Need intake valves cleaned, which method should I go with? I have 2 quotes

hidden moose · 06-30-2014, 06:12 AM

I have 92k on my 07 335, the car is running quite rough, getting "hiccups" and nothing close to a smooth idle. The intake valves haven't been cleaned since I got the car a year ago at 60k miles. A reputable indie shop wants to charge $270, when I asked if it's chemical or walnut blasting he said: "Neither, I just clean them manually, chemicals are risky and walnut blasting is not necessary and only drives up the price. The valves are going to get clogged again eventually so making them shiny does nothing to improve performance." BMW charges $675 for walnut blasting. Would it be fine to get them "manually" cleaned? It's quite a bit of savings that way.

deeLow · 06-30-2014, 07:19 AM

Find a new shop that does the blasting. ~$350 is going indy price

110k on mine, was never done before. Manual cleaning wasn't gonna get it done for me.

hidden moose · 06-30-2014, 07:26 AM

never heard of it for that cheap. anyone in the central florida know of a place that will do this?

hidden moose · 06-30-2014, 09:49 AM

I called a few shops, 2 said they don't offer walnut blasting, only chemical cleaning, 1 said manual cleaning, and I know the dealer and PSI do it, but not even close to $350

deeLow · 06-30-2014, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidden moose

I called a few shops, 2 said they don't offer walnut blasting, only chemical cleaning, 1 said manual cleaning, and I know the dealer and PSI do it, but not even close to $350

Check the regional section, find some dudes in FL that had it done.

I literally just paid 350 for it on Friday. BMW wanted 475+tax, a sponsor on here offered me it for $325 but they were 2hrs away, and then had a different sponsor on here give me a quote of $550!

Had my local performance shop do it and couldn't be any happier.

JM35 · 06-30-2014, 10:02 AM

I DIY'd this with a friend. Its not a terribly hard job to do but it is very time consuming and you have to strip down a lot of the engine bay. Took me about 8 hours to do it all, but if you enjoy working on cars its not bad at all.

hidden moose · 06-30-2014, 10:52 AM

Couldn't find anyone in central florida that does it, there's a guy in jax and all the other posts are for south florida. I have a friend that is a mechanic and would help me do it but how much are the tools going to cost to walnut blast the valves? he has an air compressor

06-30-2014, 06:12 AM	#1
hidden moose Private 5 Rep 69 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: winter park, fl iTrader: (0)	Need intake valves cleaned, which method should I go with? I have 2 quotes I have 92k on my 07 335, the car is running quite rough, getting "hiccups" and nothing close to a smooth idle. The intake valves haven't been cleaned since I got the car a year ago at 60k miles. A reputable indie shop wants to charge $270, when I asked if it's chemical or walnut blasting he said: "Neither, I just clean them manually, chemicals are risky and walnut blasting is not necessary and only drives up the price. The valves are going to get clogged again eventually so making them shiny does nothing to improve performance." BMW charges $675 for walnut blasting. Would it be fine to get them "manually" cleaned? It's quite a bit of savings that way.
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06-30-2014, 07:19 AM	#2
deeLow DOPE 148 Rep 758 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Find a new shop that does the blasting. ~$350 is going indy price 110k on mine, was never done before. Manual cleaning wasn't gonna get it done for me.
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06-30-2014, 07:26 AM	#3
hidden moose Private 5 Rep 69 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: winter park, fl iTrader: (0)	never heard of it for that cheap. anyone in the central florida know of a place that will do this?
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06-30-2014, 09:49 AM	#4
hidden moose Private 5 Rep 69 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: winter park, fl iTrader: (0)	I called a few shops, 2 said they don't offer walnut blasting, only chemical cleaning, 1 said manual cleaning, and I know the dealer and PSI do it, but not even close to $350
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06-30-2014, 10:02 AM	#6
JM35 N54 Tuner 7 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6spd Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	I DIY'd this with a friend. Its not a terribly hard job to do but it is very time consuming and you have to strip down a lot of the engine bay. Took me about 8 hours to do it all, but if you enjoy working on cars its not bad at all. __________________ 2008 135i - 6MT - Jet Black 600hp 135i build blog
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06-30-2014, 10:52 AM	#7
hidden moose Private 5 Rep 69 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: winter park, fl iTrader: (0)	Couldn't find anyone in central florida that does it, there's a guy in jax and all the other posts are for south florida. I have a friend that is a mechanic and would help me do it but how much are the tools going to cost to walnut blast the valves? he has an air compressor
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