Diagnosing a Failing BMW DISA Valve – Sypmtoms, Problems & Repairs
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Differenzierte Sauganlage – and because German’s can’t pronounce this either, BMW just took the first two letters from each word and called this the DISA Valve.
BMW’s engineers discovered that the air path through the engine system has an impact on performance. In an effort to improve performance, BMW released the DISA valve in 1995. The valve is responsible for controlling air as it moves through the intake, resulting in improved performance.
First featured in the E39 5-series in 1995, the DISA valve survived until the retirement of the M54 engine in 2006. Across its 11-year life, the valve was used in the M50, M52, and M54 engine which were predominantly used in the E36/E46 3-series, E39/E60 5-series, and a number of the X3, X5, Z3, and Z4 models.
What does a DISA Valve do?
The DISA valve controls the path the air moves through the intake system and into the engine. The valve uses a flap which opens and closes to either shorten or lengthen the path the air takes to get to the cylinder chamber.
At low RPM’s, the valve is closed, forcing the air to take the longer path to the cylinders. At high RPM’s, the valve opens up which creates a shorter path. Given the path is shorter, there is less space for air. The end result is more pressurized air, which is in turn more combustible.
The ultimate goal of the DISA valve is to optimize performance and fuel efficiency at both low and high RPM’s.
How does the DISA Valve work?
If our short description above wasn’t enough for you, read this section.
Prior to entering the engine, intake air flows through the intake manifold. The manifold is what distributes the intake air into the 6 separate cylinders of the engine. When the cylinder valve is in an “open” position, it lets air into the cylinder, and then as the valve “closes” it cuts off air from entering the cylinder. This causes any air flowing in to bounce back off of the valve and back into the manifold. After bouncing backwards off of the valve, it then bounces off the other end, sending the air back towards the valve.
For the most efficient engine performance, you want that air to bounce back towards the valve and reach it at the exact same time the valve is opening again. Because the valves open more slowly at low RPM’s, you want this bounce back process to take longer. And at high RPM’s you want it to be quicker.
This is where the DISA valve comes into play. At high RPM’s it creates less space for air, which creates a faster bounce back. The ECU is responsible for controlling the DISA valve and telling it when to open and close.
Symptoms of BMW DISA Valve Failure
- Poor fuel economy
- Rattling noise coming from the engine
- Loss of power at mid and high RPM’s
- Lack of low-end torque
- SES/CEL light and codes for running lean
The most tell-tale sign of a bad valve is a loud rattling noise coming from the intake system. As the seals on the valve wear down, air can slip past the valve in open and closed positions, causing a loud rattle. By this point, you will also start to notice bad performance, lack of power, etc.
The valve is made of plastic and has a metal pin that holds it in place. If the valve or pin breaks, plastic or the metal rod can get sucked into the engine, which will totally wreck your whole engine.
DISA Maintenance & Replacement Options
The DISA valve will normally only last 70,000-100,000 miles. We highly recommend replacing it or rebuilding it at this mileage to prevent any catastrophic failures.
You have two options for repair and replacement:
- Replace the full DISA unit: if you’re valve isn’t functioning but you aren’t getting any rattle, then you likely need to replace the whole unit.
- Rebuild the unit: this involves replacing the flap, seal, and pin.
M50 Replacement DISA Unit
M52 Replacement DISA Unit
M54 Replacement DISA Unit
Why was the DISA Valve discontinued?
Ultimately, the DISA valve is effective at low and high RPM’s. But it isn’t super efficient at mid-range RPM’s.
BMW discontinued the DISA valve around 2012 in favor for a more complex intake system which incorporated a second intake “circuit”.
I have a 2001 BMW e46 engine w43 4 cylinder.
It is fitted with the old design disa valve with a round flap.
If I close the vacuum hole and release the vacuum the valve opens to the half open position.
Can I still use it?
Does this cause any damage as the valve is supposed to be closed at the idle position.
The car still runs well.
I have noticed the fuel cunsumption stays almost the same at 6.9 litre per 100 kilometers at either 80km hour or 160km hour.
Is there something I must check?
Serviced new spark plugs replaced MAF and cam sensors and crankcase vacuum relief valve. Set crank camshaft and sensor timing.
It ran at 6.7 litre per hundred but has now gone to 6.9 l per hundred.
Is this because I now do short distance driving.
Also the cruise control jumps out still cable driven and the motor in the cruise unit still runs.
I have the same engine and recently refreshed my DISA with kit. If it isn’t rattling, you shouldn’t need to worry. The mechanism wouldnt have any reason to get stuck unnecessarily
Is supposed to stay closed for the most part. They say it will open a little but if it’s opening up most of the way get a new one…
The flapper crank seal (TCL 12x25x5 mm ) damage is the real issue with the DISA valve. Damaged seal allows unmetered air to enter the intake via the DISA valve flapper crankshaft. A smoke test will show smoke escaping and assumption is that is leaking past the DISA valve orange oring. Therefore, you may continue to get lean codes even after replacing the orange oring
So true. I had that issue. I heard a loud Whoosh coming from there (thought it was the brake cvacuum at 1st) In a pinch I put JK weld putty epoxy in the hole and that stopped the extrnal part of the leak until I got home. … and I found exactly what you said
2006 BMW X3 (N54) failed California Smog
CA Smog Code P0170 (fuel burn is too lean)
W0w… BMW Beverly Hills needed 12/27/2021-02/22/2022 to figure this out. I have described almost verbatim the systems listed above. Wish I discovered your blog US$4,690.78 earlier. Thank you.
Disa valves where also used on M43 and M44 4cyl engines
I wanted to mention that if you have an older BMW x5 or similar and get a p1347 it is possible that your disa valve is failing misfire code#3 with fuel cut off probably is a failing disa valve replaced mine and runs and performs like new
Does an e83 x3 3.0d have a disa valve as I’m getting all the symptoms
Hello, my Bmw E46, six cylinders M52TU25 engine, mileage 160.000 , from 1998, presents a rattle noise as described in the DISA article.
You mention as well as symptoms the presence of ” SES/CEL lights and codes”, which I imagine corresponding to an specific checking procedure.
Will appreciate to have this known in orden to confirm the DISA valve failure. Thanks for the article.