Hi, as a new sufferer of a swirl valve flap failure on my BMW 525D, I would like to try and raise its profile even higher and try and warn other users of the predicament they face if they do NOT do something to try and prevent the problem. The longer you keep the car, the greater are your chances that the problem will occur because, as a design fault of this BMW diesel engine, the problem is inherent in the engine itself. Sooner or later it will happen to you. I wasn't aware of this not infrequently occurring problem. My valve failure occured on the motorway - the car started shuddering and stuttering and its speed decreased alarmingly. Fortunately, I was in the inside lane and managed to pull over safely onto the hard shoulder. If it had been on the faster lanes...

BMW report that the engine needs to be replaced at a cost of £7000 + VAT = £10,000.

Since this diagnosis was reported to me by BMW 3 days ago, I have discovered a plethora of information on the internet (this website included), and a swarm of specialist companies dealing with the aftermath of this engine-design failure. As I said a not infrequently occurring problem. Shame BMW didn't advise me of this problem at any of the 18 services I've taken the car to or at any of the MOTs. Wouldn't it have been civic of them if they had advised a replacement of the flaps to blanks say at 60,000 miles as part of that normal service procedure - remember the timing belts of old. Perhap fraught with difficulty for the motor giant. In any case, it would have saved me from having to scrap an otherwise beautiful car - a prized possession. Be warned.