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I removed my inlet manifold today, for a check.
Because as you know a direct injection engine does not clean the back of the inlet valves so the only thing that can happen is the valves get dirty over time. My car has 134 500km which is around 84 000 miles. It has a catless downpipe - Forge intercooler - AWE carbon intake - and a stage 2 map. Currently @ 300hp (265Whp). Because performance is important for me, i like my car performing in top condition. I expected the worse, dirty valves, dirty inlet etc.. but guess what. BMW really showed how to build a great engine this time. Let me know in the comments what you think.
they were no where near as bad is i thought
Thanks for posting. I did the DIY walnut blast on my 2008 R56 Cooper S. I won't worry too much about it now on my new car until I get a few more miles on it.
It is important to regularly change the oil. I do mine every 5000 miles. Sometimes even sooner.
it was hard to take a detailled picture of the intake valves, i did my best 😅. They're not very dirty. They do have some build up. But not that much for 84 000miles. Some engine's need a walnut blast every 30 to 50k miles. But the new B48 engine has a very good ventilation system. Does not build that much crankcase pressure that returns into the inlet.
The second gen B14 (in particular) and B18 engines were prone to valve deposits because of excessive "blow by" They needed walnut blasting of the valves after a while to clean the deposits. Some people also used an oil catch can to help with this.
Third gen MINIs use BMW designed engines, which are not susceptible to the same valve deposits. These are the same engines used in the 2, 3, and 4 series BMWs and are well proven. There is not a need to use an oil catch can, and they do not need walnut blasting, as the 2nd gen engines did. My car has 54,000 miles on it. Just before 50K, I ran somme SeaFoam through the fuel system. I expected a ton of smoke out the back, but there wasn't, which meant the valves were clean. I'll repeat it around 60K miles as well.
The second gen B14 (in particular) and B18 engines were prone to valve deposits because of excessive "blow by" They needed walnut blasting of the valves after a while to clean the deposits. Some people also used an oil catch can to help with this.
Third gen MINIs use BMW designed engines, which are not susceptible to the same valve deposits. These are the same engines used in the 2, 3, and 4 series BMWs and are well proven. There is not a need to use an oil catch can, and they do not need walnut blasting, as the 2nd gen engines did. My car has 54,000 miles on it. Just before 50K, I ran somme SeaFoam through the fuel system. I expected a ton of smoke out the back, but there wasn't, which meant the valves were clean. I'll repeat it around 60K miles as well.
The second gens are N14 and N18 engines for the MCS, B-series don't come around until the third gen. And I beg to differ on valve cleaning on the B-series motor. I recently pulled a B48 head with 62,000 miles on it. It's coke'd up pretty good, not as bad as what you'll find in an N14 after 60k miles, but still coked up pretty good. The carbon build-up is dry and a good 1mm-2mm thickness is built onto the valves. I also pulled a B48 head with only 33,000 miles on it. There is carbon build up, not as thick as the 62,000 miles, but the valves are covered in thin gunk, with thick build-up on the stem. I walnut blasted them both with head out of the vehicle while doing other work with it. I'll say, the carbon build-up problem isn't as severe as the N-series motors, but still has potential for the same issue at a higher mileage span.
Removed the sensor on the manifold, and got these images. Some were very clean, some pretty gummy looking. This was probably at around 35k miles.
Anything recommendations? I have a can of Seafoam spray, never got around to trying it... probably wishful thinking that help could be that easy, right?
Hi guys, so doing some research around walnut blasting my Minis with B46 and B38 engines and can't seem to find the port vacuum attachments. And places like FCP are telling me they don't exist. I started thinking that the same vacuum attachment for the older N20 design may fit? But have been unable to find any info that would even suggest it.
Anyone know if there is a dedicated vacuum attachment part for the B series?
Yep , not bad, the Gen 3 engines dont really suffer from carbon build up. Most of the time its from short start stops and cold temp/engine not really warming up.
Yep , not bad, the Gen 3 engines dont really suffer from carbon build up. Most of the time its from short start stops and cold temp/engine not really warming up.
