[Dr. G]

Is it okay to keep the actuator in my trunk unplugged throughout winter, or would it be a better idea to plug it in for winter to allow the cats to heat up?

[forza1976]

It's fine... keep it unplugged

[bulldog_yyc]

ditch the cats

[Kolyan2k]

i would assume its an emission thing because cold cats just dont work

[dcorn]

Was wondering this myself this morning when it was 20 degrees. Think it'll let the engine warm up any faster? Takes me almost 20 highway miles to get the engine to operating temp.

[s2k_335i]

Wonder how long do guy guys wait for the car to start? it took my car almost an hour to get it past 120 or operating temp.

[Dr. G]

Yeah my car never reaches operating temp so I never get to have any fun

Was thinking maybe it has to do with the actuator?

[Boostin335]

HAHA I was gonna say the same thing... my car temps never really warm up.. it takes like 20 min.. does the actuator unplugged affect this

[Constant.S]

As far as i know BMW used the Actuator valve to eliminate drone and loud in cabing cruising sounds and to stay within Euro sound regulations. It shouldnt affect temperature because on some reving zones it stays open anyways and if it does it should be minimal.

-C

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by s2k_335i

Wonder how long do guy guys wait for the car to start? it took my car almost an hour to get it past 120 or operating temp.

I hope that's an exaggeration. An hour?

[KyLu II]

unplugging the actuator in the trunk will throw a error code in the ECU....

[Glowin]

Originally Posted by KyLu II

unplugging the actuator in the trunk will throw a error code in the ECU....

True, but so what? How does that have anything to do with the OP's question about whether it would let the cats heat up faster or not?

Originally Posted by Dr. G

Is it okay to keep the actuator in my trunk unplugged throughout winter, or would it be a better idea to plug it in for winter to allow the cats to heat up?

I'd say it wouldn't matter, since the BMW Perf Exhaust don't have the flap in them, so BMW themselves couldn't have thought it's THAT important for the cats...

[Dr. G]

Yeah I don't really care about the hidden code it throws.

My car seems to NEVER reach optimal temps as all of my drives are really short, it really sucks.

[fisherbln]

I have not done the golf tee mod and my car still only gets to ~190F on my 30 minute (20 miles) drive in to work. This is with outside temperatures in the 20s to 30s.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Constant.S

As far as i know BMW used the Actuator valve to eliminate drone and loud in cabing cruising sounds and to stay within Euro sound regulations. It shouldnt affect temperature because on some reving zones it stays open anyways and if it does it should be minimal.

-C

wrong

Originally Posted by Dr. G

Yeah I don't really care about the hidden code it throws.

My car seems to NEVER reach optimal temps as all of my drives are really short, it really sucks.

like i said, that valve is there to warm up the cats. bmw performance exhaust doesnt even have that valve. it has nothing to do with engine temp.

[chuckee98]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

like i said, that valve is there to warm up the cats. bmw performance exhaust doesnt even have that valve.

I'm confused - the valve is there to warm up the cats, but the BMW performance exhaust doesn't have the valve. Does that mean if you have the BMW perf exhaust, you don't need to warm up the cats?

[MKR_DmD]

Who cares about warming up the cats. That has nothing to do with engine temps. All that does is make it so your car blows clean air faster. If I had my way my cats would be gone but this tree hugger state would rape me blind.

It takes about 10-15 minutes of driving before my oil temp even moves from 160. I just take it easy and don't go over 2.5k-3k.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

That flap has 3 functions which are really pointless to 90% of people.

Warms up the engine faster.
Quiets the exhaust.
Heats up the catalytic converters.

Now arming up the engine faster might be nice in the winter, but ive started this car in 15 degree weather and that heat got going pretty quick anyway.

At that point the loud sound is cool and the cats will eventually heat up.

[Glowin]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

wrong

like i said, that valve is there to warm up the cats. bmw performance exhaust doesnt even have that valve. it has nothing to do with engine temp.

Isn't that the same point I made? If the stock exhaust's flap was really there to warm up the cats, and it was that important, then why would BMW sell an exhaust that doesn't do that??? (their Performance Exhaust)

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Glowin

Isn't that the same point I made? If the stock exhaust's flap was really there to warm up the cats, and it was that important, then why would BMW sell an exhaust that doesn't do that??? (their Performance Exhaust)

didnt see ur post.

i am pretty sure its not important. most likely its there for government emission regulations or something...after market probably doesnt need to be regulated.

[2kaccordocoupe]

The flapper is only used to reduce noise at cold startup and to reduce hwy drone.

[Constant.S]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

wrong



like i said, that valve is there to warm up the cats. bmw performance exhaust doesnt even have that valve. it has nothing to do with engine temp.

How am I wrong? Thats what the BMW techician told me and thats who im quoting. My Ducati 1198 came with a similar flap valve to keep the exhaust tone lower in certain RPM range's in order to comply with the "E.U. TUV sound specs" and the performance exhaust didnt have it. Those Valves are are there mainly for soundproofing control in most European Manufacturers (Strict European sound regulations).
For the BMW specifically it reduces the effects of low frequency sound(drone), while improving the torque characteristics at low RPMs.
Alot of aftermarket exhaust companies have similar Valves in their exhaust systems to reduce drone and this is a quote from the 3D DESIGN exhaust about their Butterfly valve for the N54 powered s35I:

What is the Control Valve?
The control valve is a simple butterfly valve that is actuated using the pressure from the vacuum lines. This valve controls the ehxuast efficiency, volume and torque characteristics. Some BMW models have factory valve systems in place.

The factory computer determines the timing for the opening and shutting of the valves.
For instance (335i model):
- Always closed on neutral shift
- Opens at 2000 RPM on 1st shift position
- Opens at 4000 RPM on 2nd shift position
Opening and closing are controlled according to any different parameters
(such as the degree of throttle plate opening)
Source: http://www.3ddesign.jp/english/pro_e...ol_valve_E.htm