DISA removal
 

I finally figured out what the clicking in the engine bay is... it's the DISA, $@% it. Ah well, ordered it, should arrive in 2-3 days, but I'm wondering how to unplug the electrical connector, since none of the vids I've found on it actually show the person unplugging it. Was looking at it earlier and trying to disconnect it, but didn't see a clear way to do so, and don't wan't to break anything. I await thine wisdom, my brothers ;)

Push the metal thingy and pull the connector.

Ezzy Peezy

Hopefully it's not clicking because the metal pin came out. If the metal pin came out don't start the engine until you find it or you risk damage to the engine.

well with 274,000 km I'd say you are probably due for a new DISA or a rebuild at least.

Hmm... didn't see any metal thing, will look again.

It's not clicking loudly, just a slight noise, I actually had to use a metal rod as a stethoscope to figure out where it was coming from... and I kind of had to drive the car to get home. The new disa should be here in a couple of days, and I'll probably upgrade it with the metal kit later for good measure.

After this, it's time for the CCV.

Thanks!

The metal pin is located at the top of the DISA valve flap. You can only check it once you remove the DISA valve from the intake manifold.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...1&d=1318571375

the pin cant come out unless the DISA is removed, so just be careful when you remove it.

I know of an E46 owner who ruin his engine after owning the car for 3 months because the pin came out and got sucked into the engine. He parked his car until he could save up enough cash to get the engine rebuilt.

Yikes! Ruining an e46 is practically criminal. One of the best looking cars BMW ever made. By 'metal thing' I was referring to the metal clip outside that I couldn't see because I'm short and couldn't look over it. Found it now, hehe. I will be super careful taking it out. I'll probably put a couple of boards under the passenger side front wheel to tilt the car toward the disa side. I figure it'd be less likely to fall into the engine if gravity is pushing it toward the disa ;)

When I had a pickup truck I used to sit inside the engine bay because I couldn't reach stuff.

Hobbits ftw ;)

I think that's a myth. Look at the design, it's not really physically possible. It is possible that it fell out when it was removed once before and no one noticed until it finally jammed the valves

You can think whatever you want, but the E46 owner didn't remove the DISA Valve until after his car started running really badly and I mention to him to look at the DISA Valve. That's when he discovered the pin had come off and work it way into one of the engine cylinder.