Oil Separator invoice - reasonability check
 

I'm in the same boat as many here where my X5 4.4i needs the oil separator replaced. It's been leaking oil pretty consistently the last couple of months, and it's definitely coming from the separator and associated hoses which are very mushy.

I've called a few places to get estimates, and they range pretty dramatically. This place seems to have the most experienced techs, but their prices seem to reflect it. They're quoting $453 in parts and $589 in labor. I've heard quoted prices for less reputable shops as low as $500 all in parts and labor. He said he's recently done one on a 4.4i and attached the invoice/estimate for me to review. I attached it to see if anything looks peculiar to you guys. I would love to do it myself and had planned on doing it for months, but I just don't have the free time necessary right now to do it. I also have a 400 mile road trip coming up and need it fixed before the trip. Let me know if this sounds like a "decent" price or if I should look elsewhere (even the dealer). As always, thanks!

paid just over $1,000 to have this done three years ago by the dealer after mine froze & blew catastrophically. luckily they warranted their work for a year, so it didn't cost me a dime when it happened again 50 weeks later.

what'd your dealer quote you?

(advice from the fine fellow members of this board on preventative maintenance related to this issue has kept my X off the flatbed the last 2 winters)

I actually haven't had the dealer take a look at it. I've had a couple bad experiences with a BMW dealer that have encouraged me to do as much DIY as possible and use an indy when I don't have time. I haven't had the best luck with the indies here either though unfortunately, so if I'm going to drop $1k+ I might consider the dealer.

I think the root cause of my failure was that 2 winters ago I was consulting for a company less than 2 miles from home for 6 months and had to leave my car outdoors at that office. I didn't run it too often on the freeway for long periods of time, so I think that caused the beginning of the demise. I definitely will do more PM in the future to keep this from happening again - I thought it was mostly related to colder climates but apparently it's cold enough here to warrant cafeful notice.

I'd actually take it to the dealer and have them have a look at it. I'd be curious to hear what they would recommend as the repair and how to prevent it in the future? I believe you've got the M62 engine and the SIB for this problem was issued back in March 2004 and to my knowledge never updated since. So the question is will the dealer do the same repair as the indy or will they implement the SIB fix as well? I wonder if they'll even pull the SIB!? Something to consider at least.

What did they say was the reason it happened less than a year later? Any idea why it hasn't happened since (i.e. did they implement the fix as written up in the SIB or some other fix, or was it just your PM and diligence that has prevented the disaster from happening again)?

Both instances occurred in single-digit temps after the X had been sitting outside while at work. The second replacement separator (part# 11-15-1-705-237 OIL SEPARATOR $43.25) was the same as the first -- not sure if this is the "cold country" revised/insulated part or not. When I asked my SA what course BMW had taken to remedy the issue, he mentioned the heated hose wrap for $500 -- no thanks.

Since then I've been sure to have the oil changed when the weather gets frigid and have the tech check for & clean out any moisture in the separator and inspect the condition of the hoses. Been lucky not to have had an issue since and hopefully won't in the future. Ready for spring so I don't have to worry about it any more and the steering wheel bearing squeak goes away!

I just did this to my X5 and there is no way I would pay that kind of $$ for that job..

The biggest pita is getting to the hose on the bottom of the seperator, it goes to the oil return pipe located on the bottom of the motor and I had to remove the whole skid plate to access that pipe. There is also another hose on the oil return pipe that goes under the intake manifold (but it in no way is connected to the seperator) and it was falling apart also. I did all this while doing the valve cover gaskets, upper timing chain cover gaskets, and valley pan gaskets. So I was pretty much in there anyways.

I have 140k on my X and I originally started to just replace the valve cover gaskets, the deeper I went the more I was shocked to see how bad everything was, all the rubber hoses were literally falling apart.. it's like they use playdough for hoses.

Good info. I don't know if your part (11-15-1-705-237) is the "cold country" version or not for the M62. I do know that 11-61-1-534-237 is the "cold country" version for the M54 engine (3.0 liter). Interesting that the dealer didn't do the wrap. Good that you are smart enough to keep at the PM in check. :thumbup:

does maximum of -10C cold at night count as cold countrey?

Geez! 28 bucks for the valve cover gaskets? I'd say the estimate is over inflated. Just IMHO and kind of biased because I am doing the Valley pan gasket and the gaskets cost me $8 n change for ViktorReinz or whatever the brand is, but is the same as OEM/BMW. But if you are going to give to the $tealer or an Indy, you might as well may just a few bucks bore and do the valley pan as well since it is right there. But i ready later your and avid DIY'r, you could prob do it yourself?!?

Ya this place is pricey for sure (esp for an indy). They mostly work on Mercedes but do BMW and Porsche also. I would love to DIY this one, but I've been putting it off for months because I haven't had the time and I just keep getting busier. It's been making a mess in the garage, and my parking spot at work is getting a little embarrassing with all the oil it's leaving behind. :D

I'm supposed to take in the X for a pixel repair next week, so I might just ask them to do while it's in the shop. If there is no price difference between and indy and the dealer, I'd rather take it to a place that looks at BMWs all day and not Mercedes.