Keep Sinking Money or New Engine?

[upallnight]

Since the CCV is located outside of the engine, taking it for a long drive has very little effect once the problem begins. The heat from the engine to burn off any mayo in the CCV will not occur because the CCV is located away from the engine.

On my PORSCHE I see mayo forming in the oil tank but it has a standard PVC system and I know of no incidences on any of the PORSCHE forums where any members have hydrolock their engines due to mayo. Later PORSCHE have adopted a similar CCV system and there are postings of problem with the system.

Mayo is formed when water vapor mixes with the oil. Water vapor will always be a problem since it is part of the combustion process. Sludge is similar to mayo and Toyota has address this issue in their cars by advising the owners to do more frequent oil changes.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by trader4

If it's a mayo problem, then the CCV system can be clogged, that is the essence of the problem, so I don't see the point there. The drain back to the oil sump is part of the system. I also don't see any evidence that a long drive is the solution to the problem. I agree short drives probably make it worse, but I don't agree that just taking it for an occasional long drive solves it. I see a lot of people having the oil separator problem, regardless of how the car is driven.

Also, it's another example of a screwy BMW design. This is the first engine that I've heard of where a CCV valve can cause all the sump oil to get sucked into the engine, causing hydrolock.

Please explain to me why you own an X5 when you have had all the issues you mention. I am not able to see the logic.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Since the CCV is located outside of the engine, taking it for a long drive has very little effect once the problem begins. The heat from the engine to burn off any mayo in the CCV will not occur because the CCV is located away from the engine.

On my PORSCHE I see mayo forming in the oil tank but it has a standard PVC system and I know of no incidences on any of the PORSCHE forums where any members have hydrolock their engines due to mayo. Later PORSCHE have adopted a similar CCV system and there are postings of problem with the system.

Mayo is formed when water vapor mixes with the oil. Water vapor will always be a problem since it is part of the combustion process. Sludge is similar to mayo and Toyota has address this issue in their cars by advising the owners to do more frequent oil changes.

I agree that changing the oil more frequently will help remove condensation if it has not been 'burned' off by driving. I also agree that it won't help clear up the CCV if it has already become a problem. That is not the primary topic of this exchange.

The topic of this exchange was the implication there is a hidden agenda in the warranty to contribute to the goal of planned obsolescence. The mayo problem was listed as endorsement and as an example how BMW uses disclaimers to void the warranty repair if the mayo problem occurs.

I don't agree there is anything in BMW objectives that even smells of planned obsolescence.

I don't agree that a warranty disclaimer will be used to void the warranty if the mayo condition happens as long as the oil is changed within the 15,000 mile parameter of the warranty.

I think it a stretch to say the disclaimer highlighted considers the cause of the mayo problem to be harsh conditions. Even if BMW considers it applicable, as long as all warranty service is done by BMW they are responsible for adjusting service parameters for harsh conditions. I agree the owner could be charged for the oil change. I have never heard of that, have you or anyone else here? I would expect lots of noise about it if that were the case.

Water vapor is an issue rather than a problem. Some mfgs addressed the issue better than others so it didn't become a problem. You may, but I don't, have documentation where BMW fell in a 1-10 range with the E53 engines.

In most of this I read conjecture. You may be absolutely correct but just saying it is true doesn't make it so.

As a side note--why is Porsche in all caps?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

................................

As a side note--why is Porsche in all caps?

That is the branding for PORSCHE.



Some time I refer to our car as BMUU (Because most Americans pronounce it B M double U) and not B M Vay as it is pronounced in Germany.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by upallnight

That is the branding for PORSCHE.



Some time I refer to our car as BMUU (Because most Americans pronounce it B M double U) and not B M Vay as it is pronounced in Germany.

And Germans pronounce "AMG" as "I am gay".

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

That is the branding for PORSCHE.



Some time I refer to our car as BMUU (Because most Americans pronounce it B M double U) and not B M Vay as it is pronounced in Germany.

Detail, but, what you pictured is the brand logo. It is registered with a definitive description of color, typeface, sizes, etc. The Porsche brand logo includes the crest. The brand name is Porsche and it is not necessary to type it in all caps to be correct.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Detail, but, what you pictured is the brand logo. It is registered with a definitive description of color, typeface, sizes, etc. The Porsche brand logo includes the crest. The brand name is Porsche and it is not necessary to type it in all caps to be correct.

So do you type Bmw or BMW?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

So do you type Bmw or BMW?

I type BMW like everyone else including BMW. I type Porsche just as you do in your signature and Porsche does. No big deal, I was just curious why it was in all caps.

[crystalworks]

I've been around the M54 (and BMW engines in general) for a long time and this is the first I've heard of the Oil Seperator clogging and grenading engines. Is this really that common?

Worked at an indy BMW shop for a few years and seen hundreds of CCB/Oil separator replacements on those engines and never seen a hydrolocked engine due to its failure.

PS: Trader, I understand your position... buy a BMW built before 96 and you will get the reliability you desire (the M30 engine is damn near bullet proof). Except with window regulators... lol. For that you have to go back to the e30 chassis. The complexity of these cars has made them less reliable in the terms you are describing. Honda type of reliability I mean.

It definitely seems as if this is not the marque for you. BMW builds some of the best vehicles in the world in terms of performance. If you have to sacrifice some reliability after the warranty period there are obviously people out there willing to do so. I have bought lots of used bimmers. A front end rebuild is almost always in the budget for me when I purchase. These cars handle like they do for a reason... and their parts wear out faster because of it. Audi suspensions are the same.

[TiAgX5]

40k mile life of CV boots is hardly normal, My X has 185k and the DS outer boot just began to fail (first CV failure).

As for window regulators, my X has yet to have a failure.

CCV has yet to be an issue too!