intake valve cleaning?

[Da _Grk_Tuner]

Does BMW do intake valve cleaning?

[1speedbike]

Some dealerships do; some I think don't. You just gotta call and ask. I was quoted about $720 from my dealership for this service.

[ken1137]

My dealer confirmed they do it so i'll have to get a quote in the future. Just check around and if not go to the following link ....I believe 1speedbike confirmed his dealer uses this service.

http://www.bgfindashop.com/bgservices/fuelair.htm

[stevenc]

My car got done yesterday by a local shop. $350.

I only have 45K miles and here are the before and afters.

[Vorsprung_CJB]

When I inquired at my last service my dealer quoted me $1333, I laughed in their face. They said it is extremely rare for them to do it under warranty unless master tech OKs it. Local high end shop quoted $400-500 depending how much media they need.

[PA135i]

Originally Posted by Vorsprung_CJB

When I inquired at my last service my dealer quoted me $1333, I laughed in their face. They said it is extremely rare for them to do it under warranty unless master tech OKs it. Local high end shop quoted $400-500 depending how much media they need.

Had mine done under warranty. Check engine light came on. So they cleaned the carbon at no charge. I had 43K on the car at the time.

[sonicbimmer19]

Is intake valve cleaning the same thing as injection cleaner?

[stevenc]

No. Injectors spray the fuel and can be cleaned with a chemical added to the fuel. Intake values have to be manually cleaned because they dont come in contact with the fuel.

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

Is intake valve cleaning the same thing as injection cleaner?

As steve said, nope it's not. But my dealership also offers an injector flush/cleaning. However, they don't recommend doing it for the N54/N55 engines, only the N/A ones. I was quoted a bit cheaper for it than the walnut shell blasting (the intake valve cleaning) at about $450.

[sonicbimmer19]

Originally Posted by 1speedbike

As steve said, nope it's not. But my dealership also offers an injector flush/cleaning. However, they don't recommend doing it for the N54/N55 engines, only the N/A ones. I was quoted a bit cheaper for it than the walnut shell blasting (the intake valve cleaning) at about $450.

What's the reason they don't recommend injector cleaning for turbo engines?
I have N52 and I just add Chevron injector cleaner once a year

[ragingpanda]

Dealership quoted me $780 to clean my valves, so I opted to have it done elsewhere for $500. It made a remarkable difference in terms of throttle response when I had it done around 57k miles.

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

What's the reason they don't recommend injector cleaning for turbo engines?
I have N52 and I just add Chevron injector cleaner once a year

I think it's just something to do with the fact that N53/N54/N55 utilize direct injection, while the N52 does not. They said they only give _28i models the injector flush service, though it's not a "routine maintenance" type thing so it's always extra. They didn't really tell me anything else beyond that, but I guess it makes sense to me. I haven't thought much into it, though. And I'm pretty sure the BMW brand injector cleaner IS the Chevron cleaner, with a roundel on the bottle and a price markup to match

[sonicbimmer19]

Originally Posted by 1speedbike

And I'm pretty sure the BMW brand injector cleaner IS the Chevron cleaner, with a roundel on the bottle and a price markup to match

I agree. Same exact bottles, just different cover.

[qcodec]

I might need this service soon if the price is good. BTW stevenc, the cleaned intake valve looks great. It looks like new!

I didn't know that cleaning service can remove whole carbon build-up like that.

[stevenc]

Yeah, i was pretty impressed with the cleaned values as well!!

[uberschnell]

Originally Posted by stevenc

My car got done yesterday by a local shop. $350.

I only have 45K miles and here are the before and afters.

That's a fantastic deal. Best one I've heard of.

Here is mine at around 46K after BG cleaning but before blasting.

[mike the snake]

One dealership told me they DO do the walnut shell thang, quoted me $800 in labor for that, the other dealership said they had some special treatment that cost only $300, and I asked if it was Seafoam, they said it was something similar but not Seafoam. Either way, going with anything from the dealership seems way overpriced.

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

I agree. Same exact bottles, just different cover.

[Lester]

Where does all that crap come from? Since these are direct injection, the only other source must be turbo air, is it that cruddy?

[stevenc]

Yes, remember that the waste oil from the PCV is fed back into the intake for burning and so oil is brunt through the intake system.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Lester

Where does all that crap come from? Since these are direct injection, the only other source must be turbo air, is it that cruddy?

Crankcase vapors! PCV (or CCV crank case vent) is where the oil vapors come from and buildup on the hot intake valves.

Blame D.I. and long oil change intervals - hence the oil gets thinner/diluted and ends up on your intake valves.

[Da _Grk_Tuner]

is this what the oil catch can is for?

[CGMike]

This is terrible! I wonder if a regimen of seafoam and changing the oil at 3000 miles along with a catch can will help this? Runs to look for a good catch can. Any recommendations?