Carbon buildup on intake valves
Attaches to direct-injection-petrol at component level · Turbo & intake · carried by 67 variants across 19 chassis
Overview
Carbon buildup on intake valves is a universal fault recorded against direct-injection-petrol at component level, typically from 80–120k km. It shows up as rough cold idle, slow throttle response, misfires, gradual loss of low-end response. Where it's documented, the repair runs €400–€700 (walnut blasting at an independent, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be difficult to check before you buy. 67 variants across 19 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. Rough cold idle, slow throttle response, misfires, gradual loss of low-end response.
Cause. Direct injection puts no fuel over the intake valves, so crankcase vapour deposits bake on undisturbed.
How to check it
Paperwork
Not visible without a borescope. Treat it as a service item that's due unless there's a receipt. It's not a fault, it's an unbudgeted maintenance cost.
On these cars the folder is most of the value.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320i N43 | E90 | sedan | 2007–2011 | R4 | €3,950 | 14% |
| 320i N43 | E91 | wagon | 2007–2011 | R4 | €4,200 | 13% |
| 320i N43 | E92 | coupe | 2007–2011 | R4 | €4,550 | 12% |
| 320i N43 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2011 | R4 | €4,450 | 12% |
| 325i N53 | E90 | sedan | 2007–2011 | R4 | €5,250 | 10% |
| 325i N53 | E91 | wagon | 2007–2012 | R4 | €5,550 | 10% |
| 325i N53 | E92 | coupe | 2007–2013 | R4 | €6,050 | 9% |
| 325i N53 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2013 | R4 | €5,900 | 9% |
| 330i N53 | E90 | sedan | 2007–2011 | R4 | €6,000 | 9% |
| 330i N53 | E91 | wagon | 2007–2011 | R4 | €6,350 | 9% |
| 330i N53 | E92 | coupe | 2007–2011 | R4 | €6,900 | 8% |
| 330i N53 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2011 | R4 | €6,750 | 8% |
| 335i N54 | E90 | sedan | 2006–2010 | R4 | €7,350 | 7% |
| 335i N54 | E92 | coupe | 2006–2010 | R4 | €8,450 | 7% |
| 335i N54 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2010 | R4 | €8,250 | 7% |
| 335i N55 | E90 | sedan | 2010–2011 | R3 | €11,700 | 5% |
| 335i N55 | E92 | coupe | 2010–2013 | R3 | €13,450 | 4% |
| 335i N55 | E93 | convertible | 2010–2013 | R3 | €13,100 | 4% |
| 2.0 TFSI CDNC | B8 | sedan | 2008–2012 | R5 | €4,300 | 13% |
| 2.0 TFSI CDNC | B8 Avant | wagon | 2008–2012 | R5 | €4,500 | 12% |
| 1.8 TFSI CABB | B8 | sedan | 2008–2015 | R4 | €3,900 | 14% |
| 1.8 TFSI CABB | B8 Avant | wagon | 2008–2015 | R4 | €4,100 | 13% |
| C 180 CGI M271-EVO | W204 | sedan | 2011–2014 | R2 | €7,650 | 7% |
| C 180 CGI M271-EVO | S204 | wagon | 2011–2014 | R2 | €8,050 | 7% |
| 1.4 TSI CAXA | Mk5 | hatchback | 2007–2009 | R4 | €3,300 | 17% |
| 1.4 TSI CAXA | Mk6 | hatchback | 2009–2013 | R4 | €4,250 | 13% |
| 2.0 FSI BLR | Mk5 | hatchback | 2004–2008 | R3 | €2,450 | 22% |
| 116i N43B16 | E87 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €3,500 | 16% |
| 116i N43B16 | E81 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €3,100 | 18% |
| 118i N43 | E87 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €3,900 | 14% |
| 118i N43 | E81 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €3,450 | 16% |
| 118i N43 | E82 | coupe | 2007–2011 | R3 | €4,000 | 14% |
| 118i N43 | E88 | convertible | 2008–2011 | R3 | €4,200 | 13% |
| 120i N43 | E87 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €4,250 | 13% |
| 120i N43 | E81 | hatchback | 2007–2011 | R3 | €3,800 | 14% |
| 120i N43 | E82 | coupe | 2007–2011 | R3 | €4,400 | 13% |
| 120i N43 | E88 | convertible | 2008–2011 | R3 | €4,650 | 12% |
| 135i N54 | E82 | coupe | 2007–2010 | R4 | €9,800 | 6% |
| 135i N54 | E88 | convertible | 2008–2010 | R4 | €10,350 | 5% |
| 135i N55 | E82 | coupe | 2010–2013 | R3 | €12,600 | 4% |
| 135i N55 | E88 | convertible | 2010–2013 | R3 | €13,300 | 4% |
| 1M N54 | E82 | coupe | 2011–2012 | R3 | €50,700 | 1% |
| 1.4 TFSI CAXC | 8P | hatchback | 2007–2013 | R3 | €3,300 | 17% |
| 1.4 TFSI CAXC | 8PA | hatchback | 2007–2013 | R3 | €3,400 | 16% |
| 1.4 TFSI CAXC | 8P7 | convertible | 2008–2013 | R3 | €3,800 | 14% |
| 1.8 TFSI CDAA | 8P | hatchback | 2007–2013 | R3 | €3,900 | 14% |
| 1.8 TFSI CDAA | 8PA | hatchback | 2007–2013 | R3 | €4,000 | 14% |
| 1.8 TFSI CDAA | 8P7 | convertible | 2008–2013 | R3 | €4,500 | 12% |
| 2.0 FSI BLR | 8P | hatchback | 2004–2008 | R3 | €2,800 | 20% |
| 2.0 FSI BLR | 8PA | hatchback | 2004–2008 | R3 | €2,850 | 19% |
| 2.0 TFSI CCZA | 8P | hatchback | 2008–2013 | R3 | €5,000 | 11% |
| 2.0 TFSI CCZA | 8PA | hatchback | 2008–2013 | R3 | €5,150 | 11% |
| 2.0 TFSI CCZA | 8P7 | convertible | 2008–2013 | R3 | €5,300 | 10% |
| S3 CDLA | 8P | hatchback | 2006–2013 | R3 | €8,750 | 6% |
| S3 CDLA | 8PA | hatchback | 2006–2013 | R3 | €8,950 | 6% |
| E 200 CGI M271-EVO | W212 | sedan | 2009–2013 | R3 | €5,200 | 11% |
| E 200 CGI M271-EVO | S212 | wagon | 2009–2013 | R3 | €5,450 | 10% |
| E 250 CGI M271-EVO | W212 | sedan | 2009–2013 | R3 | €6,000 | 9% |
| E 250 CGI M271-EVO | S212 | wagon | 2009–2013 | R3 | €6,300 | 9% |
| E 200 M274 | W212 | sedan | 2013–2016 | R2 | €8,450 | 7% |
| E 200 M274 | S212 | wagon | 2013–2016 | R2 | €8,850 | 6% |
| E 250 M274 | W212 | sedan | 2013–2016 | R2 | €9,600 | 6% |
| E 250 M274 | S212 | wagon | 2013–2016 | R2 | €10,100 | 5% |
| E 350 CGI M272 | W212 | sedan | 2009–2011 | R3 | €7,250 | 8% |
| E 350 CGI M272 | S212 | wagon | 2009–2011 | R3 | €7,650 | 7% |
| E 350 M276 | W212 | sedan | 2011–2016 | R2 | €10,500 | 5% |
| E 350 M276 | S212 | wagon | 2011–2016 | R2 | €11,050 | 5% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.