Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Posts
    91

    Brand new DISA - suspicious flap operation

    Hi ZHP Family,

    Please help me out. I have just purchased a brand new DISA from BMW which arrived yesterday. The first thing I did was test the flap operation. The normal test where you close the flap with your fingers, and cover the one little air hole and see if the flap remains mostly closed is fine. However, whilst doing this test I noticed that if I close the flap with my fingers (while not covering the hole), when i release it, it does not return 100% to the open position - I have to help it.

    https://youtu.be/Br8dUTpBGH0

    As you can see in the video, if I partially close the flap, its fine - it springs back 100% everytime. But if I FULLY close the flap, you can see it doesn't want to spring back 100%.

    I went to BMW today, and they said it's nothing to worry about and that once its installed and under vacuum it will work correctly.

    This doesn't make sense to me, as when it is under vacuum, the flap will CLOSE, not open. So I am not convinced, as the purpose of the spring mechanism is to open the flap when its NOT under vacuum.

    I am not sure how to argue this with BMW. Please share thoughts on whether this part is right or defective.

    Thanks
    Adrian
    2004 BMW 330i M-sport 6MT
    2003.5 BMW M3 Coupe 6MT


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    18,064
    I'd return it and get the G.A.S. DISA which remedies the flaw in the OEM DISA.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
    Randeaux/Rando/John/jr - '06 Cic ZHP; Southern California
    "ZHP or not, I still like you"


    ZHP Performance Package, Cold Weather Package, Leather, Jet Black/Black/BlackCube, NAV, Anthracite Black "my individual" interior trim
    ESS Stage 1 Twin Screw Supercharger, Sprint Booster, BMW Perf Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, Dinan TB & STEP S/W, UCC Sway Bars, Apex EC-7 18x8.5 ET38
    Suspension: AST 44100 dampers, Bimmerworld front adjustable end links, Swift springs (8K front, 10K rear), Vorshlag camber plates
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    22841
    Posts
    9,921
    Quote Originally Posted by johnrando View Post
    I'd return it and get the G.A.S. DISA which remedies the flaw in the OEM DISA.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
    Will they ship to South Africa?

    His - 2004 Imola Red / Alcantara 330i | 6MT | ZHP |

    Her's - 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic / Black Leather 330i | 6MT | ZHP |

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Posts
    91
    Quote Originally Posted by Vas View Post
    Will they ship to South Africa?
    Well, yes. But that makes it cost prohibitive. I just want to know if I should fight this battle. And it will be a battle with my local dealer because they ordered it in from Germany.
    2004 BMW 330i M-sport 6MT
    2003.5 BMW M3 Coupe 6MT


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Posts
    91
    So I reached out to a few US parts shops for advice. Here were the useful responses:

    FCPeuro:
    "Thanks for contacting FCP Euro!

    We have three of these units in stock and two out of three acted just like this one. I feel like this is normal until the unit is worn in. I apologize for any concern on this matter.

    I'm here to help with any further questions or concerns!"

    G.A.S.
    "That can be normal. It's the result of the membrane cup getting folded
    inside when you force the movement from the flapper. The only real way to
    test is to suck on the vacuum hole that you cover when doing the vacuum
    test. If the flapper returns normally when actuated that way you are fine."

    Bavarian AutoSport
    "It is our experience with several thousand Disa valves that this " test " is not an accurate way to test Disa valves , We have tested several for function and have come come to the conclusion that Disa valves that fail the "internet test" can and do in fact function correctly.
    We are currently producing a blog video to better explain this and to "debunk" the internet test. how ever do to scheduling it will be a few months before we release this video."

    I think BavAuto were mistaking my issue for the normal flap operation test where you cover the hole to see if the flap stays closed under vacuum.

    I have asked my mechanic to perform a bench test on the unit as per G.A.S. recommendation. The test is like this:
    https://youtu.be/pg6Jb3qEYvM?t=136
    2004 BMW 330i M-sport 6MT
    2003.5 BMW M3 Coupe 6MT


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Posts
    91
    My shop tested the DISA as described above, and it's fine, so I'm having it fitted.

    Thanks for the input.
    2004 BMW 330i M-sport 6MT
    2003.5 BMW M3 Coupe 6MT


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