BMW 330i 325i E46 DISA Valve Operation Test
How to completely test your DISA valve, also called the Intake Manifold Resonance Valve, for functionality before you decide to repair it. You will find this valve on an M54 engine in a BMW E46 3 series, an E39 5 series, or an E53 X5 3.0i.
If you want to go one step further than the whole finger over the hole test, I'll show you how to confirm the complete electrical functionality of the unit. This video will also teach you how the valve operates.
DISA is an acronym for "DIfferenzierte SAuganlage" or differentiated intake. It changes the length of the passage the air travels through inside the intake manifold. At low engine speeds you want the air to travel through a longer tube to produce torque most efficiently, and at high engine speeds you want that tube to be short. This is why your BMW engine is so torquey compared to, say, a Honda engine, which doesn't start to pick up until you rev it really high.
I wouldn’t have been able to own my e46 for 8 years without you. I appreciate everything.
There are other videos suggesting that you test the disa's operation by taking it out but leaving it connected, then switching the car key to the position right before startup. This would work only if the disa still has residual vacuum from being inside the intake manifold. This is generally not explained and since I tested my disa after having removed and restored it, it did not close when doing the aforementioned test because there was no residual vacuum left in it. Thank you so much for explaining this man, really. I think you've saved thousands of people substantial amounts of money by now.
Thanks for explanation! You have many valuable videos. They helped me a lot to keep my car runing perfect :)
The only person on KZhead who knows what the disa valve does and is used for 🙌🏼
literally not the only one
Great easy to follow video. Thanks so much. Cant wait to test mine.
much respect for this golden info bro , well done video really
Very informative and helpful as always thank you!
Great little instructional video....just what l needed. Thanks!
Another great video. You do a great job at presentation..
+bimmer audi Thanks!
good job on explaining things! thanks!
brilliant, simple vid. Thanks!
Very nice demonstration! Thx
great video 50skid.i was just at work the other day trying to figure a way to test a disa valve.thanks
+Charlton Woods Glad it helped you out.
50skid you are the best mechanic in the world
The valve most common failure is play on the hexagonal connection in between the flapper and the actuating axle. This is super cheap to fix with some epoxy. Clean the flapper, fill the hex hole with epoxy. Clean the actuating axle and coat it with teflon spray. Assemble the valve...done. The teflon prevents you from glueing the parts I together. The epoxy gets rid of all of the play ( no more rattling of the flapper).
How hard do you apply your finger for the vacuum test? I'm on the fence of buying another DISA. If I press down real hard, it will function like yours. However, if I simply cover the hole (albeit completely) it swings a bit farther than yours here, though not all the way open. Thoughts? My gut tells me to replace it, but I'd rather replace some other stuff right now than the DISA.
hey 50s kid. Great video explaining the DISA unit! I think mine is shot, I have vacuum leak lean codes as well as misfiring. I just replaced the CCV hoping it was that, but it was not. I hope this will be the last thing I need to do and it's an easy DIY
Did replacing DISA fixed the vacuum leak? I have a similar situation. I suspect my DISA failed because it doesn’t even have any spring to pull the door opened.
Very informative kid keep it up
Hey, what is the best Disa Valve Rebuild Kit that you would recommend?
I’d give multiple thumbs up if I could! Great work!
Hello. SO I need some help with this. Would you be able to answer some questions on here?
Where you got those nice lead tips? They are awesome for tight places ?
Great video again 50s kid 👍
When does it open/close while driving? And is open = long runners closed = short runners or the other way around?
My 04 have a p1512 stuck closed does that mean I need a new one or no vacum and how much will u sell that to me I have 2.5
Mr this unit is not rebuild Is the original factory made?
Hello! M54b25 and m54b30 have same disa valve? Can I use m54b25 disa in my m54b30 engine?
Where or how can I get or make that 12v source you use?
Hi Jason, I know this is an old Video but do you happen to still have the M52 TU DISA I need one and willing to buy it from you. Thanks
What if my one way valve does not seal? Disa works, it just needs to start engine first, it wont switch the flap without engine running becouse there is no stored vacuum inside. Could this make some problems?
Hello Jason. Ihave an e46 with an m54 3l engine. I have had it for almost 2 years and today I removed the disa valve to check its vacuum. Tha vacuum is a little bad. The valve closes slowly. Sometimes it stays half way. BUt what I checked was the part number. It looks like I have a disa from 325. The part number is 7502269. I looked at your video where you took out yours and the number was different. Checed the auto catalog and yes mine is for 325. How bad it is for my engine driving with the wrong disa? I have an LPG conversion too. is it only messing with fuel economy and power?
Fantastic video. I have a DISA fault code today. It's the only fault code I have on the car and I just watched this video after taking out the DISA and checking the operation. I wish I'd watched this video before I put it back on the car, then I would have run this test. Mine is from a 2004 2.5 Z4, but has only 33k miles. I'd be surprised if it's already worn out, but rubber diaphragm's and whatnot degrade over time and it's 16 years old. It still has the metal pin and orange flush gasket, so is original. The thing is as you rotate the valve manually, there is a notchy action on mine. Is this normal? I wonder if the diaphragm at the end of the unit, in the round housing that looks similar to a thermostat housing, has a problem.
yes another great video...I am just in the process of replacing the flap and also the diaphragm but have you any clues to getting the vacuum top off so I can replace this unit there has to be something I missed ... I got that scanmaster program .. also been reading up on fuel trim.it is straight forward that what goes in and comes out has to add up ..am just glad I swapped from cars to motorcycles back in the 80's
Vacuum top? The only part that is removable is the little circular cover behind the flapper itself. It just pops out with a screw driver.
The green O-ring is a dealer servicable part on the 325 DISA, whilst the 330 DISA has a moulded orange non-(dealer) servicable seal.
clabcon I've actually dug a little deeper into this and it appears the green/black o-ring disa unit I show in this video is for the M52 engines--basically the 323/328i, back before they switched to the moulded orange o-ring. The later M54 325/330i's have both sizes of DISA valve with the orange o-ring which you can scrape out and replace with one from eBay. Regarding the one in this video, judging by how unbelievably clean it is/the guy must have just had a dealer replace his unit recently before he got in whatever accident that sent his bimmer to the boneyard.
Hi. At the DISA from M52tü the O-ring is separate like the one u have. Ragards from Germany. Archy
Do you still have it?
Hi Jason, does the car throw a code when the DISA valve goes bad? I’ve heard that it doesn’t.
I have a DISA fault code today. It's the only fault code I have on the car and I just watched this video after taking out the DISA and checking the operation. I wish I'd watched this video before I put in back on the car, then I would have run this test. Mine is from a 2004 2.5 Z4, but has only 33k miles. I'd be surprised if it's already worn out and it still has the metal pin and orange flush gasket, so is original. The thing is as you rotate the valve manually, there is a notchy action on mine. Is this normal? I wonder if the diaphragm at the end of the unit, in the round housing that looks similar to a thermostat housing, has a problem.
what is the DISA valve for?
Can that cause bank 1 fuel trim - 100 bank 2 is OK I guess it's a p0170 on my 04 BMW 325xi
Jason, in your opinion, why this flap was designed by BMW to work with vacuum? I mean wouldn't be easier to work as a simple electrovalve? (I.e. flap normally closed and open just when energized...).
They probably used vacuum because the valve is stuck into the intake manifold and the intake is always under vacuum thus, why not utilize it?
50skid i have a question. my car has been rough Idling for a week now It’s been sitting for two days now, I turned it on today and I kept hearing a loud metal things flying around inside the intake manifold If this is the case how can I get the metal pin out before it destroys my engine
Magnet and a piece of wire might be your only chance, without that you have to disassemble the intake manifold and buy new gaskets for it
hello, thank you for the video ! i have a question, on my 325ci the DISA valve is deleted when I was checking it, the interior part that opens and close was removed and they have filled the holes with some sort of grey sillicon I will replace it but what should be the diffference if it was deleted i feel no major differences in my engine do you know the symptoms or the problems that are caused by deleting this DISA VALVE (fuel economy a little of vibration...) thank you !
You'll have less power.
The valve is normally shut until about 4000rpm when it opens to allow a more free airflow inside the manifold. With it permanently blocked off it will restrict airflow at high revs and reduce top end power.
Bonjour , Ma valve ne se ferme pas quand je met le contact ? Est elle morte ? Merci
@50sKid A Question. Today i checked my DISA (got an e53 6months) and found out, that the DISA is garbage. The flapper valve is glued open, assembled it back with RTV. What problems could i have/get with on always open DISA flapper? Going to check the junkyard around me for one. Thank you for reply 50's.
Just slightly reduced power at high engine speeds.
@@50sKid At mid-range speeds it closes, seperating the front and rear groups of three cylinders from each other. At higher speeds it opens again, joining the cylinder groups together. It therefore acts like a massive balance pipe which can be closed when required. The effect of this is to give more mid-range torque without interfering with bottpm and top-end torque
Damn. Well f'ing done! Thanks, bud.
Do you still have it? I can buy it from you
Or you can remove the housing bolts from the side of your intake and turn your ignition to 1 which will actuate the flap. After 10 seconds, the 12v turns off and your flap will release.
Hi there I did a vacuum test an the flap did not move there was power to the Dias an u can here it click but nothing else. Wat do u think?
Bad rubber diaphragm inside the unit.
I just rebuilt my disa valve on my M54 but when I read my c110 scanner it tells me this evolve not active I believe it's supposed to open at 37 thousand RPM so I tried to rev the engine Speck got no reaction on my scanner should I take it off and check it this way or can I do it somehow while it's still in the car
Okay I took the disa valve off pump vacuum into it after changing the flap the flap holds open when I hold my finger over the other little hole as if it has vacuum however one I do this with the pump and 12 volts it does not close as pertaining to your video please help
Which is positive and negative lol?
Hello 50skid I just installed new disa valve. Check vacuum it works everything functions properly however my c110 Creator tells me that it is not active, even after 4000 RPM please help
Please reply!
Am getting rough idling on my e46 I found the screws on the dissa valve very very loose can this cause an issue ?
only if the gasket is bad
50sKid I mean both screws where really really loose
What was the code that you determine that it was the disa
As far as I am aware, P0170 and P0174 codes are common codes, pointing to vacuum leaks, but I'm sure there are other codes that point to it.
I can hear my disa valve running when I open my hood while car is turned off. is this normal? 2004 525i
No
One question? m54b25 and m54b30 *2.5 and 3.0* use the same disa valve or not?
M54B25 and M54B30 are using the same bigger DISA. I've 2.5 and I've the big DISA
Where can i buy the kit fpr disa valve for e46 330i
www.lazada.co.th/products/for-bmw-3-e46-325i-320ci-e39-520i-525i-22-25-m54-air-intake-manifold-flap-adjuster-unit-disa-valve-11617544806-11617502269-i355138371-s695638674.html?spm=a2o4m.cart.0.0.5bbe6108KcTOqh
Can I purchase the disa valve from you ?
It has been sold a long time ago
My DISA does not work (M52TU). The vacuum test is good. Flap without damage. The connector is 13.8V → good. The flap does not move even when an external battery is connected, just clicks are heard. But when you connect the connector, there is no click.
There is a smaller diaphragm in the end where the little arm moves back and forth. That's the vacuum diaphragm. Some companies make a rebuild kit that has it.
My 325i does something weird like that, when I turn off the motor the relay on the disa valve is buzzing for 1 minute or so. Also the motor , when idling, surges like it got *#&^*^^#&*^^& in the &^&*^ I'm going to get a rebuild kit.
can my e46 330i running when my disa valve cant work anymore? I realized that the flap didn't works anymore..
Yes it still runs but it may run rough, idle poorly, stall or have other problems if the disa valve is bad
It will throw lean codes, bank 1 and 2
0:32 Alright... no reason to brag, now.
hi greetings from Perú. i have a 1999 323i. my car starts good and after a while is like fuel doesnt get to engine continuesly. i press the accelerator and sometimes it goes fast and sometimes no. i scanned it and showed code 11. (fuel tank pressure sensor)
What OBD2 code does it have?
11
Is that OBD2 code P0011? What are you checking this with?
11 Tank Pressure Sensor (EVAP System) or Radiator Outlet Temp (MS43 Read more at realitypod.com/2012/06/08/bmw-complete-diagnostic-fault-code-list-e36-e46-e90-and-more/#UbLYYU9X21pwyQeE.99 Ms41 42 and 43 realitypod.com
?
So what if I hold the vacuum port and the flap slowly opens?
chuckle chuckle it means that little bladder might be worn and is going bad but still functional to some point
Steve Sanchez and what would be a symptom of that
chuckle chuckle I’m no mechanic but I wanna say it gives you poor gas mileage and slight power loss
Steve Sanchez interesting I mean it's a flap that opens and closes air into the combustion chambers so if the flap does not have the ability to close shut wouldn't that cause lean conditions witch will tell the computer to add more fuel than needed and that's were you get bad fuel economy not sure were power losses would come into play other than wack air to fuel ratios🤔 or I might be looking at this all wrong yea I'm not a mechanic neither
Hi! How much vacumm did you apply? I have test mine and the flap operates only if you move it a little bit (45 degrees approx) from the initial position. Maybe it works better with the vacuum from the intake. I'm just capable to generate 0,3 bar vaccum. Anyway the diagnostic mode works fine. Thanks
How much did you pick this up for at the junkyard?
+Dennis Canon I really can't remember because the junkyard doesn't have a "disa valve" in their system so I probably told them it was a vacuum valve or something. Probably $20
You STOLE that lol
Who me? Hey, money changed hands. ;-)
haha yeah I'm sure it did. :)
if u put your finger over the hole and turn the valve. if it moves but only goes halfway to the rest position is the disa valve bad. I noticed your doesn't move at all
Nah it moves a tiny bit--which is normal.
Hahahaha miałem to samo ( I hade same ) brawo!!!!! :):)
My disa valve appears to be noisy, like its sucking air in, is this normal? Edit: I've just wrapped about 5 laps of PTFE tap around the large o ring and jammed it in. Its now nice and snug meaning it was loose. Doesn't seem to have changed anything though. When I turn the car off it sounds like a dump valve. This means the hunting is caused by something else.
My 325i makes the same sound sometimes when I turn off the engine. Did you ever figured out what makes the sound?
Tbh I figured it was just part of the engine and nothing to be concerned about. I've replaced the idle control valve, maf sensor, breather pipes, rocker gasket, vanos seals, spark plugs, air intake pipes and its still hunting. It runs way better, with tons of performance. Thanks to the 50sKid
Hello , do you think the noise is due to acute valve saying? ( kzhead.info/sun/fJimYZ2La3yImHA/bejne.html ) I can not figure out where the noise! Air hoses are not pierced , accessories belts are new ! I need help = / Continue your videos are awesome !!
here is a vid on replacing vacuum diaphragm kzhead.info/sun/aL6ndqyyrYqefac/bejne.html ..have tried to open it but it is bloooody hard
Ah, very interesting. I did not know the diaphragms were for sale. (Spell diaphragm 3 times fast!)
if you still have that DISA can you see if the top is removable cause on mine it is hard,can see it move at where the vacuum tube is but that's it Spell Diaphragm 3 times fast haha I have spell check...here we spell it diaphram (AU) but comes up with the spell check redline
vanos-bmw.com/disa-bmw-repair-kits this is the web site for DISA and Vanos ...
have looked all over the net for a video on removing the vacuum pot so you could be the first,that's if you can get it off
I will buy that from you if you still have it. I need one. My car is the 2.5. If you paid $20 (like u said below)... Ill pay you $40 and pay for shipping to me :)
I sold that a long time ago, I'm afraid.