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      03-08-2018, 04:21 PM   #1
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Carbon clean out - options?

Hey yall:

So my search-fu didnt come up with anything so forgive me if I missed obvious posts about this. My N55 435 is my first GDI car, so the carbon build up in the valves is a new issue for me to deal with. My car has roughly 52k miles, running strong, but no clue if its EVER been cleaned.

Looking at options..

Dealership said like $1800 to do it..
Local shop - quote pending
DIY - I have seen a number of YouTube videos for full home DIY using walnut blasting, and candidly looks rife for failure.
CRC valve cleaner - spray into a vacuum line and follow the directions. Obviously wildly cheaper, but no clue if any good.

Do we have any recommendations for this?
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      03-08-2018, 04:48 PM   #2
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Subscribed, interested in this as well. I have a B58.
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      03-08-2018, 05:32 PM   #3
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Since you're local (Maple Valley), check out Group 2 Motorsports in Magnolia (Seattle). When they had a BMWCCA tech session there last year the prices seemed to be in the $600 range.
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      03-08-2018, 06:18 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cleaver View Post
Since you're local (Maple Valley), check out Group 2 Motorsports in Magnolia (Seattle). When they had a BMWCCA tech session there last year the prices seemed to be in the $600 range.
I really appreciate that thank you! I also have an email into my favorite shop for a quote.
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      03-09-2018, 12:39 PM   #5
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Still researching..

My local shop says they DONT do walnut anymore as its just a mess, and use BG products specifically.

At this point, I figure a $18 can of this stuff cant hurt, or I hope cant hurt inserted downstream of the MAF.
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      03-09-2018, 12:51 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raichean View Post
Still researching..

My local shop says they DONT do walnut anymore as its just a mess, and use BG products specifically.

.
This information should alone should make you not trust that shop.

The N55 leaves barely any intake carbon deposits.

The N54 actually needs it done every 40k miles.

It should cost about 300 dollars to get done.
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      03-09-2018, 12:54 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Tasty View Post
This information should alone should make you not trust that shop.

The N55 leaves barely any intake carbon deposits.

The N54 actually needs it done every 40k miles.

It should cost about 300 dollars to get done.
I appreciate the info... I DO trust the shop and owner explicitly as a side note, as they have done me right 100x over. That said, your info about the N55 is super helpful, I appreciate it. This is my first GDI motor, so learning what it needs moving forward.
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      03-09-2018, 02:44 PM   #8
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I paid about 450 for my N54 in my old 135 but I dont think it's as bad in our N55
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      03-11-2018, 07:40 AM   #9
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DIY

You can do it yourself (Walnuts from HFreight) in an afternoon. On my N54 I completed the job with excellent results. The BMW Wand and Vacuum tool are a must plus you will need 6 Intake rubber gaskets.
.
.
Now that I have an N55 (which is less prone to Intake Gunk in the F Series Cars) I will use the same set-up around 70K miles.
.
It is really not a messy job ~ the vacuum set-up takes care of it. This job was way easier than the VC Gasket - IMO.


Cheers
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      03-15-2018, 10:25 AM   #10
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Really appreciate the info yall, thank you! I may throw a can of the CRC cleaner in just for the heck of it, assuming I verify (and am pretty sure it wont) cause any issues.
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      03-15-2018, 09:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raichean View Post
Really appreciate the info yall, thank you! I may throw a can of the CRC cleaner in just for the heck of it, assuming I verify (and am pretty sure it wont) cause any issues.
Just an FYI.
No matter what you put into your tank, it will NEVER touch your intake ports.
That is for all DIRECT INJECTION cars. The ONLY true way to clean your intake ports is MANUALLY.

If you want to see how bad they are, ask a shop to send a Borescope to your intake ports somehow. This should give you pictures of how bad it is or not. (Look up ENDOSCOPE for cell phones)

I do recommend Chevron with Techron concentrate fuel additive.
It will clean your injectors and combustion chamber.
Short cut way. (Go to chevron, fill up with their best.... once in a while.)
Thank me later.

PS: You don’t have a MAF either.....or it doesn’t act like a MAF.
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      03-16-2018, 08:46 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
Just an FYI.
No matter what you put into your tank, it will NEVER touch your intake ports.
That is for all DIRECT INJECTION cars. The ONLY true way to clean your intake ports is MANUALLY.

If you want to see how bad they are, ask a shop to send a Borescope to your intake ports somehow. This should give you pictures of how bad it is or not. (Look up ENDOSCOPE for cell phones)

I do recommend Chevron with Techron concentrate fuel additive.
It will clean your injectors and combustion chamber.
Short cut way. (Go to chevron, fill up with their best.... once in a while.)
Thank me later.

PS: You don’t have a MAF either.....or it doesn’t act like a MAF.
I definitely understand on good gas.. top 3 brands, premium, ALWAYS. Plus I throw in a bottle of the tecron cleaner at least 2 times a year.
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      07-29-2018, 09:00 PM   #13
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I am considering the CRC GDI cleaner myself. Ideally I should've done this while installing my new charge pipe as it would've allowed me to spray the cleaner directly onto the throttle body.

Since I don't want to remove the charge pipe, I'm thinking about removing the sensor from the charge pipe and spraying it in from there.
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      08-16-2018, 03:54 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW DIY Guy View Post
Hey yall:

So my search-fu didnt come up with anything so forgive me if I missed obvious posts about this. My N55 435 is my first GDI car, so the carbon build up in the valves is a new issue for me to deal with. My car has roughly 52k miles, running strong, but no clue if its EVER been cleaned.

Looking at options..

Dealership said like $1800 to do it..
Local shop - quote pending
DIY - I have seen a number of YouTube videos for full home DIY using walnut blasting, and candidly looks rife for failure.
CRC valve cleaner - spray into a vacuum line and follow the directions. Obviously wildly cheaper, but no clue if any good.

Do we have any recommendations for this?
I have a 2015 335i with an N55 engine. I had the same concerns until I spoke with the top tech at my BMW dealer. He told me that he has never seen an N55 engine with any intake valve build up. He said that the issue is with the N54. He said that anyone who is quoting walnut blasting on an N55 either isn't knowledgeable or is trying to make money on a service not needed.
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      08-16-2018, 08:34 PM   #15
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I wana see pictures of Intake Ports and the milage, then I will decided if it needs it.

That is the ONLY TURE way of knowing if it needs it or not.

so who has Pics to share?
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      08-16-2018, 09:27 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
I wana see pictures of Intake Ports and the milage, then I will decided if it needs it.

That is the ONLY TURE way of knowing if it needs it or not.

so who has Pics to share?



This was at 100k miles. Kind of a waste of money to do it.
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      08-17-2018, 06:37 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chaungo View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
I wana see pictures of Intake Ports and the milage, then I will decided if it needs it.

That is the ONLY TURE way of knowing if it needs it or not.

so who has Pics to share?



This was at 100k miles. Kind of a waste of money to do it.
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      08-17-2018, 08:01 PM   #18
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Base on the pics, it looks like they are dirty.
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      08-18-2018, 05:46 AM   #19
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Looks like the deep parts were bad enough.
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      08-18-2018, 09:35 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
Looks like the deep parts were bad enough.
Naw..That's 100k miles.


The N54 looks twice as bad at half the mileage.
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      08-18-2018, 12:42 PM   #21
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}|!”¿

Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Naw..That's 100k miles.


The N54 looks twice as bad at half the mileage.
Very true.
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