Breather / PVC - Can they be reused?

[Salty_Dog]

I have read previous on here, that if you have the later version of Breather (vortex) they can be cleaned and reinstalled.

Is this fact?

I recently had BMW replace mine, and kept the unit that came out.
Its currently filthy, but I will clean it down.





I see the plastic sections have lift away tags for further dismantling and cleaning.

What have others done?
Would save $175 for a new Breather every 3 months (3 months is what dealer recommended)

Thanks all :-)

Note: prior to replacement I had no black smoke under hard acceleration ... once replaced, I had a good dump of black smoke once of twice... but seems ok now?
If there were no smoke, would that mean the breather isn't doing its job?

[rb0135]

You don't need to replace these breathers.

The old ones (pre facelift models) you did as they had a paper element in them.

If the dealer is telling you to replace it every three months, then they are just ripping you off.

[Salty_Dog]

Ok, mine had never shown it had been replaced in the Service Log, but i thought it should be... It was also advised in a YouTube video from a BMW mechanic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXBlUlgTjo

So is this not the case on the 2006 model E53 3.0d?

[rb0135]

You shouldn't believe everything you see on Youtube.. The guy even states in the YouTube video that his customer asked him to change it, not that you have too.

The old paper types would clog up and eventually do your turbo in, hence the design change.

[Salty_Dog]

Sweet, thanks rb0135.

Yes, now i remember, he does say that.
Ok, well i shall drive with peace of mind that it doesn't need replacing and i will fully clean the one that has been removed.

[rb0135]

Some people might argue, but I have gone through 3 different independent "bmw specialists" in 4 years, all say the same.

Maybe you could change it every Inspection2 but on the diesel I think that is every 40000 Km or roughly 2 years. mines been checked by my guys each year. They put the same one back in.

As they are made to be like a "vortex" they should not get clogged. That was the idea of them.

Yours did look very oily though (outside and in).

Make sure you have the right oil level and check it as recommended (IE: go on a good drive to heat it all up. Park on level ground, wait 20 minutes, then check the oil level).

When I got mine 4 years ago, I did the same as you as I get nice black smoke when flooring it.. Didn't do any difference. People say that is normal.

Have to clean the soot out every now and again

[Salty_Dog]

Yes, when i went to replace the Air Filter, i noticed how oily it was in and around the Breather?? And only the Breather?? As you say, it was filthy!

Yes the oil has been done to precision and new AirFilter (didn't that make a difference)
Especially when you re-assemble the covers as they should be, not as a found them!!

No more whistle noise on boost back off, no more smoke... just silent acceleration.

Well i thank you for the reassurance. I'll pass it onto the Chop Burner

[rb0135]

Interesting.

So how were the covers when you took them off.. I mean which ones weren't correctly in-place in the first place?

Maybe the breather wasn't screwed in properly with the amount of oil. Mine on the outside is always dry as a bone.

Rob

[Salty_Dog]

Ok, i should have clarified, it was the Air Filter plastic housing that wasn't screwed back in place correctly (and not the back corner like you would expect, it was the front corner), i could slip a finger in the gap it was that bad.
Then worse, the Air Filter element wasn't even correctly fitted to the opening, the previous mechanic had crushed one side, i seriously doubt it was sealing at all.

The Breather looked to be fitted fine, but it had oil trapped around it and gunk. I cleaned it as best i could with rag and tip of screw driver..
But i did seem to be fitted correctly.