EGR valve

EGR valves & coolers are prone to carbon build up, which can make the valve ‘sticky’ or obstruct the flow of exhaust gas. This can usually be resolved with cleaning, but sometimes the carbon build up is bad enough that the parts need replacing.

EGR valve/coolers are critical components in the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system used in BMW’s later-model diesels.

The purpose of an EGR system is to reduce the amount of NOx gases that diesel engines emit, which are both hazardous to humans and contribute to climate change.

NOx gases form when diesel fuel combustion occurs at a high temperature. The EGR system works by taking exhaust gas, cooling it and then recirculating it back into the engine to lower the combustion temperature—thus reducing the formation of NOx gases.

The valve itself sits between the exhaust manifold and the DPF. It redirects some of the exhaust gases through a cooler, which once cooled is passed into either the intake manifold or directly into the engine’s combustion chambers.

There are can be multiple, non-exchangeable types of exhaust valve and cooler within any given model generation. This is typically to account for different engines.

The best way to determine fitment compatibility of a egr valve or cooler is to match the BMW part numbers from the catalogue. This can be done by decoding your vehicle’s VIN in a BMW EPC (electronic part catalogue.)

If you don’t have access to an EPC, provide our team with your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN—and we’ll check our stock for a compatible match.

There is some interchangeability of EGR valves and coolers between vehicles with the same/similar engine type.