DISA valve maintenance

chuckmiester · Post by **chuckmiester** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:34 am

Is it worth replacing the DISA valve on a 04 car with around 70k miles on it or is it a case of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Just seen an aluminium repair kit on flea bay for about 60 quid and was wondering if it was something that was worth doing. Thanks in advance

LittleZ4 · Post by **LittleZ4** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:49 am

Id personally say yes, the small screw on the top of the original DISA valve is a ticking time bomb (from what ive seen).
It has the potential to work its way loose and make its way into the internals of the engine.

The rebuild kit (or at the least the one I brought) has a screw that goes all the way through the valve so it has zero charge of being able to work its way loose. Piece of mind and new seals made the choice fairly easy for me

chuckmiester · Post by **chuckmiester** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:54 am

Thanks for that. Could the original screw just be checked and re tightened or does it just wear and become lose?

kis · Post by **kis** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:58 am

Poor design means it'll just work it's way loose. You'll be in trouble if you loose that said screw (think it's actually a pin) inside the engine.
https://www.i6automotive.co.uk/vehicle- ... -only.html
Think the x8r kits are similar, I'd be wary of ebay... especially if from china/japan.

LittleZ4 · Post by **LittleZ4** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:07 pm

That i6 is the kit I brought. Its a good kit, also brought the vanos kit from them as well. Well worth replace those seals as well.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:59 pm

chuckmiester wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:34 am Is it worth replacing the DISA valve on a 04 car with around 70k miles on it or is it a case of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Just seen an aluminium repair kit on flea bay for about 60 quid and was wondering if it was something that was worth doing. Thanks in advance

If you leave it then you could be looking for a replacement engine, for that cost it’s a no brainer

Rob

tomrdy · Post by **tomrdy** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:15 pm

Definitely worth doing. I literally opened a thread like this a few months back. Based on advice from other remembers, I ended up upgrading my DISA with the kit

As it turns out, mine WAS broken - I thought it was fine until I took it out. Then, after the upgrade and the valve was operational, my car ran amazingly. I was missing performance I didn't even know I had.

If you're 100% certain your unit is in working order (as in you've taken it out, tested and inspected it), then perhaps you have a case to leave it. Otherwise, upgrade 100%! One less thing to have to think about.

Grumpyowl · Post by **Grumpyowl** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:22 pm

IMO good preventative maintenance

Wortmanov · Post by **Wortmanov** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:15 am

Just changed mine with the x8r kit, even though it was only slightly flapping, but the silicon seal did seem a bit worn out.
It has been the best thing I've done to this car so far, together with the VANOS seals.

The performance is much better and it feels smoother. First time I hit the throttle it nearly put my car backwards

chuckmiester · Post by **chuckmiester** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 8:43 am

Should be getting the car next week hopefully. I’ll get in the garage and have a look at it.
There’s a few little bits need doing to the car over the winter.

chuckmiester · Post by **chuckmiester** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 9:48 am

Wortmanov wrote: ↑Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:15 am Just changed mine with the x8r kit, even though it was only slightly flapping, but the silicon seal did seem a bit worn out.
It has been the best thing I've done to this car so far, together with the VANOS seals.

The performance is much better and it feels smoother. First time I hit the throttle it nearly put my car backwards

is it an easy diy job to do the vanos seals?

kis · Post by **kis** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 11:28 am

Harder than the disa. I'd do the disa first and build up your confidence! Hardest bit IMO is actually removing the vanos!

Wortmanov · Post by **Wortmanov** » Wed Nov 07, 2018 11:55 am

is it an easy diy job to do the vanos seals?

I had them done to be sure

Think if you're a decent DIY mechanic you can do it, but space is very tight, so I had them done

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