DIY Solution to M54-M52TU CCV problems

[cn90]

Originally Posted by trader4

...All I'm saying is that
if you tear out the stock system and don't have that, you may wind
up with more oil going up that hose and into the intake than with
the stock design. It's essentially oil vapor and a foot of hose going
slightly up hill isn't likely to cause it to shed much oil, IMO...

WRONG, look at E23 PCV setup, it is precisely like what you said.
A simple hose slanting upward and that is it. See the photos I posted earlier on E23!!!

[axgordon]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

axgordon, interested now to hear about the shop owner's opinion on the piston rings. He believed that replacing piston rings on stock CCV setup on M54 would solve oil consumption in higher mileage vehicles? Or alternatively you could keep the low tension piston rings and do the "CCV Bypass/PCV install" like you have done and solve the same issue?

You are correct I just rolled 80k miles a week ago so I'm not as "up there" yet.

Ricky,
let me clarify this - the oil consumption was corrected by replacing worn out piston rings with a new set of the stock rings from the dealer. The shop owner stated that old rings were worn out and did not seal / removed oil correctly.

I did not experiment or have an answer on possible re-positioning of PCV valve. Personally I am totally OK with the loop... for now

[Ricky Bobby]

No worries, I imagine worn out rings would cause consumption, but is not the rule across the M54 nor is it something I've read that is something that is done often (replacement of piston rings)

If you guys want a real, OEM solution to delete the CCV, using all OEM parts, perhaps the E46Fanatics guys will tickle your fancy: (M56 Valve Cover with integrated oil separator, VCG, oil fill cap gasket, and breather hose is all thats needed), the M56 VC fits on the M54 with no issues.

The Permanent M54 CCV Delete - E46Fanatics

[cn90]

On the exact cause of M54 oil consumption, I don't know.

As I mentioned previously:
- My M52 1998 528i with 150K miles: zero oil consumption
- My M54 2006 X5 3.0i 5sp MT with 115K: 1 qt every 1000 miles or so.



I came across this video, take your time to watch it. Seems like piston rings issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ze_qD22JiU

[Doru]

The M54 engine has low tension piston rings, and once the rings start getting clogged with carbon buildup the engine will start using more & more oil (this might be one reason why some people mentioned after 70 k miles, the car started to use oil - my e39 did the same thing).
using the PCV will increase vacuum, and the apparently the scavenger rings somehow will perform better and hence no or very minimal oil consumption with this setup (CCV). However, it is unsure how long the engine will last with setup. Poolman on the e39 board had a catch can setup, and one piston had burnt valve(s) after driving a few years with no oil consumption. Not sure if it's related to higher vacuum.

However, on another e39 board, O2Pilot introduced another mod using the OE CCV system, by introducing another hose between the plugged off CCV nipple & plugged off intake manifold nipple (back of the engine).
This is the whole post, the fanatics guys always refer to (they use this mod), and post #74 has the resolution. The whole thread (looong) is worth a read.

Also, below is how the M54 pistons look once they start getting clogged with carbon buildup. the user Mlody from the fanatics has an outstanding post about this, and his battle to clean the rings in order to reduce oil consumption. Here is his post

[Ricky Bobby]

^Great post Dorin, I already use Rotella T6 which has a decently high detergent amount since it is formulated for gasoline and diesel engines and my consumption has slowed down considerably since replacing the CCV last June, my last oil change was performed in December (I don't drive the X more than 10k miles per year). I also add Lucas Upper Cylinder lube frequently and am hoping that also contributes to keeping gunk buildup off the pistons.

[imalabil]

Well just completed this mod and I'm a bit concerned - vacuum increase is HUGE compared to before. It's enough to collapse the hose coming out of the PCV valve slightly. I mounted the valve vertically with a loop of 3/8 inch hose. There is so much vacuum I can barely get the oil cap off - much different than this morning prior to the change.

I will say the CCV I think was the original from 13 years and 138K miles ago, so it may not have been working as new.

For those that have done this - did you see a tremendous vacuum increase?

[axgordon]

Same here. I did noticed significant vacuum increase at idle. However I didn't notice any negative effects from it. It is over 2200 miles with the mod. No issues. Oil level remain at the MAX.

[cn90]

Just did the CCV the "Stock" way simply because I need to replace the OFH gasket (leaking like crazy at 116K miles), and since I already bought the CCV parts.

At 116K, surprisingly, the stock CCV is still OK, dipstick no blockage at all. Probably because the was had highway miles and not stop and go. So I replaced all factory CCV parts. It took the whole day because of the OFH job in addition to CCV DIY.

Coming from E23 (1983 735i), which has a simple tube slanting upward (the I.M. sits above the M30 engine), the BMW M52 and M54 CCV engineering design is absolutely stupid, cannot believe the German engineers designed this stupid thing.

At the next CCV job 100K+ from now, I will do the mod as outlined in this thread, which is better, cheaper and no fighting with nuts/bolts and convoluted factory setup.

[JCL]

The E53 wasn't designed to meet then current emissions standards, it was designed to exceed them. Reference the ULEV standards, and BMW advertising from 2000-2001. At the time, there was a lot of resistance to the E53 from BMW traditionalists, with calls of it not being a true BMW, and BMW was making points out of the 'safest SUV' and 'cleanest SUV' memes.