Swirl flaps - are they worth it?

**Not_Anumber** · 09-06-2016,02:54 PM

Working from comments on this and other forums I took the plunge the other day and had the swirl flaps/ runners disconnected and mapped out on mine as preventative maintenance. The choice was a no brainer as I was having a remap and EGR delete anyway and the provider (Black Code) agreed to map out the swirl flaps inside the same price. I had an MOT done directly after the remapping to check the emissions are still safely within limits.

**StuBeeDoo** · 05-09-2016,08:28 AM

I've just been reading through a few swirl flap threads here, mainly to find-out if they can be removed completely.

FWIW, my BMW 330d had the flaps removed by a previous owner and is de-catted and de-EGR'd. A few weeks ago, at 143k mls, it sailed through the MOT with all the emissions at the very lowest end of the parameters. Over nearly 40k mls, the car has averaged 40.7mpg.

Also, as a bonus, since the EGR removal the oil stays clean for several thousand miles.

**Not_Anumber** · 05-09-2016,09:35 AM

They aren't needed for the MOT and just cause expense when they go wrong. Simply removing them will bring up the engine fault light + codes so they have to be mapped out (same as the EGR, which i had done at the same time). The electrical connection to the flap motors can then be disconnected and tied up out of the way. My fuel economy improved significantly and the car is better to drive. If anyone in the future wants to reconnect them then they are are all still there but just unused

**Radek** · 07-09-2016,09:23 AM

Hi all i had same issue with the intake manifold swirl flaps. I have done my resarch and found the website with repair kits(new swirl flaps etc) the also include repair manual. Im not a mechanic but i have complete the job replacing flaps on both Banks in 5 hours.
IF somone is interested they call
manifoldkitsuk.co.uk
Complete repair kit cost me £125 with new gaskets so happy days

**Radek** · 07-09-2016,09:27 AM

Sorry they call manifoldskitsuk.co.uk

**rowdy-999** · 07-09-2016,09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Not_Anumber

Working from comments on this and other forums I took the plunge the other day and had the swirl flaps/ runners disconnected and mapped out on mine as preventative maintenance. The choice was a no brainer as I was having a remap and EGR delete anyway and the provider (Black Code) agreed to map out the swirl flaps inside the same price. I had an MOT done directly after the remapping to check the emissions are still safely within limits.

Did you physically remove the flaps, or just leave them in situ?

**Not_Anumber** · 07-09-2016,10:15 AM

I left them in situ as their default position when powered down is open. With these and the EGR mapped out my fuel economy has improved. Whilst i used to average around 43 mpg for my regular motorway commute this has improved to 50.

**rowdy-999** · 07-09-2016,01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Not_Anumber

I left them in situ as their default position when powered down is open. With these and the EGR mapped out my fuel economy has improved. Whilst i used to average around 43 mpg for my regular motorway commute this has improved to 50.

I was just pondering if even in the open position they cause a restriction in air flow?

**Not_Anumber** · 07-09-2016,01:48 PM

Id say no more that them being in the open position during normal running as Im presuming they were designed not to be noticeably restrictive. It might be worth someone experimenting to see if physical removal of the flaps might provide a marginal improvement, though this might be too small to measure.

**viperjng** · 08-09-2016,04:13 AM

Hi,

I had mine mapped out by my tuner as I kept getting the annoying check light. Run approx 10,000kms after that and found no issues with the car after that.

Jignesh