X5 Morning Disaster - 2002 X5 3.0

[M_Six]

I probably joined the OS club this weekend, too. I *had* an appt at my dealer tomorrow to fix the other issue from our Xmas trip, but now the car is sitting at the local indie shop waiting on an examination tomorrow. Most likely the oil separator. All the symptoms fit. I told him if that's what it is, go ahead and replace it and the gaskets and the water pump while he's in there. Once it's running again, I'll bring it by the dealer (90+ miles away) to have them inspect the work. I hope this indie knows what he's doing. He's only two miles away and it'd be really nice to have someone that nearby to service this aging beast.

[BlondyFA]

I joined the OS Club on New Years Day! What a way to start the new year. I posted my horror story on the OS link here....no one responded to it

I had ALL the oil come out of the car. I have an '02 X5 4.3 with 115,000 miles. I haven't read of anyone having all the oil leak out. I have a huge oil spill under the car. HELP!

[msammy]

OK, I have a really dumb question, but I just gotta know! When does the infamous oil separator fail - I know it's mostly a winter time, cold weather phenomenon. You start the car, and begin to drive, but how far did you go before you know you have a problem, 1 mile, 6 miles, 10 miles, >20 miles and was it on the back roads, on the way to the highway, or once up to higher speeds on the highway?

[M_Six]

I drove ~1.5 miles to an autoparts store to get some jumper cables. Then I drove home again and noticed the smoke coming from underneath. So approx. 3 miles. If I had kept driving I'm not sure I would have noticed the leaking oil. The short trip may have saved me more damage.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by msammy

OK, I have a really dumb question, but I just gotta know! When does the infamous oil separator fail - I know it's mostly a winter time, cold weather phenomenon. You start the car, and begin to drive, but how far did you go before you know you have a problem, 1 mile, 6 miles, 10 miles, >20 miles and was it on the back roads, on the way to the highway, or once up to higher speeds on the highway?

A couple miles at best..definitely under 5 miles..

[realchef]

Originally Posted by BlondyFA

I joined the OS Club on New Years Day! What a way to start the new year. I posted my horror story on the OS link here....no one responded to it

I had ALL the oil come out of the car. I have an '02 X5 4.3 with 115,000 miles. I haven't read of anyone having all the oil leak out. I have a huge oil spill under the car. HELP!

OUCH!
search here, but basically, you need the COLD WEATHER version installed or install DIY. Time consuming (difficult only on 2-3 pieces) due to location on the V8. Other than that, it seems simple enough, bolts off in order, back in order.

[motordavid]

The OS and related problems come up here every year just like the winter
solstice...I guess those spy shots showing test cars running in the
arctic circle lands and, those marketing clips of BMWs busting through
snow banks while a babe smiles in the passenger seat, must be just
"good marketing".

I realize the topic has been beaten on like a drum, but of the 30+ cars
I've had in my life, I have never had/read about any brand's seeming lack of
"vigor" and similar problems, exacerbated by cold weather/short trips, like BMWs are...

I am grateful my old '01 has never suffered that problem(s).
GL,mD

[M_Six]

There are some BMW parts which exhibit failure modes with frustrating regularity. The 4.4L engine has the radiator/expansion tank issue at 70k miles like clockwork. My E38's radiator failed at 71k and the expansion tank at 140k. I had an appt the next day to have it replaced because I knew it was reaching the 140k mark. It failed a day early.

Obviously the oil separator is a known issue. My service manager knew what had happened before I got three words out. "Oil leak" was enough to tell him I had joined the long line of oil separator clients waiting for their cars.

My E24 was a dream to drive, but it was a maintenance headache. My E39 was flawless except for a sunroof seal which they fixed under CPO warranty. My E38 was a monthly failure machine, but it was an incredible car to drive. My E53 was flawless through 100k, but it's been costly to keep up with the worn parts for the past year. My Z4 is too new to have issues. I guess I need to get to the point where I can trade vehicles in before the CPO runs out.

[salia]

Does anyone know how much labor is involved for changing oil seperator? My local indy mehcanic will be replacing oil seperator along with valve cover gasket. He will also be replacing the spark plugs.

thanks

[primetime]

Originally Posted by salia

Does anyone know how much labor is involved for changing oil seperator? My local indy mehcanic will be replacing oil seperator along with valve cover gasket. He will also be replacing the spark plugs.

thanks

The labor for the oil seperator should only be about 3 hours max..If they quote you something ridiculous like 7 -8 hours of labor that is blasphemy. 3 hours is even too long and thats if they're going as slow as possible. I've changed my Valve cover gasket twice and oil seperator myself (had the shop do the work once, did the work myself the 2nd time thanks to this site!) and total it took me only 4 hours to change both the VCG and the seperator...