Pd170 inlet manifold query

[Mnb68]

Have read loads of the threads about replacing the problematic inlet with swirl flaps with the pd140 version that doesn't have them .lots of can be done stories but no reports in how the car behaves so any answers to the below points much appreciated
1 does this mod throw any fault codes
2 how is the performance and economy affected
3 are results similar using alloy/plastic non swirl flap inlet

The bmw horror stories of swirl flap ingestion make this a good peace of mind mod and with a new inlet at around the 500 mark (part only ) may even justify a sticky for definitive results and how too posts

 

[MJ]

I know for a fact that an alloy bkd manifold can be had off ebay for around £30

 

[Mnb68]

I know for a fact that
an alloy bkd manifold can be had off ebay for around £30

hence the enquiry if this part(03g129713 inlet with no swirl flaps) can replace the bmn part(03g129711 inlet with swirl flaps ) as these are like hens teeth to get second hand and unless they are the AS version liable to suffer the same problems as the original AF VERSION
BKD is the engine code for the 140bhp 2.0 tdi which has no swirl flaps

 

[MJ]

my only input is they are a direct replacement but I don't know the side effects. The bkd ones are cheap and readily available off ebay, I know these have no swirl flaps.

I sold a bkd manifold to someone not long and they fitted it to their BMN, not sure if they had any issues.

 

[Mnb68]

my only input is they are a direct replacement but I don't know the side effects. The bkd ones are cheap and readily available off ebay, I know these have no swirl flaps.

I sold a bkd manifold to someone not long and they fitted it to their BMN, not sure if they had any issues.

any idea of the quality of the early alloy inlets with the flaps can get one of those but as its pre 2007 would have concerns on reliability

 

[MJ]

I've never had a single metal or plastic one fail in all honesty.

 

[Mnb68]

I've never had a single metal or plastic one fail in all honesty.

hopefully that will continue lol I'm just getting all the info together before i pull the inlet off as I'm getting the oily deposit and air leaking from the swirl spindle where it exits the manifold and once I've it off for the sake of 50-60 quid gaskets and a used bkd manifold if there was no discernable differences one less problem to worry about in the future .. the manifolds vw supply have been redesigned a few times . seems to be common for bmw owners to remove so in an ideal world what doesn't affect there engines shouldn't affect the pd plant and hard to see why a 140 doesn't need flaps and a 170 does when the only difference really is a bigger turbo and some ecu changes

 

[MJ]

The whole management system is different on the ppd170, it uses Siemens where as the 140 uses bosch.

The injectors are one of the bigger differences

 

[Mnb68]

got an alloy manifold with the swirl flaps so pulled the old one off and id say I've dodged a bullet ! the shaft had serious play in it and the farthest flap from the actuator was ready to separate completely (car just about to turn 80k so not serious miles ) egr was well clogged too .. picked up the alloy manifold for £90 and a free gasket so was mega savings and flap shaft was rock solid (part number 03g129713H) .. massive improvement throughout the range car drives like a dream .. one heart stopper glow plug light and limp on first drive but was just pipe not fully clicked home so blew off phew . all in all well worth a few hours work and way easier on the pocket (findapart.ie big thumbs up )

 

[Dodsy]

+1

I have had the alloy inlet on mine for about 10k now after breaking 2 plastic ones, no problems what so ever and the car still goes like stink!!

 

[whitep]

got an alloy manifold with the swirl flaps so pulled the old one off and id say I've dodged a bullet ! the shaft had serious play in it and the farthest flap from the actuator was ready to separate completely (car just about to turn 80k so not serious miles ) egr was well clogged too .. picked up the alloy manifold for £90 and a free gasket so was mega savings and flap shaft was rock solid (part number 03g129713H) .. massive improvement throughout the range car drives like a dream .. one heart stopper glow plug light and limp on first drive but was just pipe not fully clicked home so blew off phew . all in all well worth a few hours work and way easier on the pocket (findapart.ie big thumbs up )

I have an Octavia PD170, I have had all sorts of running issues this year, hesitating, laggy, low power in general. Sometimes it feels like it wants to throw me through the windscreen.

Anyway, I have the plastic intake, but I see a couple of 03G129713H alloy intakes on ebay.... in your experience guys, would these fit? Are the alloy ones better than the plastic ones then? My car is 112000 miles...

 

[blackquat]

I didn't even know about this! So I need to check what manifold is fitted?

 

[whitep]

got an alloy manifold with the swirl flaps so pulled the old one off and id say I've dodged a bullet ! the shaft had serious play in it and the farthest flap from the actuator was ready to separate completely (car just about to turn 80k so not serious miles ) egr was well clogged too .. picked up the alloy manifold for £90 and a free gasket so was mega savings and flap shaft was rock solid (part number 03g129713H) .. massive improvement throughout the range car drives like a dream .. one heart stopper glow plug light and limp on first drive but was just pipe not fully clicked home so blew off phew . all in all well worth a few hours work and way easier on the pocket (findapart.ie big thumbs up )

I Just picked up a 03G129713H alloy intake off an audi with gasket on ebay for £50... so hopefully just as much of a bargain as yours if it fits... wish me luck

 

[blackquat]

Can you not plug this like on the beemers?

 

[whitep]

Can you not plug this like on the beemers?

I think the problem is the flaps brake off and end up in the engine. If you plug the leak you still have the dodgy flaps. You cant take the flaps out because you need them for idle, I think. This is only what I have read on various forums.

 

[blackquat]

I think the problem is the flaps brake off and end up in the engine. If you plug the leak you still have the dodgy flaps. You cant take the flaps out because you need them for idle, I think. This is only what I have read on various forums.

Ah begger.
Shame you can't rip them out and plug up the holes. I think I'll get my manifold off and investigate.

 

[whitep]

Ah begger.
Shame you can't rip them out and plug up the holes. I think I'll get my manifold off and investigate.

I thought that, then I thought for £50 I might as well get an alloy manifold, clean it up and take the old plastic one off and replace it anyway. Save taking it off again later and putting a broken one back on in the mean time.

 

[hollandgirl4]

Hi, sorry to revive an old thread. But I really don't know much about my car sadly. It's been driving like crap for ages, white smoke out the exhaust, lumpy on idle and absolutely stinks under the bonnet of burning fuel.
Anyway, I eventually took it to jabba sport yesterday to be looked at , he plugged it into diagnostics and nothing came up- strange. He then looked under my bonnet and he said there was loads of black soot which wasn't normal and then smoke tested my inlet manifold and he said there was a big crack/ split / something as the smoke all escaped, hence the black soot?!
He said he's not 100% sure if this is the cause of my problems but he hopes it is but it needs sorting anyway.
I drive a pd170 which has a plastic manifold (which to me seems a bit silly as surely plastic melts?) but anyway, he's told me he can source and fit an alloy manifold but somethings would need to be blanked off?! Is this manifold not the actual one for my engine then? And will this affect anything on my car.
My boyfriend has worked on loads of petrol cars, he's not a mechanic but likes modifying / fixing his own cars , and I was wondering how easy it would be for him to take my old manifold off and fit a new one, also where could I myself sorce one of these alloy ones from? I don't know if I'd want second hand as surely there's more chance that he could go quicker? As I said I don't know much about my car, so any replies would be very helpful!
Thank you and again, sorry for reviving an old thread.

 

[Mnb68]

Hi
My last fr had the same symptoms , the fr inlet has swirl flaps controlled by an actuator on the left hand side of the manifold . The seal where the control rod exits is prone to wear over time allowing pressure to escape leaves sooty residue mainly over the alternator area this would be more likely than crack in manifold but would show same symptoms. When wear gets to this stage there is a risk of swirl flap failure where the rod breaks and engine can ingest a flap . I sourced an alloy inlet from an a3 but you need the shorter bolts and new gasket . Some grinding to the outer surface may also be needed when fitting to allow some of the brackets to fit

 

[hollandgirl4]

Hi
My last fr had the same symptoms , the fr inlet has swirl flaps controlled by an actuator on the left hand side of the manifold . The seal where the control rod exits is prone to wear over time allowing pressure to escape leaves sooty residue mainly over the alternator area this would be more likely than crack in manifold but would show same symptoms. When wear gets to this stage there is a risk of swirl flap failure where the rod breaks and engine can ingest a flap . I sourced an alloy inlet from an a3 but you need the shorter bolts and new gasket . Some grinding to the outer surface may also be needed when fitting to allow some of the brackets to fit

I can hear a hissing noise when I put my head to the side where the cams are. I can't remember exactly what he said was wrong or whether he actually did, but all I know is one side of my manifold and the cams and the engine cover are covered in soot. If I need to pay them to do it, it's going to be a few months until I can afford to get it done unfortunately so is it not safe to drive then? When I asked him he said it is safe as long as driven cautiously? But going from what you've just said I think I'd rather not! He quoted me the price for a new gasket, so if he was using the same one for my engine would I not need a new gasket or is one needed regardless?
I just want it to be easy to do so I don't have to pay someone else to do it! With an alloy one is there not the swirl flaps then? And how do you get around them not being there when fitting a new one?