E83 X3 , 3.0 d EGR Thermostat. ( or not )

[Horizon]

My next job on my recently acquired X3 is to sort out the coolant temperature problem I've got.
The coolant temp is only reaching 67 degrees C
I looked on real OEM and got the part number for the main thermostat, but couldn't find a number for the EGR thermostat, so there only seems to be one used on the BMW 3.0 engine, so I ordered one.
Whilst I had the engine covers off today I could see the top of the EGR cooler.
It wasn't set up the same as all the ones on YouTube, which I had been trawling looking for How To do videos.
I could see an electrical selenoid valve on the top of it, and where the thermostat normally lives in the outgoing coolant pipe, on mine the pipe just goes straight back into the main return hose.
Has anyone come across this system before.
On real OEM there seems to be a vacuum actuator fastened to the incoming port of the cooler.




I may need a couple of golf tees to do a modification, I'm going to fit the main coolant thermostat and monitor the  temperature.
My MPG is shocking at 67 degrees, must be over fueling .

[jagr]

Not the best picture but this is mine (3.0sd)



I just checked my pic of when I did my swirl flaps and it appears my inlet manifold is different to yours

[Horizon]

I can see your EGR thermostat in the photo, that's the one I ordered, but it's different in mine, they changed late 08 aparantly.

[M57N]

Glad I found this because I have exactly the same question having spent ages on the phone with BMW parts trying to order an EGR thermostat!!!! I have changed my main stat and now the temp gets to the middle of the dial but still takes some time to get there. I haven't managed to work out how the exhaust cooler works, if it is fed by the coolant circuit and what the vacuum plumbing does, and if it has any effect on the engine warm up time. Can anyone enlighten us please?

A secondary question is whether EGR blanking is a feasible and worthwhile mod on these cars and if its done should the swirl flaps be removed at the same time?

[Horizon]

Good question, now you have changed the main stat, use the hidden menu to check the running temperature, if it gets to 88 or above after 10/15 mins all is ok.
Jagr has the e83 3.0 SD twin turbo Diesel, he has the separate EGR thermostat which is fitted to a lot of the E60 E90 Diesel cars.
Mine has not got an EGR thermostat (3.0 d. 2008), it has a vacuum operated flap on the EGR cooler, which is operated by a vacuum / electrical selenoid mounted on the EGR cooler, mine was seized solid on the flap axis, needing an adjustable spanner to get it moving with a lot of help from WD40.
I decided to blend off the outlet of the EGR cooler by inserting a screw into its outlet / water side, and plugging g the vacuum pipe the operated the EGR valve.
The temperature is now 88 degrees plus. No DPF issues so far, so fingers crossed.
Any more questions , feel free to ask

[jagr]

[quote="M57N"]
A secondary question is whether EGR blanking is a feasible and worthwhile mod on these cars and if its done should the swirl flaps be removed at the same time?[/quote]

Swirl flaps is a must do for peace of mind.

I have a EGR blanking kit but have not fitted it (yet) as I have heard stories of the DPF being killed off etc or other problems.

[M57N]

[quote="Horizon"]
Mine has not got an EGR thermostat (3.0 d. 2008), it has a vacuum operated flap on the EGR cooler, which is operated by a vacuum / electrical selenoid mounted on the EGR cooler, mine was seized solid on the flap axis, needing an adjustable spanner to get it moving with a lot of help from WD40.
[/quote]
Does the vacuum operated flap perform the same function as the EGR thermostat on other models? Is the valve activated by a temperature input i.e. when cold the flap is closed and when warm it opens to admit coolant? That would explain comments BMW made that they sell a few EGR coolers (which are not cheap), presumably because they leak coolant, otherwise owners wouldn't notice aside from perhaps slower warm-up if the valve tends to stick or fail open as opposed to closed.

Is there a way of testing the flap is operating correctly? If the electric switch failed would this throw a fault code?