Originally Posted by crwarren11 (Post 1022807)

I've seen your picture somewhere, I don't remember which forum now, but that is helpful. I wasn't sure what you used to cover your PCV valves. Amazing how much is different in our engine bays. My power steering reservoir is front left, it looks like yours is front right. My dipstick is front right, it looks like yours is back left.

Just curious if you've passed smog in CA with that setup with the clear hoses. After I finished all the seal work I took mine in for a re-test and the a-hole running the place checked every nook and cranny for my catch cans which I had very well hidden in the spaces behind/underneath the headlights. I had also replaced all my clear hoses with the standard black coolant hoses so everything looked original. He also really grilled me on what work I had performed to fix the problem, which I don't think he understood a word I said, and I am pretty novice at this stuff. Have I complained enough yet about how ridiculous the bar snap test is? I pass the sniffer, all OBD checks, everything...except smoke test after 20min of idling while his 1982 Commodore 64 chugs through it's processes.

Originally Posted by crwarren11 (Post 1022919)

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On a somewhat related note, I also have an E46 with the somewhat rare M56 engine. Despite most calling it one of the worst BMW ever produced, I have gotten 150,000mi out of this thing without any issues until recently. The CCV valve on it is "unserviceable" even though it is accessible on the valve cover just like on the N62's. The CCV valve cap is deteriorated and coming off and I'd like to find a way to replace it. Maybe the hanger/screw clamp idea will work for it? The diaphragm on it is torn, though, and I can't find a replacement for it. Any ideas? I will try the E46 boards as well, but such a similar issue that I thought I'd throw it out there.