My CCV Experience: dealership comes through big time!
 

With temperatures bottoming out around -15F in Minnesota, I started researching CCV issues. It turns out my CCV had been replaced by the first owner somewhere around 80,000 miles. The 2nd owner, who I bought the truck from, also had the CCV replaced at approx 120,000 miles.

Sure enough, at 143,500 miles, in the middle of downtown Minneapolis during rush hour, the truck starts stumbling and smoking from the engine bay. The dreaded CCV failure returns for a 3rd time! I limped the car home for another 3 miles, the problem seemed to have gone away after I got more heat into it. I didn’t want to run the truck any more so I let it sit in my garage for 3-4 days.

It turns out that BMW will warranty the oil separator for 2 years. What surprised me was that they will also cover the labor charge for the diagnosis and parts replacement. Since my CCV was in the 2 year window, I made a call to the previous owner. He faxed me the work order on the CCV replacement and I had the receipts with BMW part numbers.

I called up my buddy in the service department at a local dealer, BMW Minnetonka. I told him about my situation and he recommended having the truck towed in for a diagnosis. Called my insurance company, they covered the tow, so we pulled the X out of the garage with a winch, right onto a flat bed. The joys of having an OEM hitch, easy hookup.

On the tow truck:
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Not only was the diagnosis free, they gave me a 2013 328i x-drive for a rental! 3,000 miles, black/black.
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3 days goes by with the F30, did I mention how insanely good this car is? I don’t even know where to start: heated steering wheel new favorite feature ever, 3 camera parking system, navigation, x-drive system with sport/comfort/eco modes, blind spot warning, power folding mirrors, Bluetooth, Sirius radio, start-stop feature surprisingly cool. 8 speed automatic… one of my new favorite transmissions. Hugely comfortable and very fast, also got over 30 MPG on the highway. I’m in love. Need $50k.

So I get an email from my service guy later in the day and he said he agreed it was the CCV. He ordered new hoses, separator, clamps, replaced everything, cleaned the oil out of the intake, topped off the oil level, filled my washer fluid, washed the truck, full interior cleaning, steamed the engine bay, replaced oil cap gasket (where oil was spewing, valve cover gaskets fine) and took it for a test drive to burn out any remaining oil. I suspect he wanted to experience the 4.6 :)

Eventually I get the phone call to come and pick up my truck. I drive up, someone runs from inside to take the rental car back, and meanwhile another dude is summoned to go pick up my truck from the upstairs heated parking. They pull it down into the service area which is a stunning room full of BMWs… X5 M, F30s, new 5s and 7s, M6 verts, etc… None the less my 4.6 had great presence next to all of those big $$ Bimmers. A few mods really goes a long way compared to stock, IMO.

Signed some paperwork, the best part was when the lady behind the service desk said “no balance owed”
Total cost: $0.00.

I am incredibly pleased to announce that a dealership took such excellent care of me. Every step of the process was seamless and I felt they were looking out for my best interest. Not your usual story from the dealerships. I advise anyone to check out BMW Minnetonka, the dealership itself is some 26,000 sq/ft. It has a freaking theatre in it. A stunning facility. If I’m not mistaken it is one of the largest BMW dealers in the country.

I picked up my 4.6is and quickly jumped on the road. I did what any enthusiast should do and put 300 miles on the truck, went to our familys cabin and back. Truck drove like a champion through mounds of snow, blizzard conditions. The 4.6 really shines on longer drives, it’s a highway monster for sure.
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Now I am on the trucks third CCV, which is a little bit unnerving. For what it’s worth, I was doing a lot of short trips, and with temps that low, I should have made a point to get the motor good and hot every few days, I did not do so. Either way, the CCV design is poor or maybe it’s best considered a wear item if you live in these climates.

We had talked about doing a heated CCV, or somehow modifying the design, but unfortunately the parts warranty would not cover the “upgrade”.

New goal: do at least one 30 minute drive per week, fully warming the motor for an extended period of time. It’ an odd theory: driving more to better preserve your car, but it makes sense. I know some members are against letting the truck warm up at idle, if it allows you to get proper temp into the motor then it may be worth it. Plus, I now have an excuse to take the long way home once a week. As a car enthusiast, there are worse problems to have.

Thanks for reading.
EP

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Good denouement to your problem and glad to read you got covered.
Good info post & pics, too! :thumbup:

What remains remarkable to me is the entire CCV kaboom situ that has plagued so many owners over the years.

In 50 years of driving, in a wide range of cars, I recall one time where the old fashioned crank breather tube froze up, circa 1964 or so.

I get a kick out of the 'cold weather testing' ads that BMW has shown since the X came out, 13 years ago; they show a few doughnuts and snowbank busters, but not the potential catastrophe that this Achilles heel can induce.

Literally pages of full threads on this topic on this and any BMW car board that targets Xs.
GL, mD

darks, what a tits story about the dealership, so glad to hear your truck is back in tip top shape again, x2 about making sure if you drive the car frequently or infrequently, that when you do, make sure you are driving highway rpms once a week or so for at least 20-30 mins!


enjoy that time at the cabin (need to build a garage for the X to sleep in and get that driveway plowed haha!) and crack a fresh brewski now that she is back in one piece and cleaner than when she went in for service which doesn't happen that often!

There is actually a 30x30 off to the left, it's got a boat and two snowmobiles in it, so X has to sleep outside :(

Great deal. I have 140k on mine and as far as I know, it's orig. I replaced it recently as I was getting yellow in the oil after 4-5k miles. I don't do a lot of short trips, and I still get a lot of condensation. I have found that I need to change the oil more often in the winter.

well the X understands because toys > daily driver, but at least its only for weekend excursions haha!

Pics of ruckus snowmobiling action necessary!

Great example of how a BMW dealer should take care of its owners, even if the vehicle wasn't purchased there. Sounds like they're deserving of their Center of Excellence Award.

Wasn't aware the CCV carried a two year warranty - good to know. Had mine replaced in Jan 2012 after another spectacular, smoky failure (my third in eight years). Dealer convinced me to go ahead with the heated wrap fix (at my expense, of course). No issues so far this season, thankfully. It's rare to walk out of a BMW Center without dropping some $$$.

The extended test drive in their latest models is novel and fun, but it's always great to get back in your own X running strong.

Awesome! BMW of Minnetonka is GREAT, far better than Motowerks and great prices on parts online. I livei n minneapolis as well with a two mile drive to work everyday and have slowly been concerned about the CCV issue so I have made it a point to hit the gym or drive to my dads in Maplewood several times a week.

Ed, where did you get that front license plate bracket?

No pics of the sleds, I couldn't get either one of them started :( Toys are not all they are made out to be...

You guys should have seen this snowstorm I drove home in. White knuckled was an understatement.

I have NO idea where my PO got the front plate bracket. I think it's some sort of universal bracket. I will try to take more pics if I can remember.

Any toys that sit a lot and have carbs can be a pain, I used to own a Jet ski before we bought the house and every year that was always fun to get her running, even though it was fuel injected it still started rough.

I'd like to get a quad someday to keep in my shed and put a little plow on it for winter, but its just another engine to keep in well running shape, and with the quality of gas nowadays in the suck, its tough to keep all your equipment running great.

Between my Scag, my Husky chain saw, my Redmax trimmer/backpack blower, my Briggs generator and power washer, and my Triumph, I should buy stock in Sta-Bil LOL


Sidetracked but, you have snow tires on the beast right? I don't like driving in snow regardless of if I have snow tires or not, snow tires make it bearable but doesnt make you invincible on the road, I can only imagine up by the Great Lakes the wind and lake effect snow you were getting.