Walnut blast at 50k UNREAL (ITS A MUST DO)

So I found an amazing indy shop inside the beltway paid 430 instead of the 800 the dealer wanted!!! I was more worried about paying and not seeing enough gunk at 50k, but what I got was stunning VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK (You can blow up the pics by clicking)







NOW FOR THE AMAZING WALNUTS

Unreal! Good job you caught it early. Every 335i owner should buy a borescope at ~50K miles or earlier. Make me want to Techron my 328i again right now

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Unreal! Good job you caught it early. Every 335i owner should buy a borescope at ~50K miles or earlier. Make me want to Techron my 328i again right now

My indy had to go at some of it with a screw driver on the sides ... I feel like I abused her and should be punished, honestly I think you need to take a look every 20k


The walnut blaster is amazing!

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Unreal! Good job you caught it early. Every 335i owner should buy a borescope at ~50K miles or earlier. Make me want to Techron my 328i again right now

Funny you mention Techron as it was always part of scheduled services when I went in with my Volvos. Interesting BMW doesn't include these are part of every oil service and looking at the above photos, they should or at least recommend it.

Originally Posted by daytrader

Funny you mention Techron as it was always part of scheduled services when I went in with my Volvos. Interesting BMW doesn't include these are part of every oil service and looking at the above photos, they should or at least recommend it.

I did fuel system cleaner 6 times every 3k and still got that

Originally Posted by SuperTerp

My indy had to go at some of it with a screw driver on the sides ... I feel like I abused her and should be punished, honestly I think you need to take a look every 20k


The walnut blaster is amazing!

Dude, you kill me!

As I'm local as well, who did the work for you? If not comfortable online, then PM.

So, yes, it's clean. How does it drive now? Looking at these posts reminds me I'm glad the N54 is gone. Reminds me of the RS4 nightmares with carbon build up.

Originally Posted by SuperTerp

I did fuel system cleaner 6 times every 3k and still got that

Wow.

Originally Posted by daytrader

Dude, you kill me!

As I'm local as well, who did the work for you? If not comfortable online, then PM.

lol I got to press the button on the shopvac when he'd need it turned on and off

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemin...32533253491321

Flemming Auto exit 19b off 495 its like 2 minutes off 495... He'll adjust to any schedule and the guys there all run modded 335i's... Amazing guys.

Originally Posted by daytrader

Wow.

Fuel system cleaners don't do anything for a DI based engine as far as the intake/valve cleanup.

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Fuel system cleaners don't do anything for a DI based engine as far as the intake/valve cleanup.

So looks like about every 30k or so. Good question to OP - any appreciable improvement in performance or fuel economy?

Originally Posted by thekurgan

So, yes, it's clean. How does it drive now? Looking at these posts reminds me I'm glad the N54 is gone. Reminds me of the RS4 nightmares with carbon build up.

Honestly I'd get some weird rumbles and no nothing. Its as quite as a mouse, so I'm going to assume it was due to that. Its a very noticeable change


If there weren't multiple people around the shop I think I would have hugged the block. I just feel so bad I let her run like that. I imagine its like missing a child's play or sporting event

Originally Posted by SuperTerp

lol I got to press the button on the shopvac when he'd need it turned on and off

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemin...32533253491321

Flemming Auto exit 19b off 495 its like 2 minutes off 495... He'll adjust to any schedule and the guys there all run modded 335i's... Amazing guys.

Thanks.

So how's the Cobb AP treating you?

Originally Posted by daytrader

Thanks.

So how's the Cobb AP treating you?

Honestly it saved my life today on 495

Right where you break off to go towards VA or go to 270/Rockville the lane was dead stopped and I was going 60 and there was no way I was stopping (neither was the guy in front of me), so he pulled out, and the cars in the other lane were all going full speed so I mashed it and barley made it in, Having spent so much time with the stage 1/stock it would not have gotten me in that pocket and I'd have gotten smashed into for pulling out, or nailed the dead stopped cars.

LOVE COBB

Originally Posted by SuperTerp

Honestly it saved my life today on 495

Right where you break off to go towards VA or go to 270/Rockville the lane was dead stopped and I was going 60 and there was no way I was stopping (neither was the guy in front of me), so he pulled out, and the cars in the other lane were all going full speed so I mashed it and barley made it in, Having spent so much time with the stage 1/stock it would not have gotten me in that pocket and I'd have gotten smashed into for pulling out, or nailed the dead stopped cars.

LOVE COBB

Always Fun on the 495!

The sad thing is, those intake valves aren't even that bad... I've seen way worse (I'm a BMW master tech). The N63 engines are just as bad, I'm even starting to see the same issue on the N55's... We've had this problem on all direct injection engines starting with the N73. The buildup is noticeable as early as 20k miles

Originally Posted by bmwoem1

The sad thing is, those intake valves aren't even that bad... I've seen way worse (I'm a BMW master tech). The N63 engines are just as bad, I'm even starting to see the same issue on the N55's... We've had this problem on all direct injection engines starting with the N73. The buildup is noticeable as early as 20k miles

As a tech, does the shop recommend service in this walnut blast form, chemical or other? Are customers asking for an exam upon request or are dealerships proposing a quick inspection on interval? Just curious.

We use walnut blasting... This is only done to rectify misfire faults. So it's on a case by case basis

Originally Posted by bmwoem1

The sad thing is, those intake valves aren't even that bad... I've seen way worse (I'm a BMW master tech). The N63 engines are just as bad, I'm even starting to see the same issue on the N55's... We've had this problem on all direct injection engines starting with the N73. The buildup is noticeable as early as 20k miles

lol thats what my indy guy said he was doing a ladies who put 125k on an n54 535i and said it was a terrible job getting it all gone.

He saw I felt bad.

Originally Posted by bmwoem1

We use walnut blasting... This is only done to rectify misfire faults. So it's on a case by case basis

Yeah but that gunk buildup can't be good... Even if its missfiring correct?

Originally Posted by thekurgan

As a tech, does the shop recommend service in this walnut blast form, chemical or other? Are customers asking for an exam upon request or are dealerships proposing a quick inspection on interval? Just curious.

I doubt a chem would ever match a high pressure blast/ hand scrape with a flathead.

Wow, amazing! Thank you for the pics! I wish regular use of an intake cleaner or system would prevent this.

Originally Posted by bmwoem1

The sad thing is, those intake valves aren't even that bad... I've seen way worse (I'm a BMW master tech). The N63 engines are just as bad, I'm even starting to see the same issue on the N55's... We've had this problem on all direct injection engines starting with the N73. The buildup is noticeable as early as 20k miles

Consensus seems to be: Plan on it at or about 60k mi.

But, is the problem PCV blowby alone? In that case, DANGER! ILLEGAL! disconnecting the PCV system from the intake should solve the issue.

That's done by virtually nobody on public roads. Also, I'm astonished that nobody's come up with a way to allow PCV and fully filter/wash air coming through.

You automotive lubricant chemists - what's so hard?

Come to think of it, I know where we might get a well qualified answer - I'll post next week if it develops.

Originally Posted by Firewire

Wow, amazing! Thank you for the pics! I wish regular use of an intake cleaner or system would prevent this.

No problem! Yeah same... 6 bottles of techron at 3k intervals didn't do squat.

Some folks have been seeing this same issue on the M57 engines. Except, for some reason they are replacing parts instead of the walnut blasting.

Originally Posted by 3ismagic#

Some folks have been seeing this same issue on the M57 engines. Except, for some reason they are replacing parts instead of the walnut blasting.

I Don't know why the pics I pulled up looks like you could do it. Mine really is much smoother. VERY noticeable!

I'd have paid 2k and felt like I got a bargain if a tech came out and showed me those pictures, and then I got the difference in drive I have now.

This procedure should be standard for any car to get CPO.