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Old 08-25-2009, 07:03 AM
tomgtv tomgtv is offline
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Oil Separator and Oil filter housing gasket

Quote:
Originally Posted by lion2000 View Post
To wrap up the posting, I got my car back. With instrument cluster and DSC replace, it is like new again, I am happy.

At almost 110K miles, what would be the next to go down. I checked some complaints website, I hope it will not be the transmission!!! Any comment there?
You will undoubtedly have your oil separator and oil filter housing gasket go bad. You'll see oil leaks as symptom and start putting oil in. My hose from separator to oil dipstick tube literally rotted off......... Oil filter gasket is
a $5 part but you just about have to disassemble the motor to get to it.
It is where the oil filter housing mates to the block. It was super brittle just like the valve cover gaskets I did at 187,000 miles. Yeah, they're going to go too.

If you haven't switched out your water pump and thermostat I would consider putting that on a PM list. My Indy did the first one at 100K and we found the bearing about to go. We did Tstat and water pump at 200K after radiator reservoir went and found the Tstat looking bad seal wise.

If your car starts to stall off the line do the intake cam shaft sensor. Mine was bad for 1.5 years before I figured that one out. When I replaced it cleared up fault and I got my power back. The VANOS was not working and the motor was in a default mode.

I also had wheel bearing go in left rear, 3 CV joints and the transfer case.

The transfer case will make a mechanical click sound as you start off. Go the rebuild route for $800 or so rather than the $2000 the dealer wants just for the part. My Indy rolled his eyes when I did this with non OEM part, but 2 years later it's running fine. These are simple devices, just gears and bearings that go. I think they got rid of them on later models.

Of course you will be dealing with window regulators, AC resistor fuses, brakes and rotors, etc.

Your belts along with the idler pulleys will also go. You have to buy the whole assembly just to get the gear for both tensioners......thanks BMW.

Plenty of plastic parts break, sun visor, center console latch, window shade holders, back cup holder, etc.

My newest expenditure is $300 rebuild of ABS module by module master in Moscow, ID. Their website is very informative. My DSC, ABS and Brake lights are on and my Speedo/ODO/Cruise is out.

I would not own a BMW out of warranty again. I have become somewhat of an expert (I think) on the I6 3.0L, but it fails too much for me in comparison to the multiple makes of Japanese cars that I've had. None of them experienced this level of failure in basic components.

BMW IMHO has a very slick mkt strategy - they sell to the 3 year lease crowd and those who trade before warranty expires. They are super happy customers. The 2nd set who keeps the car or buys them used get to deal with $$$ of repairs and gives them tremendous service/parts revenue flow.

If you love wrenching and buying expensive German parts this is the car for you!

Last edited by tomgtv; 08-25-2009 at 07:10 AM.
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