From what I've read, most people make their own baffles or put some coarse steel wool inside. In the video that was linked earlier the guy mentioned using a water/oil separator; a big enough separator might do the job of a catch can as well. Something like this one maybe?
Moisture Separator for Eastwood Pressure Blasters

I'm staying tuned in for the GAS serviceable CCV that Green Dragon is testing. Looking forward to doing a yearly CCV cleaning as opposed to ripping apart my engine bay to replace it every couple years.

Ditto that. Similar filter/collection devices are a very common add-on in the Ford 7.3L diesel community. I'm not too worried, as my OEM CCV set up was replaced at 81k miles pre-purchase, but the G.A.S. kit sounds like it could be a winner.

I've been doing some more thinking (uh-oh...) on this problem, and it seems to me the biggest problem is when the valve freezes and causes oil from the dipstick tube to get sucked into the intake. In reading through the records on my X5, that's happened twice in its history; a mess I really, really, really don't want to have to deal with.

There are other symptoms that point to a problem with the CCV system, but IMO the oil-to-the-intake failure mode is the worst that can happen; getting the system to work as it's designed while avoiding the worst-case scenario is probably the ultimate solution. That would keep the vehicle from being disabled and allow some time to diagnose and deal with the problem.

So, if I'm going to modify the system to avoid this scenario, might the best solution be something to keep the oil from being drawn up from the dipstick tube? Maybe route the drain hose to another location that isn't submerged in the oil sump... Or put a check valve in it to keep the oil from flowing upstream... Or put a catch can between the CCV and the dipstick tube with a vacuum-operated valve that only allows oil to flow back to the crankcase when the engine is off.

Personally, I like that last option best. Any others I'm missing?

From what I gathered, most are neglecting to replace the dipstick guide tube with the cold weather (single walled and eliminated the double wall design) version that came out around 2008/09 or so, as evidenced in the SIB from March 2009:

http://chrisparente.com/Images/530/CCV-SIB110803.pdf

I have seen a lot of threads about updating the CCV to cold weather version, and cold weather hoses, but not many threads about also including to utilize the cold weather dipstick tube on their install, in CONJUNCTION with the insulated valve/hoses.

My guess is that most are looking to get their X back on the road quickly with the least possible cost, and spending $140 on the cold weather dipstick tube is not cheap, it is nearly the cost of the entire Cold weather CCV valve and hoses in itself.

But clearly, BMW came out with the cold weather updated dipstick tube for a reason, and it states in the SIB that if the cold weather valve and hoses are already installed, to only install the new guide tube, they must work together to keep the system functioning properly.

Personally I ordered the cold weather tube with my new insulated CCV and hoses and will be doing the complete job in the coming weeks. Wish me luck.

:iagree: I don't recall reading a post where someone installed the entire cold cure, including the dipstick 2-3 years ago and not had a problem since, did you find anything along that order?

I'll have to dig through the threads to see if I can find it, I don't remember on this forum recently as I've only been here a bit over 2 years. I got the SIB and parts list with dipstick guide tube from "killcrap", a resident tech on our forums here, his post was probably about 3-4 years back.

So with his posting, and then finding the SIB, I think I have found out why some continue to have problems after replacing to Cold Weather CCV kit, as the cold climate dipstick tube is not listed on RealOEM (I checked), and unless you have stumbled on a posting about it, or have the SIB I posted, one might neglect it in their repairs.

This is a picture of the E39 cold weather dipstick tube, but it is similar design to the E53, just different part number. You can see how much larger the orifice in the tube is when trying to return the oil from the bottom of the CCV to the oil pan.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...1&d=1302707114

Thanks, RB; I didn't realize the dipstick tube was such a key part of the cold weather kit. Makes me wonder what was changed in that update... Is there a way to tell if the one installed is the new or old? I dug through the maintenance history on our X5 and found a note from March of 2008 where the shop, "Installed heated intake manifold, newer dipstick and modified stick tube," when the owner reported an oil leak and smoke from the engine bay. I'm guessing it's the new tube, but there's no part number listed so it's just a guess. Do you know of any photos of the old style that might be lurking around? I've looked & came up with about nothin.

If it was the new tube that was installed, it's not a panacea; the valve cover, gasket, oil separator & hoses, and the alternator were replaced on mine again in Feb. 2012. :(

I'd think it would be tough to tell as prob the shape is the same. It's the internal drain which looks different as far as I can tell.

My ecs order containing my parts shipped out today so when I do this repair I will take a pic of old dipstick tube next to the new, to see if there are any visual changes.

In any event like has been mentioned, for long term use in cold weather it's best to avoid short trips and run the engine hotter if can be. I find myself keeping the car in 4th gear on the highway on the drive home from work so she is nice and warm when I get home :)

Cross your fingers I make it out to work and back ok tomorrow, I had intended to park the X until doing my CCV but the wife has a meeting tomorrow and I have to take my own car to work.

So any updates on the catch can experiments going on with this thread?

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a can and give a try, but i would like some more long term feeback on it pleeeease??


:)