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Originally Posted by nrgetic99
Thats an oversimplification. I will copy and paste the text from the Service Bulletin later on...
David
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I don't think that is an oversimplification. Yes, these vehicles can have this problem. Yours didn't. You have assumed that a stumble on idle one time was caused by a frozen separator when in fact it may not have been.
You speak about the production window as if it applies to 2003 vehicles. It is a ten year problem, BMWs have had this issue for that long. Yours is no more likely to have the problem than any other year, or than many other makes of vehicles that use similar crankcase vents.
I wouldn't put the heated lines on, simply because it can fail with them; they aren't a sure fix. They simply decrease the odds of it happening if your vehicle is predisposed to freezing up. That predisposition starts with many short trips and condensation in the separator, it doesn't start with leaving it parked in the cold. If you do a lot of very short trips, then yes, consider the heated lines as insurance. Apart from the lines, however, the best thing you can do is move to an extreme service interval for oil changes, every 7500 or even every 5000 if you want to triple the manufacturer recommendation. Check for signs of water in the oil around the oil filler cap (a white paste). It may be worth having the separator/crankcase vent cleaned out or changed, without going to the heated hoses (they aren't putting any heat down when you start it and it is very cold, and so wouldn't have impacted your stumble if in fact it was caused by a frozen separator).
You imply that it is a sure bet that your engine will eventually fail. Statistics don't support that conclusion. Hundreds may fail eventually. Many thousands have been built. The ones that failed had a heavy buildup of moisture in the lines over time. It is a simple actuarial calculation, nothing more. You can bet that BMW is far ahead by waiting until some fail. Your best bet to ensure you don't get stranded is simply to maintain the vehicle properly, and more frequently given the extreme conditions.