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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

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tomrdy
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:59 pm

Hey guys,

I wanted to do some preventative maintenance as my car is about 150k kms soon and wanted to check that my DISA valve is OK or needs to be replaced.

I was going to just pull it off and take a look to check the pins/flaps/vacuum etc but for some reason my brain is telling me there's something about not being able to re-sit the unit without new seals after pulling off even if everything is fine???

Couldn't find anything to back this up (or rather that the seals will break on the m54 if I remove it) but it's definitely in my head for some reason. Am... I going crazy and made that up? :| :| :| :|

Cheers,

T
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by ERX » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:36 am

You can check the DISA valve without replacing any seals. I checked mine a few weeks ago

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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:55 am

ERX wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:36 am You can check the DISA valve without replacing any seals. I checked mine a few weeks ago
Cool thanks mate! So just pop it off, inspect, if all good - pop back on?
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by ERX » Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:10 am

tomrdy wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:55 am
Cool thanks mate! So just pop it off, inspect, if all good - pop back on?
Yes mate, just check a couple of guides if you're not sure how to get it off and on though :D

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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 9:09 am

Will do cheers! :thumbsup:
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by john-e89 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 9:22 am

tomrdy wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 9:09 am Will do cheers! :thumbsup:
Pointless taking it out and not fitting an upgrade kit though Tom. The kits are approx £50 and use a threaded shaft instead of the pin that can fall out and sit on a piston waiting to be crushed. The flap arm will probably be worn too, the kit has a new one plus an alloy flap rather than plastic and new seals. Easy job to do. :thumbsup:
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:24 pm

Ah didn't know there was an upgrade for it!

Is it something like this?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2256111739

I'd be keen on that. Threaded rod sounds good and would put my anxiety of engine-grenading to rest lol!
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by ERX » Fri Aug 03, 2018 1:14 pm

I think you should have a look at your one first. When I had a look at mine, I was confused as to how the pin can actually come all the way out as it doesn't look like there's enough clearance for it to. My DISA valve was perfectly fine too, so I didn't bother with an upgrade kit.

This is the upgrade kit I was going to kit if you want to have a look
https://www.i6automotive.co.uk/bmw-disa ... -only.html

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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by kis » Fri Aug 03, 2018 1:27 pm

Not sure about the ebay one but i6 are well known for their DISA and Vanos kits :)
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X5 - E53, E70
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:00 pm

@ERX yep will plan to take a look at it regardless! I'm removing the airbox to clean up some wiring for my halos anyway so it'll be 2 birds :D

Thanks for the link. Will check it out if a repair/upgrade is needed. Fingers crossed it's fine tho!
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by john-e89 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:48 pm

tomrdy wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:00 pm @ERX yep will plan to take a look at it regardless! I'm removing the airbox to clean up some wiring for my halos anyway so it'll be 2 birds :D

Thanks for the link. Will check it out if a repair/upgrade is needed. Fingers crossed it's fine tho!
:scratchhead: If you’re taking it out to look at it surely you might as well upgrade a known weak point on that engine? Even if it seems ok £50 will guarantee the pin won’t fall out as it’d be gone. 50 quid is a LOT cheaper than a potentially lunched engine no?
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by Bill10 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 5:59 pm

Got an intermittant misfire on my 330Ci. It has the M54 engine. Thinking it was probably an air leak in the intake manifold. I checked the DISA valve and intake pipes. In the DISA valve the flap was flapping, no connection to the shaft and coritrol arm. So I replaced the DISA valve and the intake boot and elbow. Still have the misfire. Next step the CCV valve and the crankcase breather pipes.
07 E86 Z4MC, 04 E46 330Ci

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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by kis » Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:36 pm

john-e89 wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:48 pm [quote=tomrdy post_id=<a href="tel:1566933">1566933</a> time=<a href="tel:1533301228">1533301228</a> user_id=28543]
@ERX yep will plan to take a look at it regardless! I'm removing the airbox to clean up some wiring for my halos anyway so it'll be 2 birds :D

Thanks for the link. Will check it out if a repair/upgrade is needed. Fingers crossed it's fine tho!
:scratchhead: If you’re taking it out to look at it surely you might as well upgrade a known weak point on that engine? Even if it seems ok £50 will guarantee the pin won’t fall out as it’d be gone. 50 quid is a LOT cheaper than a potentially lunched engine no?
[/quote]

I’m the same, if it’s okay now... doesn’t mean it’ll still be okay in the next 1000 miles. It’s a known failure like the rear springs. Some are good for 20k some 60k etc etc. I checked my DISA about 5k ago so just need to pull my finger out and fit it now! FYI my current DISA works and looks fine
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by tomrdy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:39 pm

john-e89 wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:48 pm
tomrdy wrote: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:00 pm @ERX yep will plan to take a look at it regardless! I'm removing the airbox to clean up some wiring for my halos anyway so it'll be 2 birds :D

Thanks for the link. Will check it out if a repair/upgrade is needed. Fingers crossed it's fine tho!
:scratchhead: If you’re taking it out to look at it surely you might as well upgrade a known weak point on that engine? Even if it seems ok £50 will guarantee the pin won’t fall out as it’d be gone. 50 quid is a LOT cheaper than a potentially lunched engine no?
Oh yeh but ordering the part will take at least 2-3 weeks for it to arrive (I'm in Australia). Checking it now will just at least let me keep driving my car with less worry as it's my daily.

Also taking it off seems like it only takes 5 minutes or so? Am i missing something?

EDIT: Thought about it a bit more and I think you're right. Probably smarter to leave it alone (my car currently has no symptoms) and remove it just the once to install the upgrades. God knows with my luck sometimes, fiddling with it to check might just cause it to fail lol. I've just put through the order for the i6 kit so hopefully won't take too long to get here!

Thanks for all the feedback and perspective guys! Will update this thread once I've got the bits and done the repairs/upgrades.
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M54 checking DISA valve (need to replace seals?)

Post by Z4 - Kev » Sun Aug 05, 2018 3:29 pm

I've just read this with much interest. I checked my disa valve recently expecting the worse - pin sticking out or at least showing signs of doing so. But no! The whole valve assembly looked absolutely fine. See pics below. I certainly wasn't going to poke about with the business end of a screwdriver trying to dislodge the pin. It looks perfectly fine to me. My Zed has just over 120,000 miles on the clock and eats up motorway miles with ease.
After reading horror stories about the disa valve pin coming loose without warning, I was pleasently surprised with the 'good' condition I found mine to be in. The valve flap had plenty of resistance when I moved it with my finger as well.
I refitted it with peace of mind that it's not going to fail anytime soon. A yearly check by me will be sufficient me thinks. I only cover approximately 3000 year a year. Maybe I'm just lucky? must admit a £50 easy fix is deffo worth it - if needed. If it a'int broke don't fix it.

Any comments........... :thumbsup:


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