3.0L: CCV Failure and Replacement
 

Wanted to share this here for anyone else dealing with the issue

Conditions of failure:

• Short (<15 minute) drives in -0F temperature
• Idling of car for extended periods of time (>10m)

Mode of failure:
While driving, vehicle emitted large amount of smoke, low power. Turned off the road, turned off ignition. Tried to start car, would not crank.

Cause of failure:
Crank Case Ventelation valve assembly frozen to a position that causes oil to be vaccumed into the intake. Depending on failure, can result in burning oil to hydrolocking the engine (this case).

Repair (from an e46, same engine, same principals)

I've gone one step further in this case, since the hydrolock condition. I've removed the intake manifold (instructions) as to clean the oil, ease the installation of the CCV, and inspect related components. Here's where I'm at now:
http://i.imgur.com/SGTPrOzl.jpg

My next steps are to replace the valve cover gasket, remove oil from the cylinders by cranking the engine, and reassembly of the parts.

I'll post updates here as she goes back together!

Let me know what the date stamp is on your CCV when you remove it. When I did mine last June it was stamped 9/2003 which meant it was original to the car. I did it preventatively and was lucky to be honest it made it 11 years on the original valve.

Winter of 13-14 had some interesting howling noises on a cold startup until a few mins of driving, I'm guessing from 10+ years of condensate buildup in the original CCV.

To be honest I'd say BMW should put a bulletin saying that they should be swapped out every 5 years just to play it safe.

Be sure to put in the Cold Weather updated parts, and the Cold Weather dipstick guide tube, since you are in Fargo.

I didn't need to remove the manifold to do mine, but since you froze up it would be prudent to clean up in there while its open.

Happened to me in February. Cold weather kit means nothing if you are going to do short trips like me. Taking off the oil cap after a short trip to vent the engine seems to prevent the mayo buildup. I also believe that up to a 45 minute drive is required to burn it off if it's cold. As soon as you stop and park it after any trip regardless of distance, the mayo build-up begins again. It's a never ending cycle.......unless you remove the oil cap to vent. This of course is problematic in a blizzard as an example.

I've never had a problem with the CCV. The only time I've had a problem was when my original CCV finally gave out a few years ago. I live in Chicago and these past 2 year have been cold as fuck! Still been able to keep my CCV clean with the method I use even with the short trips.

I took these a few months ago when it was really cold here. CCV looks clean to me. If not perfect then damn near.

I know what the CCV is i also took a shot of the CCV hose that goes to the crankcase. Somebody correct me if im wrong but if there was major mayo build up i think it would show in the CCV hose as pictured.