So do you type Bmw or BMW?

I type BMW like everyone else including BMW. I type Porsche just as you do in your signature and Porsche does. No big deal, I was just curious why it was in all caps.

I've been around the M54 (and BMW engines in general) for a long time and this is the first I've heard of the Oil Seperator clogging and grenading engines. Is this really that common?

Worked at an indy BMW shop for a few years and seen hundreds of CCB/Oil separator replacements on those engines and never seen a hydrolocked engine due to its failure.

PS: Trader, I understand your position... buy a BMW built before 96 and you will get the reliability you desire (the M30 engine is damn near bullet proof). Except with window regulators... lol. For that you have to go back to the e30 chassis. The complexity of these cars has made them less reliable in the terms you are describing. Honda type of reliability I mean.

It definitely seems as if this is not the marque for you. BMW builds some of the best vehicles in the world in terms of performance. If you have to sacrifice some reliability after the warranty period there are obviously people out there willing to do so. I have bought lots of used bimmers. A front end rebuild is almost always in the budget for me when I purchase. These cars handle like they do for a reason... and their parts wear out faster because of it. Audi suspensions are the same.

40k mile life of CV boots is hardly normal, My X has 185k and the DS outer boot just began to fail (first CV failure).

As for window regulators, my X has yet to have a failure.

CCV has yet to be an issue too!

110,000k one boot no window regulators

Tiag, CCV is an M54 issue, not for the V8's as much

Never had an issue on the '05 E46 330i in over 140k miles. Not even a removal/cleaning.

Trader4,

Volvo's I5s are riddled with oil seperator issues. And those are a total PITA to get to. I never want to do one again, but most likely will have to. Audis system on their 1.8t also has some issues but aren't as nearly as critical as Volvos or BMWs.

As far as CV boots go, I have replaced them Audis, Volkswagens, Volvos, and Subarus.

Window regulators are also a plague in the VW/Audi world.

So it isn't just BMWs. It is cars in general.

The locations where the X is operated has a lot to do with many of the problems that people are experiencing. Both of you guys live in Texas which I wouldn't call a rust belt state. You winter is not as harsh as people living in Canada or further North.

Temperature extreme affects the properties of material. Rubber items such as CV boots can crack when the temp drop below 0F.