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CriticalCommonEngine

BMW 3 Series: M57 3.0L six-cylinder swirl-flap failure and ingestion (330d / 335d)

M57 3.0L six-cylinder swirl-flap failure and ingestion (330d / 335d) is a common engine fault on the BMW 3 Series on the 2005–2010 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $700 to $13,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 88 documented faults on the BMW 3 Series.

Vehicle
BMW 3 Series
Only on
Bi-Turbo / twin-turbo
Engine
M57
Years
2005–2010
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the BMW 3 Series as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All BMW 3 Series faults88 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Intake manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The six-cylinder M57 diesel in the E90/E92 330d and twin-turbo 335d uses metal swirl flaps in the intake manifold that improve low-rev combustion. The flaps' pivot pins wear and a flap can snap off and get sucked into a cylinder, where it destroys the piston, valves and often the turbo - turning a cheap engine into a rebuild. This is the single defining fault of the M57 and the reason most specialists fit solid aluminium blanking plates (a 'swirl-flap delete') as preventive work. Do not confuse this with the 320d four-cylinder - it is the 3.0-litre six that is at risk here.

What you would notice

  • Sudden loss of power or a catastrophic knock/rattle if a flap breaks
  • Rough running or fault codes relating to the swirl-flap actuator
  • Rattling from the intake manifold area
  • Metallic debris found on a borescope of the intake

How to check it

Where to look. Swirl flaps inside the intake manifold, on the side of the six-cylinder engine

Ask directly whether a swirl-flap delete (blanking plates) has been fitted - if yes, get the invoice, as it removes the risk. If the original flaps are still in place, treat it as a ticking clock and budget for the delete. Have it scanned for swirl-flap/intake actuator codes. A specialist can borescope the intake for wear.

Parts involved: Intake manifold.

What it costs to put right

$700 to $13,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the swirl flaps been deleted/blanked, and do you have the invoice?”
  • “Are the original swirl flaps still fitted?”

Now check the BMW 3 Series you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • MaCote.eu 'Why You Should Remove the Swirl Flaps on Your BMW M57TU'
  • Prestige German Engines BMW swirl flap failure guide
  • Bimmerforums.co.uk 'the dreaded swirl flaps' thread

BMW 3 Series buyer questions

Is m57 3.0l six-cylinder swirl-flap failure and ingestion (330d / 335d) serious on a BMW 3 Series?

We rate it critical and common on the BMW 3 Series. The six-cylinder M57 diesel in the E90/E92 330d and twin-turbo 335d uses metal swirl flaps in the intake manifold that improve low-rev combustion. The flaps' pivot pins wear and a flap can snap off and get sucked into a cylinder, where it destroys the piston, valves and often the turbo - turning a cheap engine into a rebuild. This is the single defining fault of the M57 and the reason most specialists fit solid aluminium blanking plates (a 'swirl-flap delete') as preventive work. Do not confuse this with the 320d four-cylinder - it is the 3.0-litre six that is at risk here.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW 3 Series?

$700 to $13,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which BMW 3 Series years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2010 BMW 3 Series. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Ask directly whether a swirl-flap delete (blanking plates) has been fitted - if yes, get the invoice, as it removes the risk. If the original flaps are still in place, treat it as a ticking clock and budget for the delete. Have it scanned for swirl-flap/intake actuator codes. A specialist can borescope the intake for wear. Look here: Swirl flaps inside the intake manifold, on the side of the six-cylinder engine