- -CCV(Crankcase/Oil Seperator Fixed!!! w/Pics!!!- -

- -Well today I tackled the common CCV (Crankcase Vent/Oil separator) problem. My problem was a very loud intake leak sound and once I placed my finger over the side port on the CCV, the leak went away as best my finger could make it do. Also motor would shack back and forth, lighting in and outside the car would dance to the misfire that the CCV was causing among other things.
Here is the new unit: , , , .Here is a view from the front of the car of the old unit , .
Just before I started this I asked myself could the CCV be replaced without taking the intake manifold off. The answer is YES It can be replaced with out taking the intak manifolid off. Here are the intake manifold gaskets I bought a while back thinking that they were the problem .
On to surgery, first I started with removing the air box from the fender to the throttle body .
Once the tubing is removed you can see the 3 bolts that hold the CCV in place on the bracket .
As you can see
the three bolts are easy to get to. They are 10mm. After disconnecting a couple of pigtails and moving a few lines out of the way for clearance the CCV came out without much fuss , , . Once the old CCV was out, I took these picks to show them both , ,
the CCV on the left is the new one and the one on the right is the old one. After that it’s just a matter of doing the reverse and making sure you reconnect any lines or pigtails that were disconnected. This is a go time to check all hoses and cables while most of the big boxy items are out of the way. Also check the hose coming from the bottom of the CCV to the oil dipstick to tube. After a while the rubber becomes spongy from the heat build up and if you look inside you can see that the inside of the hose is starting to deteriorate. So it would be best to change it at this time. Here she is all buttoned up back to normal . I was curious to see what the old looked like inside and out, so I took it apart and snapped some shots. I hope this helps anyone out there whom may have the problem I had with a bad CCV(Crankcase/Oil separator). I have more photos and info if anyone needs it. My car now runs and ideals MUCH, MUCH better. When I get to work tomorrow I will have the check engine light cleared and wait to see if it will come back on. I have yet to drive it since the work has been done. Going to fill her up before I go to bed just thought I would go ahead and right this up first. I still hear a very faint air sucking sound but it could just be me and my superman hearing when it comes to this car. I’ll get a second option from one of our techs tomorrow and see if I’m just hearing things. Just a side note, while the CCV was bad I did smell the fuems in the cabin from time to time and my OBC said my gas MPG were 20.9. I thought that was very strange, so I’m going to reset the MPG and the MPH gauges and see wha I get after a few tanks. Here are the pics of the old CCV in its nakedness enjoy. , , , , , , , , , , .
If I missed anything let me know. Here is the link to a thread that helped me out http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=214052. Thank you. Peace.

Thanks for posting. Think I will be tackling this soon.

Originally Posted by Jase007

Thanks for posting. Think I will be tackling this soon.

- -No problem. Glad to help. I love the E39.- -

Excellent and well document, thanks! Great to see these DIY posts and folks like yourself sharing your knowledge.

Originally Posted by 540 M-Sport

Excellent and well document, thanks! Great to see these DIY posts and folks like yourself sharing your knowledge.

- -Thanks for the props. I hope this nfo can help someone.- -

be nice if you added this to the FAQ or the DIY post

Originally Posted by chivas

be nice if you added this to the FAQ or the DIY post

- -Going to add somethings to this so DIY section to come.- -

how did you know it was broken whats the symptoms apart from the sucking noise does it miss when its warm or is worse when cold mine is fine when cold but misses etc when hot

Were the vibration issues you mentioned occur when it was cold out in the morning only? did you have constant idle problems....even in warm temps?

Originally Posted by Al's540i

Were the vibration issues you mentioned occur when it was cold out in the morning only? did you have constant idle problems....even in warm temps?

- -The vibration was in cold weather and in the morning. I did how ever notice on warm days it was not as bad. I could be at a red light and with my foot on the brake it would shake pretty good. The idle was pretty consistant for the most part, say If was going from light to light about 3 blocks apart. Once I would get to the light, thr RPM hand would fall all the way down to zero and sit there. The motor would shake hard and the after a few seconds the hand would raise to about 300-500 RPM. There were times that the car would just die all together. One more thing, the leak at the CCV was so bad that after I found it and placed my finger over the vent port the motor ran fine then once I let go it died. All is will now though, the CEL light went off on its own after about 3-5 cycles of starting the motor. I hope this helps. Peace.- -

Yes this does help, I'll look at this over the weekend. Does my 540i have a CCV also?

Now can you come over and do this to my 2002 530i ?? Oh wait, maybe i can have the dealer take care of this under CPo Warranty? What do you think?

Originally Posted by razzy530

Now can you come over and do this to my 2002 530i ?? Oh wait, maybe i can have the dealer take care of this under CPo Warranty? What do you think?

- -Beer and food is all I need!. If it is covered under warrenty have the dealer do it for you so you can get your money worth.- -

Originally Posted by Al's540i

Yes this does help, I'll look at this over the weekend. Does my 540i have a CCV also?

- -Not really sure about the 540 models.- -

Originally Posted by Al's540i

Yes this does help, I'll look at this over the weekend. Does my 540i have a CCV also?

yes, it does. It looks slightly different though. Open your hood and look between the firewall and intake manifold. The CCV is on the back of the motor with the brake booster line and some vacuum lines coming out. It's an easy DIY.

Originally Posted by Ryan M

yes, it does. It looks slightly different though. Open your hood and look between the firewall and intake manifold. The CCV is on the back of the motor with the brake booster line and some vacuum lines coming out. It's an easy DIY.

ok, what about on a 2002 530i? where is it located?

Originally Posted by razzy530

ok, what about on a 2002 530i? where is it located?

Not sure and I'm too lazy to go look now, but I think it's still under the intake manifold, but just not attached to the manifold. The easy way to find it is to follow the large plastic tube that comes off the valve cover at the front of the engine.

great write up i need to do mine also i have the same problem. never worked on a bimmer but it doesnt look that bad. how much for the part (ccv) ?

These posts helped me do my 99 M Coupe (S52) in about 45 minutes. My task may have been simpler than others because of model differences, but here is what I did.

I bought a 10mm ratcheting box end from Sears...

Removed the air filter box.

Removed the crankcase vent pipe (to CCV).

Removed the vent tube from the lower connection leading to the dipstick tube.

Loosened one hose clamp to give access to the first of the three 10mm bolts holding the CCV on its bracket.

Removed the 3 10mm bolts (thank you, Sears), then removed the CCV...snaking it forward over the alternator into the space made available by removing the air filter box. Minor maneuvering required.

I then attached the new vent tube to the bottom of the new CCV and installed them (after inserting a new rubber grommet to the underside of the intake manifold). The 3 10mm bolts installed easily with the ratcheting box end.

Attached the vent tube to the dipstick tube. Attached the crankcase vent pipe. Tightened the hose clamp. Installed the air filter box.

Done in 45 minutes. No misadventures in this case.

Hope it helps.

Originally Posted by MDrive

here is what I did.

FWIW, I've never done any of this, but, I tried to collect the relevant threads together to help others (and perhaps even me, in the future) do their CCV properly.

Here's what I've come up with (so far):
- CCV FAILS: crankcase ventilation valve diaphragm tears, freezes (1), &/or clogs (1), necessitating CCV replacement (M54,M54,M54) (M52,M52) (M52TU) (M62,M62) ('99 528i) ('98 528i); raising pressures, often causing the OFH oil filter housing to leak (1); frequently blowing the VCG valve cover gasket (1); and sometimes the head gasket (1); often causing vacuum leaks (1) (2) (3)

Please improve!

Thanks very much!!

I'll be replace mine this spring as I get the cold weather whine. Did you have to replace any hoses?

Originally Posted by dmako

Thanks very much!!

I'll be replace mine this spring as I get the cold weather whine. Did you have to replace any hoses?

- -The only hose I wanted to replace was the hose coming from the bottom of the CCV to the dipstick tube. It is 10 years old and just didn't "feel" that great. Plus the end at the dipstick tube was hard to come off without a lot of work on my part and I didn't want to risk damage to anythng with it being Sunday. I will replace that hose once I go CAI. Other than that hose non needed replacing.- -

Good work.

Two questions.

First, did you replace the grommet that goes into the intake manifold and into which the CCV fits?

Second, you didn't mention the hose that goes from the bottom of the CCV to the dipstick housing. DId you just remove that tube or did you remove the dispstick assembly?

Originally Posted by Steve530

Good work.

Two questions.

First, did you replace the grommet that goes into the intake manifold and into which the CCV fits?

Second, you didn't mention the hose that goes from the bottom of the CCV to the dipstick housing. DId you just remove that tube or did you remove the dispstick assembly?

- -I didn't replace the grommet, it looked real good. No cracks and held the old CCV in place after I removed the 3 bolts very well. I would suggest that you inspect that hose and replace it if it is collasped or soft to the touch. You will have to take a pair of good pliers and work the hose off the end of the CCV first then off the dipstick tube. You do not have to remove the dipstick tube.- -

Originally Posted by jfive96

- -I didn't replace the grommet, it looked real good. No cracks and held the old CCV in place after I removed the 3 bolts very well. I would suggest that you inspect that hose and replace it if it is collasped or soft to the touch. You will have to take a pair of good pliers and work the hose off the end of the CCV first then off the dipstick tube. You do not have to remove the dipstick tube.- -

I replaced the CCV on my son's '98 323is a few weeks ago. It was the same part number as your CCV. Removal was similar. I managed to reach down to the dispstick assembly and pull the hose off the dipstick, then I just remove it with the CCV. I did replace the grommet, 13 41 1 733 217. It probably is not necessary, but I figure it's just a $2 part and I would want to do it over for that.

BTW, the 530 CCV is entirely different. And the 540i does have a CCV, but it, too, is different.