to be honest I read it twice all! I have e61 535d '06 with 110tkm. Yesterday I put on my gloves and started to dismounting the intake manifold. With big surprise I found a lot of oil under manifold all the way down till transmission. I hate this!!!
Took a look at swirl flaps and they were like new but 4 swirl flap casings were covered with oil. The strange is that the other two swirl flap casings were absolutely clean. It took me a whole day to clean the engine and another day to clean egr valve (not much dirt inside) and intake manifold.
Now I have two question. From where is all that oil leaking? Swirl flaps? Why oil in swirl flaps?
I read that someone blamed breather filter. Uff even didn't knew that this exist, so immediately took apart the breather and for my surprise its empty. I have no filter inside.
Is this normal?
Can some one confirm that my engine have no need for filter in breather?
Thanks
I'm doing full check in and service to my car and I found this topic in right time. It's from last week I'm reading this DIY and to be honest I read it twice all! I have e61 535d '06 with 110tkm. Yesterday I put on my gloves and started to dismounting the intake manifold. With big surprise I found a lot of oil under manifold all the way down till transmission. I hate this!!!
![Fcuk](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/fcuk.gif)
Took a look at swirl flaps and they were like new but 4 swirl flap casings were covered with oil. The strange is that the other two swirl flap casings were absolutely clean. It took me a whole day to clean the engine and another day to clean egr valve (not much dirt inside) and intake manifold.
Now I have two question. From where is all that oil leaking? Swirl flaps? Why oil in swirl flaps?
![Confused](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
I read that someone blamed breather filter. Uff even didn't knew that this exist, so immediately took apart the breather and for my surprise its empty. I have no filter inside.
![Confused](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
Is this normal?
Can some one confirm that my engine have no need for filter in breather?
Thanks
#235
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK - Romford, Essex
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I've read some BMWs have had the breather removed, but not on an 06... Best to get the vortex type breather and put that in as a replacement and see if this helps
Are you getting Grey smoke when you put your foot down or when the engine idles?
Are you getting Grey smoke when you put your foot down or when the engine idles?
#236
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Are you getting Grey smoke when you put your foot down or when the engine idles?
This are the pics of what I meant when describing one swirl flap casing covered with oil and next one complete clean. It is possible that oil is leaking from swirl flaps casing?
![Removing the swirl flaps in a diesel engine-photo-31.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/128750d1482364199t-removing-swirl-flaps-diesel-engine-photo-31.jpg)
![Removing the swirl flaps in a diesel engine-photo-41.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/128751d1482364199t-removing-swirl-flaps-diesel-engine-photo-41.jpg)
And about a breather. This is a photo of mine. It is old or a new one (vortex)?
![Removing the swirl flaps in a diesel engine-photo-11.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/128752d1482364199t-removing-swirl-flaps-diesel-engine-photo-11.jpg)
#237
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kajaani, Finland
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: Bmw 530d 2004
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
There's always some oil in the intake manifold and intake air hoses and yes it's true that sometimes swirl flap casings can drizzle some oil through.
- Antti -
- Antti -
#238
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK - Romford, Essex
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Good to hear re the no grey smoke
![](https://5series.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)
As Antti says there is always some oil in the intake manifold / air hoses and the swirl flap spindle / seal can be a source of tiny amounts of oil coming through so nothing to worry about.
Are you planning to remove the flaps as per Antti excellent guide and use screws or use blanking plates? Not sure where your based, but in the UK you can source blanking plates with rubber o ring seals. Im sure others must sell them dependant on where your based... But make sure you measure the diameter of the flaps as there are two sizes.
If you go the screw route the apoxy will help seal the spindle hole to prevent / reduce any leaks
Breather - By the looks of your oil breather its the newer style one, its been a while since I looked at mine though, but its the sponge loo roll type one that causes problems, best way to tell is check the part number against realoem.com (use the last 8 digits of your VIN)
#239
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK - Romford, Essex
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Good to hear re the no grey smoke
![](https://5series.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)
As Antti says there is always some oil in the intake manifold / air hoses and the swirl flap spindle / seal can be a source of tiny amounts of oil coming through so nothing to worry about.
Are you planning to remove the flaps as per Antti excellent guide and use screws or use blanking plates? Not sure where your based, but in the UK you can source blanking plates with rubber o ring seals. Im sure others must sell them dependant on where your based... But make sure you measure the diameter of the flaps as there are two sizes.
If you go the screw route the apoxy will help seal the spindle hole to prevent / reduce any leaks
Breather - By the looks of your oil breather its the newer style one, its been a while since I looked at mine though, but its the sponge loo roll type one that causes problems, best way to tell is check the part number against realoem.com (use the last 8 digits of your VIN)
#240
Members
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hi Anzafin,
Thanks again for the great write-up. Received my blanking plates from PMW yesterday and installed them with the help of my "assistant".
![](https://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/lverheul/blank_plates_2.jpg)
The whole job took about 3 hours, including coffee break and an expedition to find a Torx 45 bit for the strut bar.
Happy I did it, even though all my swirl flaps were in great condition. Only downside: I lost a torx bit, which is now rolling around on the bottom engine cover.
I'm sure it'll come out at a certain stage...
Cheers & thanks again
Thanks again for the great write-up. Received my blanking plates from PMW yesterday and installed them with the help of my "assistant".
![](https://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/lverheul/blank_plates_2.jpg)
The whole job took about 3 hours, including coffee break and an expedition to find a Torx 45 bit for the strut bar.
Happy I did it, even though all my swirl flaps were in great condition. Only downside: I lost a torx bit, which is now rolling around on the bottom engine cover.
![Whistling](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/whistling.gif)
Cheers & thanks again