DISA O-ring replacement

[Chris_D]

So I have the DISA removed from my E85 3.0i M54 engine atm, waiting for a lower intake boot to arrive.
The DISA looks in good condition - plenty of diaphragm suspension, no play in the flap movement, the pin is also v secure. So I feel confident that I can replace this and it will work without issue.
However, it's good practice to replace O-rings on re-installation of components so I'm wondering if the O-ring is in good enough condition NOT to replace... see pic.


I'll have to scrape out that existing silicon material and clean before setting a new O-ring obviously but does it look good enough to leave alone for now?
Should the orange silicone material be standing proud of the groove, and not flush as per mine?

 

[Smartbear]

Hi, that looks the same as our old z3 disa when I checked that wasn't going to lunch the engine-I spread a copious amount of rubber friendly grease around ours to help hermetically seal it
Rob

 

[Ewazix]

Hi, that looks the same as our old z3 disa when I checked that wasn't going to lunch the engine-I spread a copious amount of rubber friendly grease around ours to help hermetically seal it
Rob

Reading the phrase "lunch the engine" made me find out more as I know nothing about the disa. I've no symptoms I'm aware of but I don't like the idea of failed parts being ingested! :|
Is it something thats worth replacing as a preventative measure (M54 2.5 2003 46K miles)? Are the re-build kits any good, if so any recommenations on a quality kit or upgrade please? Thanks

 

[Chris_D]

Hi, that looks the same as our old z3 disa when I checked that wasn't going to lunch the engine-I spread a copious amount of rubber friendly grease around ours to help hermetically seal it
Rob

Reading the phrase "lunch the engine" made me find out more as I know nothing about the disa. I've no symptoms I'm aware of but I don't like the idea of failed parts being ingested! :|
Is it something thats worth replacing as a preventative measure (M54 2.5 2003 46K miles)? Are the re-build kits any good, if so any recommenations on a quality kit or upgrade please? Thanks

Remove and check for wear and tear first.
Plenty of how-to's on utube.
Shouldnt be any play in flap and flap should stay in place when sprung back when blocking air inlet hole.
Rotation pin/mech should also be solid and firmly in place.

 

[Ewazix]

Hi, that looks the same as our old z3 disa when I checked that wasn't going to lunch the engine-I spread a copious amount of rubber friendly grease around ours to help hermetically seal it
Rob

Reading the phrase "lunch the engine" made me find out more as I know nothing about the disa. I've no symptoms I'm aware of but I don't like the idea of failed parts being ingested! :|
Is it something thats worth replacing as a preventative measure (M54 2.5 2003 46K miles)? Are the re-build kits any good, if so any recommenations on a quality kit or upgrade please? Thanks

Remove and check for wear and tear first.
Plenty of how-to's on utube.
Shouldnt be any play in flap and flap should stay in place when sprung back when blocking air inlet hole.
Rotation pin/mech should also be solid and firmly in place.

Thanks, I'll add a disa health check to my winter maintainace jobs

 

[Chris_D]

Reading the phrase "lunch the engine" made me find out more as I know nothing about the disa. I've no symptoms I'm aware of but I don't like the idea of failed parts being ingested! :|
Is it something thats worth replacing as a preventative measure (M54 2.5 2003 46K miles)? Are the re-build kits any good, if so any recommenations on a quality kit or upgrade please? Thanks

Remove and check for wear and tear first.
Plenty of how-to's on utube.
Shouldnt be any play in flap and flap should stay in place when sprung back when blocking air inlet hole.
Rotation pin/mech should also be solid and firmly in place.

Thanks, I'll add a disa health check to my winter maintainace jobs

U can hear really bad ones rattling.... maybe better to check sooner rather than later. Parts can be ingested into engine if it fails. If u have any doubts why not check now? 20 min job to take air intake box, hoses outta the way and unmount disa.

 

[paddy wright]

You can hear when they are failing- if you unplug the one electrical clip you will hear the difference. I'd suggest if it's noisy to replace or rebuild asap

 

[markplant]

Rebuild kit available here
http://www.i6automotive.co.uk/disa-valve-kits/

 

[Grumpyowl]

I used the x8r kit, from eBay a tenner more than the I6 kit but I liked the all aluminium design.
You get a new o ring in the kit.
I just did mine as a precautionary measure as the cars now on 54k

 

[Chris_D]

I used the x8r kit, from eBay a tenner more than the I6 kit but I liked the all aluminium design.
You get a new o ring in the kit.
I just did mine as a precautionary measure as the cars now on 54k

Got a link for that there kit Grumpy?
Might get one to have ready when mine decides to go south...

 

[Grumpyowl]

321478836556

It's this item on evilbay Chris

Mine was fine upon inspection, I was bored so replaced it anyway

 

[Mike6]

That looks ok to reuse - I wouldnt waste your money. If you want you could always add a bead of silicone when reinstalling. From what I hear about bits falling into the intake system and then wrecking the engine that primarily relates to when the DISA is removed and the pin drops out at that moment and isnt retrieved. If you look at the housing where the DISA is located there isnt enough room for the pin to move out much, unless it is different on the pre facelift 2.5 SE

 

[Chris_D]

Haha Grumpy; I can think of other ways to kill boredom than preventive car maintenance! Thx for item no.

@Mike, i thought same but I do prefer to have some redundancy measures in place for certain things. It might go south one day.

 

[Smartbear]

That looks ok to reuse - I wouldnt waste your money. If you want you could always add a bead of silicone when reinstalling. From what I hear about bits falling into the intake system and then wrecking the engine that primarily relates to when the DISA is removed and the pin drops out at that moment and isnt retrieved. If you look at the housing where the DISA is located there isnt enough room for the pin to move out much, unless it is different on the pre facelift 2.5 SE

Hi mike, its pre-face lift cars that are more prone to the disa problem & it occurs when the engine is running hence the ruined engines-people have had this happen that have never taken the disa off
the part was altered on the N52 engined face lift cars 06 onwards
Rob

 

[Ewazix]

Good stuff guys, thanks

Here's a previous thread with some links to kits as well http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=73600

 

[Mike6]

Hmm thanks for clarifying Smartbear. But when I inspected mine there just didnt seem enough room for the pin to move out so I must have missed something.