Oil Separator

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by tonydan1

i will do it this weekend. though, how would you know if your oil seperator is failing?

at the time it takes, would someone just have to wait it out?

If your seperator is failing, check everything that could have oil in it for oil coming out of it. Valve cover gasket is a good one, but the dipstick and breather lines are as well.

Seperator failure and the freezing situation are slightly different. You can have seperator failure at normal temps. Mine failed in Houston at 80* F.

[wilson]

Hey Gents,
It's look like this oil separator was a real issues on X's (4.4i /2002), it happen to me last year, around Feb/2007 it's around -20C out temp. and noticed black smokes coming out from the exhaust. had it towed to the dealer and it cost me $1300for the repair.
Is there anybody recovered any repair cost for this particular issue.

[yema0003]

I had the same problem back in Feb. 07, after waiting three weeks (sixty something cars ahead of me with same problem) the dealership did the entire repair at no charge.

Now here is the kicker it just happened again last night. We are having extremely cold weather in Minneapolis this weekend, and while my wife was driving home the same symptoms showed up: black smoke, SES light came on, and Check Oil level indicator message popped up, as well as a big pool of oil underneath the X. I am assuming there is a one year warranty on the parts, I am now desperately digging for the receipt in my records to see if there was a warranty period, I am assuming there should be. Anybody here work at the dealership, got any advice?

[stabmasterflex]

You get 2 years part and labor warranty. I've changed and run Mobil one oil. Change oil more often in winter. Always have this issue in mind,ALWAYS. So far no issues on either of my cars. With no updated parts. This issue can cause hydrolocking and bend connecting rods.

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by stabmasterflex

You get 2 years part and labor warranty. I've changed and run Mobil one oil. Change oil more often in winter. Always have this issue in mind,ALWAYS. So far no issues on either of my cars. With no updated parts. This issue can cause hydrolocking and bend connecting rods.

I would be more worried about the valvetrain than the con rods but anything is possible when you try and compress water.

[yema0003]

So here is the update. . . after taking it in to the dealer, they did the repair free of charge!!!

While that made my day, I am sad to report i will be trading in my X this weekend...loved her but she betrayed me one too many times...

[trooper]

I just had this oil separator issue as well and BMW said they would not even cover the parts on my 01 X5 4.4i. May end up costing me over $2,000. If I could turn back time, I would have sold my BMW when I had 80,000 and still had 20,000 on the extended warranty. My tranny went out at 102,000 and BMW (gracious as they are - not) gave me 50% off on the parts. How nice, eh? I think I'll stay with the Germans next time, but give my money to Audi.