CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM / OIL SEPARATOR NOW COVERED UNDER CPO !!!

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by treat44

My husband and I have a 2003 X5 3.0 and we've had this problem twice now, the first time it was covered as we were still under CPO warranty. This time we're out of warranty and likely out of luck. We've called BMW NA, but haven't heard back yet. The dealership said they'd be surprised if BMW does anything about it. We've been concerned since the first "fix" that the problem was still there as we've always had yellow gunk/moisture in the oil. We were repeatedly told this was "normal" by the dealership.

I'm also an attorney in northern Illinois and actually spent most of my career thus far defending American automakers in product defect actions. I'm no longer doing that but it gave me some experience with these sort of issues and I actually was thinking of filing a class action suit on this issue. If you're interested in discussing this further send me a private message and I can give you contact information.

so if you had a nissan, and the PCV went out, you would want to sue them too right? also if the repairs were made less than 2 years ago, then it would be a parts warranty issue.

[primetime]

treat44, The gunk under the oil cap is not normal..Sure it is more common during the winter but if you see that gunk under your oil cap in fair to warm temps, something is definitely wrong. That gunk is condensation build up from the CCV/Oil seperator because the engine has not been warm enough to burn off that condensate..In the summer time I never had that gunk under my oil cap..rightfully so as temps were what i like to call "normal" outside so I had no condensate build up because it wouldn't get cold enough outside.. In the winter time I try to drive the X for longer durations getting the engine good and hot for longer then 30 minutes to help minimize condensate problems... GL with your lawsuit, I certainly understand...

[X5 Meister]

Or better yet, just buy a different car if BMW's cause you to sue at will. Or even better, build your own perfect car and then should something go wrong sue yourself.

Originally Posted by treat44

My husband and I have a 2003 X5 3.0 and we've had this problem twice now, the first time it was covered as we were still under CPO warranty. This time we're out of warranty and likely out of luck. We've called BMW NA, but haven't heard back yet. The dealership said they'd be surprised if BMW does anything about it. We've been concerned since the first "fix" that the problem was still there as we've always had yellow gunk/moisture in the oil. We were repeatedly told this was "normal" by the dealership.

I'm also an attorney in northern Illinois and actually spent most of my career thus far defending American automakers in product defect actions. I'm no longer doing that but it gave me some experience with these sort of issues and I actually was thinking of filing a class action suit on this issue. If you're interested in discussing this further send me a private message and I can give you contact information.

[motordavid]

Dunno, about the Class Action angle, but I think treat44 has a point, and anyone experiencing the OS prob has a legit beef; while only a small % of
Xs/BMWs may suffer the OSV problem, it sure is a flaw or Achilles Heel in a car line that is touted as world class tested driving machine...

Think of all the cars one has had over the decades and try and come up with all those that suffered this kind of cold weather/short trip malady breakdown;
I can't think of any, of the 30+ cars I've had. Not banging on Xs or BMW, but it is a poor design, an untested design, a cheapazz fix, a weakness, a problem or, some combo.
My 50Cts.
GL,mD

Sorry, WSYWG doesn't work well on this wide screen lap top...

[X5 Meister]

I just don't see the problem being that widespread. BMW made hundred's of thousands of X5's and plenty experience cold weather climates and I don't hear about this problem even in the hundred's, that's for sure.

[flatlander]

Has anyone here tried to install the heated wrap on a V8?

How about the updated oil dipstick tube?

I'm considering doing this myself. When I had asked my dealer about the heated wrap, they said there was no such thing for my E53. Looking at these documents, it looks like the V8 instructions were published in March 2004!

[markreg]

Originally Posted by flatlander

Has anyone here tried to install the heated wrap on a V8?

How about the updated oil dipstick tube?

I'm considering doing this myself. When I had asked my dealer about the heated wrap, they said there was no such thing for my E53. Looking at these documents, it looks like the V8 instructions were published in March 2004!

Bump!

Just curious if anyone here have tried installing the heated wrap as well. Thanks in advance!

[djbock]

I installed the wrap a couple of years ago when this problem first occurred with my X5. Worked well after that and last year; now just today I must have had the CCV system freeze up as I had a large amount of oil that leaked out of the oil fill. Luckily it was that and not the valve cover gasket this time. So it seems to work, but I wish that there was a better fix.

[markrain]

I just had this problem occur with my 2005 X3 3.0 ... lots of smoke and a hydrolocked engine all cause by a valve that is obvioiusly defective. The dealership knew the issue just from a phone call and even the tow truck driver knew what it was. The dealership Service Adviser told me that, even if I had preventively replaced the valve, it would not matter -- it is a weather related issue. He had just finished up with another car with the same issue! So, why would I spend $1900 for them to clean out the oil and then put the same defective part back in? It is absurd to have to garage the car for the winter! BMW USA was no help and will not acknowledge that this is a safety issue due to a defective valve.. I was lucky because I was not on the highway but there was so much smoke I couldn't see where I was going.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by markrain

I just had this problem occur with my 2005 X3 3.0 ... lots of smoke and a hydrolocked engine all cause by a valve that is obvioiusly defective. The dealership knew the issue just from a phone call and even the tow truck driver knew what it was. The dealership Service Adviser told me that, even if I had preventively replaced the valve, it would not matter -- it is a weather related issue. He had just finished up with another car with the same issue! So, why would I spend $1900 for them to clean out the oil and then put the same defective part back in? It is absurd to have to garage the car for the winter! BMW USA was no help and will not acknowledge that this is a safety issue due to a defective valve.. I was lucky because I was not on the highway but there was so much smoke I couldn't see where I was going.

The CCV doesn't freeze up, it is plastic, the condensate freezes up. It collects in the CCV. Remove the condensate, you remove the chance of it freezing up.

If you can't change your driving habits to reduce the condensate, then it only makes sense to me to clean it out before it causes damage. It doesn't cost $1900 to clean it out.