[WhatADream]

Hey fellow Enthusiasts. As most of you know who own the N54 engine there is a normal side effect which robs power and can even create mis-fire issues.

So I wanted to share my experience as a very in-tune 335 owner with this issue and my recent experience with a local bay area BMW shop.

Fast Lane European has recently purchased the BMW specific Walnut Blaster. They performed the walnut blasting service on all of my intake ports and provided before and after pictures. The owner Mason is one of the most talented technicians I have ever worked with, and super cool.

Review:
My car has about 74k miles, and this is first time I got this done.
I must say, HOLLY Cow, I did not expect to experience such a huge difference when it was all done. The car revs so freely now, it accelerates extremely smooth, and pulls WAY harder throughout the entire RPM powerband. I would say on estimate that I recovered about 10-15 whp. Overall, the car seems extremely responsive and more fun to drive. I HIGHLY recommend EVERYONE who owns a N54 engine to get this done. Go see Mason at Fast Lane European and tell him I sent you!
Now for the before and after shots. Just posting 3 of the 6 cylinders to make it easier on your browsers, but you get the point.

BEFORE:





AFTER:

[GearRex]

Impressive. I definitely need this.

On moderate to hard acceleration, I can feel the hesitation. Car feels like it is losing traction, but I know it isn't.

My N54 has 52K miles.

Everyone that has done this, raves about the results.

Congratulations.

[e92_enthusiast_1]

Very nice, grats on the new "tune".

[F-16 CHIEF]

If only I had someone near me who does this.

BMW should do this under CPO. I mean really. If it's that nasty, then put a new intake on. That's just not normal for a car with decent mileage.

[SSW]

Originally Posted by WhatADream

Fast Lane European has recently purchased the BMW specific Walnut Blaster. They performed the walnut blasting service on all of my intake ports and provided before and after pictures.

Congrats! Looks good as all of the before and after walnut blasting pics I've seen. Obviously something we all need to get done from time to time.

Just wondering: Is there actually a "BMW specific Walnut Blaster" and how much did Fast Lane charge you for this work?

[paddy335]

Wow! I've never paid much attention to the 'walnut-blasting' discussions. Seriously got my attention now!!

[Hidden]

Sweet, what did it run you to have this done?

[smares21]

Originally Posted by F-16 CHIEF

That's just not normal for a car with decent mileage.

Its actually 100% normal for direct injection cars, unfortunately.

[WhatADream]

Thanks guys. Yea I was getting hesitation on half throttle in 4th but no more. It is running very strong. Wish I did this a long time ago. I also noticed my gas mileage is much better too!

The price normally goes for $1325 at the dealer, but mason only charged $725. He just bought the machine so I think he's doing promotional offers.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by smares21

Its actually 100% normal for direct injection cars, unfortunately.

I wonder if it still is an issue on current generation engines (BMW or not) ?

[JAL0988]

Originally Posted by WhatADream

Thanks guys. Yea I was getting hesitation on half throttle in 4th but no more. It is running very strong. Wish I did this a long time ago. I also noticed my gas mileage is much better too!

The price normally goes for $1325 at the dealer, but mason only charged $725. He just bought the machine so I think he's doing promotional offers.

That seems a little high. I know a shop that was running a promotional offer of $350 and after the sale it was still only $500.

[e92_enthusiast_1]

It might be a regional thing. I've read some people having a hard time finding a shops that do it and all that jazz. That have the right equipment or whatever. If the dealership was quoting $1325 (this makes me think the dealership doesnt really want that business and charges a premium for it, is it that bad a job? iono maybe they have better work to do or maybe it doesn't pay out as high as other jobs?) that's insane, I think SA's think we don't know what's up sometimes. And if the local indies know the dealers charging $1325 well forget about it.

Originally Posted by JAL0988

That seems a little high. I know a shop that was running a promotional offer of $350 and after the sale it was still only $500.

[SSW]

Originally Posted by WhatADream

The price normally goes for $1325 at the dealer, but mason only charged $725. He just bought the machine so I think he's doing promotional offers.

Wow! Looks like he did a good job but that sounds really high to me.

When I was 1st looking into it a couple months ago, I was seeing quotes around $500 but now shops are quoting around $350 in NorCal & SoCal.

[Bluesnake01]

Originally Posted by SSW

Wow! Looks like he did a good job but that sounds really high to me.

When I was 1st looking into it a couple months ago, I was seeing quotes around $500 but now shops are quoting around $350 in NorCal & SoCal.

I should've asked my local indy shop but if falls under $500 then that makes me a happy owner. Glad to see the prices dropping Which shops in SoCal did you call?

[SSW]

Originally Posted by Bluesnake01

I should've asked my local indy shop but if falls under $500 then that makes me a happy owner. Glad to see the prices dropping Which shops in SoCal did you call?

Here is the current offer posted by Offset Motorwerks (a forum sponsor in SoCal) for $350 including a FREE car rental!!!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=940323

If I had a reason to drive down there, I'd definitely do this!

As for NorCal, there's a well regarded indy BMW shop in Pleasanton that'll do the cleaning for $375 BY HAND. Claims it's just as good as walnut blasting and they take before and after pics too.

A shop in Vallejo, which apparently got banned from here for violating advertising rules, was offering a group buy on the CA subforum for $350 and, after the Vallejo shop got banned, I believe that some guys were trying to organize another group buy through a shop in San Jose do it for $350 too.

Just check the following thread and contact E90Crack about it:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=940241

My 335i has 87k miles on it but runs really strong. So, I have no need to do this yet. Planning to get it done at 100k miles for "routine maintenance" along with a long list of other things. It will be an expensive service.

[Bluesnake01]

WOW!! That is VERY tempting, the shop is only 45 min from me, I wouldn't need a rental car so price might be cheaper. My car has been running strong as well but I just cleaned the VANOS solenoids and it felt sooo much smoother, I can imagine a walnut blast should bring better results. If the price is right, then why not?

If they can hold off for another 2 weeks, I will definitely take car! Thats an awesome price!

Thanks a lot for the info!

[777ER]

Wow I'm suprised the valves gets that much buildup on it.

Tell that to Shell fuels, nitrogen blend fuels my @$$....

[Bluesnake01]

Originally Posted by 777ER

Wow I'm suprised the valves gets that much buildup on it.

Tell that to Shell fuels, nitrogen blend fuels my @$$....

Direct injection… fuel doesn't reach there, not even a drop.

[KMEninety335]

I did mine at Helix Motorsports in Philly when they were having a promotion going for around $300. They did a great job and the before and after pics were pretty significant. I definitely recommend this done as well.

[WhatADream]

I would be careful of where you get it done though. The shop needs the right tool and adapter to vacuum as they walnut blast. In addition the technique used is important to not let walnut shells in the combustion chamber. It's not an easy job to do, but give Fast Lane European a call and see what price you can negotiate.
I know for sure they do a good job, so the piece of mind that goes with it is value in itself...

[SSW]

Originally Posted by WhatADream

I would be careful of where you get it done though. The shop needs the right tool and adapter to vacuum as they walnut blast. In addition the technique used is important to not let walnut shells in the combustion chamber. It's not an easy job to do, but give Fast Lane European a call and see what price you can negotiate.
I know for sure they do a good job, so the piece of mind that goes with it is value in itself...

Although they apparently exist, you really don't need any BMW specific tools to do the walnut blasting. You can actually do it by hand but it's obviously much easier to do it with media blasting.

See: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=715706

All you need is a compressed air system to spay the walnut shell media in the desired area and you need to be very careful to mask off the area being cleaned and to properly vacuum out the debris. There are actually people who have done this themselves.

See: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682116

It's not something I would want to do myself but it doesn't take a rocket scientist or master mechanic to get it done. Just the proper equipment and proper preparation, time and attention.

However, if I were looking for a way to make some money on the side, starting a mobile walnut blasting cleaning service would be a pretty good way to do it.

[grzes]

not sure how things are in US, but in Canada I know not all the dealers have the tool. When they decided to do the blasting of my valves they had to wait for the tool to be shipped to them. Maybe they have to share the tool