11 12 800 Cleaning cylinder heat intake channels and intake plenum (M47, M57)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 BMW X5, 2012 BMW X5, and 2011 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Clamp off BATTERY
Remove intake plenum.
Detach the injector wiring harness from the cylinder head cover
Remove the electric fan if necessary. See 17 11 035 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING FAN COWL WITH ELECTRIC FAN (M57T2) .

Cleaning intake plenum:

Wear safety goggles and protective gloves.

IMPORTANT: Electric swirl-flap controller must not be removed!
Never place electrical components in cleaning bath!
Do not place pneumatic swirl-flap controller in cleaning bath!

Dismantle the intake plenum (remove exhaust-gas recirculation valve, throttle valve, pneumatic swirl-flap controller and charging pressure sensor).

Prepare cleaning bath with 1 part BMW UNIVERSAL CLEANER (see Section 3.2) and 2 parts water.

Place intake plenum in cleaning bath. Leave to soak at least 1 hr.

NOTE: Place the intake plenum in the cleaning bath so that the electric swirl-flap controller is not lying in the bath.

Crank engine to cylinder no. 1 TDC setting:

Unlock and disconnect plug (1) as required.

Release screw.

Tightening torque: 13 62 8AZ .

Remove pulse sensor (2).

Fig 1: Locating Pulse Sensor Screw

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Installation note:

Check sealing ring (1) for damage and replace if necessary.

Fig 2: Identifying Sealing Ring

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NOTE: Shown with cylinder head cover removed for enhanced clarity.
Figure M57TU.

IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine in reverse direction.

Fig 3: Removing Camshafts Of 1st Cylinder

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Look through camshaft position sensor opening or oil filler cap opening to conduct visual inspection.

Crank engine at central bolt.

The cam lobes (1) on the intake camshaft (E) at no. 1 cylinder point to the right as viewed toward the front when engine is at TDC setting.

Remove protective cap in direction of arrow.

Installation note:

Reinstall protective cap with some grease.

Fig 4: Removing Protective Cap

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M47, M47TU, M57, M57TU:

Use the central bolt to turn over the engine, rotating the crankshaft in the normal direction of rotation, continuing until the piston in no. 1 cylinder is at TDC setting.

Secure the flywheel in the TDC setting with special tool 11 2 300 .

Special tool must be removed before starting the engine.

Fig 5: Securing Flywheel In TDC With Special Tool (11 2 300)

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M47T2, M57TU2:

Use the central bolt to turn over the engine, turning crankshaft in the normal direction of rotation, and continuing until the piston in no. 1 cylinder is at TDC setting.

Secure the flywheel in the TDC setting with special tool 11 5 180 .

Special tool must be removed before starting the engine.

Fig 6: Securing Flywheel In TDC Using Special Tool (11 5 180)

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M57T2, M57T2SCR:

Crank engine at central bolt in direction of rotation until piston of 1st cylinder is in TDC setting.

Secure the crankshaft in the TDC setting with special tool 11 6 080 .

IMPORTANT: Do not turn the engine back.
Special tool 11 6 080 must be removed before starting the engine.

Fig 7: Securing Crankshaft In TDC Using Special Tool (11 6 080)

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Cleaning intake ports:

IMPORTANT: Risk of engine damage!
The intake valves of the corresponding cylinder must be closed when cleaning the intake ports.
Start with the 1st cylinder when cleaning the intake ports.

The following are required:

Blasting tool
Walnut shell granulate
Vacuum cleaner

Fig 8: Identifying Blasting Tool (81 29 2 208 034)
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IMPORTANT: Front area of sensors is marked with two notches. These can additionally be highlighted in color.
During the blasting process, only pull the wands out of the vacuum adapter until the mark becomes visible.

Blasting wand for tangential swirl port:

2 356 969

Blasting wands for swirl port:

2 356 970 with straight outlet
2 356 968 with lateral outlet

Fig 9: Identifying Vacuum Adapter Marks
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Vacuum adapter for tangential swirl port:

2 356 967

Vacuum adapter for swirl port:

2 356 966

Fig 10: Identifying Vacuum Adapters (2 356 966) & (2 356 967)
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NOTE: Use 2 litres of granulate per cleaning operation; this corresponds to a blasting duration of approx. 20 seconds.

Open blasting tool (1) and pour in 2 litres of granulate (2).

Close the device again.

Fig 11: Identifying Blasting Tool And Granulate

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NOTE: Operating pressure 6 - 8 bar.

Close main valve (1) on blasting tool (2).

Connect compressed air (3).

Fig 12: Closing Main Valve On Blasting Tool

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Cleaning the tangential swirl port of 1st cylinder:

Screw together blasting wand 2 356 969 (1) and actuator (2).

NOTE: Actuator (3) has two stages!
In stage one, only compressed air flows through the blasting wand.
In stage two (operation is fully pressed), granulate is added (blasting process).

Fig 13: Identifying Screw Together Blasting Wand And Actuator

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IMPORTANT: Danger of injury!
Risk of damage!
Second person required to assist.
Blasting wand may only be pulled out until the mark becomes visible.

Wear safety goggles.

Fig 14: Inserting Blasting Wand Into Adapter

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Connect vacuum cleaner (1) to vacuum adapter 2 356 967 (2). Hold vacuum adapter 2 356 967 against swirl port at no. 1 cylinder.

Open the main valve on the blasting tool and switch the vacuum cleaner on.

Insert blasting wand (3) into the adapter (2).

Open the actuator valve (4).

Slide locking lever (1) to the front in direction of arrow.

Operate compressed-air valve (2) at stage one; compressed air can now flow in.

Fully operate valve (3) at stage two; walnut shell granulate is now injected.

Clean intake port, rotating the blasting wand and moving it vertically up and down.

Fig 15: Sliding Locking Lever

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Blasting wand may only be pulled out until the mark becomes visible.

When you notice that the container is becoming empty, continue operation for at least 10 seconds at stage one in order to swirl up and draw off the remaining granulate.

Close main valve, check pressure drop at the pressure gauge.

If necessary, evaluate the result (recommendation: endoscope or similar device).

If necessary, repeat procedure.

Cleaning the swirl port of 1st cylinder:

IMPORTANT: Risk of damage!
Plastic section (1) of the swirl port must not be blasted.

Before blast-cleaning, clean the plastic section of the swirl port (1) in the cylinder head cover mechanically (e. g. using a plastic scraper, brushes 83 19 2 298 237 or similar tools).

Fig 16: Identifying Plastic Section Of Swirl Port

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NOTE: Two blasting wands must be used for the swirl port.
This means that two individual cleaning operations are necessary.
Use 2 litres of granulate per cleaning operation; this corresponds to a blasting duration of approx. 20 seconds.

Fig 17: Identifying Vacuum Adapter And Blasting Wands

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IMPORTANT: Danger of injury!
Risk of damage!
Second person required to assist.
Blasting wand may only be pulled out until the mark becomes visible.

Wear safety goggles.

Swap over vacuum adapter 2 356 966 (1) and blasting wands (2).

Carry out one complete cleaning operation (identical to that for cleaning the tangential swirl port) with blasting wand 2 356 968 and then one complete cleaning operation with blasting wand 2 356 970 .

To prevent damage to the cylinder head cover, the blasting wand should never be pulled out further than the marking!

Close main valve, check pressure drop at the pressure gauge.

If necessary, evaluate the result (recommendation: endoscope or similar device).

If necessary, repeat procedure.

Check that there is no granulate residue in both intake ports; if necessary, draw off/blow out.

Cleaning the other cylinders:

IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine in reverse direction.

Remove special tool for securing the crankshaft.

Proceed in the standard firing order while using the same procedure to clean the swirl ports at the remaining cylinders.

Fig 18: Identifying Special Tools (00 9 120 And 11 6 480)

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Firing order:

1 3 4 2 (4-cylinder engine)
1 5 3 6 2 4 (6-cylinder engine)

During this operation use 00 9 120 and 11 6 480 to turn the central bolt 180° (4-cylinder engine) or 120° (6-cylinder engine).

Cleaning intake plenum:

Wear safety goggles and protective gloves.

Remove the intake plenum from the cleaning bath.

Clean plenum openings and swirl flaps with brush set (1) part number: 83 19 2 298 237.

Use brust set to clean the throttle valve, exhaust-gas recirculation valve and the mounted parts.

Fig 19: Cleaning Throttle Valve Using Brush

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IMPORTANT: Do not clean electrical components with a component washing machine or high pressure cleaner.
Protect electric swirl-flap controller against splashing water as necessary!
Cover electric swirl-flap controller appropriately as necessary!

Then clean the plenum with a parts washer or a high-pressure cleaner.

Observe country-specific waste disposal regulations.

Crank motor at central bolt at least twice.

Assemble engine.

Clear diagnostic fault entries from fault memory.