BMW X5 CCV

[Sniffer]

Originally Posted by JCL

Sniffer:

Time to find a new mechanic IMO.

Thats the direction I have taken its going to someone new - I called the previous one today and he now informs me (after assuring me that it was cured on two occasions previously) that there is a fix from the 5 series that would work but it needs a few parts and a LOT of labour (25 hours according to whatever literature he quoted me from) so it`ll cost $4000 minimum to repair and thats assuming he doesnt find anything else that`ll make that figure go up!

I like the guy and I rate him (still) but I cant throw that sort of coin at a 12 year old vehicle

Originally Posted by JCL

build up of condensate is problem 1. It is prevented by using the vehicle as it was designed, ie drive it long enough. If that isn't possible then you need to clean it out when the condensate collects. You could also clean the CCV annually.

Collected condensate freezing is a result of problem one. Call it problem 2. You should put your efforts into solving 1, dealing with the root cause, not just focusing on the consequential symptoms. Dealing just with insulation and heat tracing is like putting a piece of black tape over a dashboard warning light. You can't see it anymore, but it is still there and the problem it is indicating is still there. Even if it doesn't freeze, the collection of moisture is a warning sign relating to short trips, accumulated moisture, and resultant accelerated wear.

I think thats a little unfair - I work approximately 20 miles from home are you suggesting I get a new job or move house further away just so my X5 doesnt explode every time I use it?

I`m pretty sure that if I walked into a BMW sales office tonight and enquired about purchasing a X5 they wouldnt specifically ask me if I do short trips and refuse to sell me it if I did

I see this as more of a design fault which makes it not fit for purpose - I mean why sell a vehicle into a country that routinely gets super cold temperatures if this is going to happen?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Sniffer

I think thats a little unfair - I work approximately 20 miles from home are you suggesting I get a new job or move house further away just so my X5 doesnt explode every time I use it?

I`m pretty sure that if I walked into a BMW sales office tonight and enquired about purchasing a X5 they wouldnt specifically ask me if I do short trips and refuse to sell me it if I did

I see this as more of a design fault which makes it not fit for purpose - I mean why sell a vehicle into a country that routinely gets super cold temperatures if this is going to happen?

I am not suggesting you move. As I said, if you can't drive the vehicle enough to regularly get it fully to temperature (which may be as simple as a longer drive on a weekend in addition to your commute) then you need to check and clean the CCV system when necessary, ie when it is full of condensate that may freeze.

I am pretty sure a car sales person would sell you a car if you wanted to buy one. I am also pretty sure that the sales rep didn't design the vehicle, and that the engineers that did assumed that the vehicle would be driven enough to boil off the condensate. That is essentially the problem, a gap between the design use case and how many owners (particularly in North America) appear to be using their vehicles.

This doesn't happen just because of very cold temperatures. It happens because of a use pattern, combined with not maintaining the CCV system, followed by very cold temperatures. I think that what BMW is guilty of is not prescribing that the CCV system be inspected and cleaned out as part of the service schedule that they published. However, if the vehicle goes for this many years (from new to now, how ever many that is) I don't think you will be successful in claiming that it isn't fit for use.