Oil separator failure

[Jeadiex5]

Ok, so what a week. Was driving to work last Wednesday. (0 degrees) when car began to lose power, huge cloud of smoke, then nothing. Towed to my Indy where I purchased it 6 months ago. Appeared as if engine was seized...thought it was a total loss until I got the call today...it's ALIVE! Will need a new intake rebuild, new O2 sensors, and what I'm sure will be a laundry list of other things, looks as if I will get out of this for sub $1500. To add insult to injury, while the car was parked at the shop, some idiot in a Toyota, smashed into my perfect door. Ugh!

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Jeadiex5

Ok, so what a week. Was driving to work last Wednesday. (0 degrees) when car began to lose power, huge cloud of smoke, then nothing. Towed to my Indy where I purchased it 6 months ago. Appeared as if engine was seized...thought it was a total loss until I got the call today...it's ALIVE! Will need a new intake rebuild, new O2 sensors, and what I'm sure will be a laundry list of other things, looks as if I will get out of this for sub $1500. To add insult to injury, while the car was parked at the shop, some idiot in a Toyota, smashed into my perfect door. Ugh!

Yep, the CCV is filling up with mayo and freezing. Happening a lot over on the E46 side too.

[flatlander]

Yes, it happened twice to me on my e53. I was told that I could buy the special CCV heated wrap which warms the CCV and prevents from freezing, but it was $1800. I opted not to get it.

Good thing too, as this heated wrap seems to be another point of failure:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BMW/comment...7R&sh=a1521f50


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by flatlander

Yes, it happened twice to me on my e53. I was told that I could buy the special CCV heated wrap which warms the CCV and prevents from freezing, but it was $1800. I opted not to get it.

Good thing too, as this heated wrap seems to be another point of failure:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BMW/comment...7R&sh=a1521f50


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That recall is for 2006/8/9-2011. Not going to affect our E53 line. We have the old CCV system prone to freezing the mayo if it is present. Best thing to avoid in frigid temperatures is short drives. The condensation never gets burned off and fills the separator with oil water mix. (mayo)

[StephenVA]

every winter cold snap this get posted and re-posted - "My 3.0 is burning oil, leaking oil everywhere under the hood" and the Original Post is a perfect example of "it died and was towed" story.

Guys, REPLACE YOUR CCVC (aka Oil separator), lines and dip stick tubes with the cold weather ones if you are a daily driver and you live anywhere north of FL. If you just purchased it, replace it now, don't wait until it dies as it will.
Be proactive and you will be a lot happier.

[Scott ZHP]

Not my listing, no financial interest, just passing along a good deal, as the E53 M54 cold weather dipstick is about $90 alone:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-OEM-X5-...W/142653229458

[cn90]

Search forum for "BavarianE39 CCV Mod", I did this a year ago:
1. Oil consumption is down to zero (instead of 1qt/400 miles).
2. This mod solves the CCV Oil hydrolock issue.

Win-win situation.