Guide to replace Crankcase vent valve?

Hi Fest-ers!

I have scoured the Internets for a few hours now seeking out how to replace the crankcase valve vent. I have found a couple things for other BMW models, but not the X3. Any pointers?

Background:

My SES light illuminated on Saturday with no symptoms. While leaving the store on Sunday, my car shot out some white smoke from the tail pipe and idled roughly. The ODB codes were the System Too Lean errors, and the guy at the local tire shop thought it was just O2 sensors. Of course, when I started doing my research I found this:

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

I live in Baltimore, so it isn't like Alberta, Canada cold. The symptoms match, and I had an oil stand leak that the mechanic fixed about seven months ago. My oil light comes on way more frequently than my husband's (he owns the same exact year/model, and we drive about the same distance), so maybe this has been an ongoing problem?

Anyway, any recs you X3ers can offer I'd appreciate. It doesn't seem (ha!) like it's that hard to replace.

Thanks in advance!

Allie

Should have googled more carefully; BavAuto has a great guide

http://blog.bavauto.com/8003/diy-vid...lation-system/

Looks a little too in-depth for me to do alone, so off to the shop I go. FWIW, dealer quoted me $1,180, and the local non-dealer bimmer shop said $330. Quite a difference, and I'm skeptical, but we'll see. Off to the shop; report back shortly.

I've done it on my 2003 530 with the M54 engine. The same engine in your x3. It was a pain in the butt to do but doable.

If you go to this link the ccv is #1 in the picture.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...94&hg=11&fg=15

When i did mine I replaced all the associated hoses. They were brittle and the plastic connectors broke easily.

Yeah, I got halfway through the second bavauto video and thought this was a bit too much of a challenge. I like to get my hands dirty, but I've never been elbows-deep in an engine before

I wanted to watch them work on it, but they seem pretty busy today so I'll let them work in peace

Funny you post this now, I just had mine replaced last week with the valve cover gasket, after all the same symptoms, and have seen this pop up here more recently so maybe it is a common problem with age. I cost me about $1,000 at a indy shop for both repairs. So if a indy shop quoted you $330 it might be realistic. The parts were cheap for both repairs, but there were about 7 or 8 hours in labor, that is where the cost was. So if you are mechanically inclined you can probably do it yourself and save money, but if you just have the one issue, and can get it fixed for $330, that might be easier.

The guy quoted me $330 P&L over the phone and then when I got there and confirmed it was the CVV, the price jumped to $600.

I'm not surprised and I figured it would take about a half a day to do the work, so I gave them the okay to do it. I just hate it when mechanics misquote for this stuff.

I've taken it to this shop twice and this is the second time this has happened (one quote on the phone, another quote when you get there for the same work you were quoted over the phone). I figured the first time was a communication issue, but this is pretty cut and dry. I won't be going back to that shop again.

Kind of a bummer, honestly, but definitely still got a better price than the dealer ($1180).

Hi Allie I am a new member I am having the exact problem as you now. What was the solution to your problem?

Originally Posted by LRM403

Hi Allie I am a new member I am having the exact problem as you now. What was the solution to your problem?

I ended up having the crankcase vent valve replaced. There is a video on bavauto if you want to DIY. I got it fixed at an Indy shop for 600 p&l. The parts aren't the expensive part for this, it was four hours of labor that drove the cost up. Make sure you get the cold weather replacement if you're up north.

The link for bavauto is up higher onthe thread if you want it

600 parts and labor seems pretty normal, I think I paid right at 500 at a the only european specialty shop in Lawton OK lol.....

Hi Allie you were right! Thanks alot, I took m truck to a shop in Padonia, MD it was the crank case valve my car is running great. I went ahead and changed the spark plugs, 2 cylinders air filter brought from dealer, wasn't expensive. The labor was 4hrs which cost me a total of $700.00

Originally Posted by LRM403

Hi Allie you were right! Thanks alot, I took m truck to a shop in Padonia, MD it was the crank case valve my car is running great. I went ahead and changed the spark plugs, 2 cylinders air filter brought from dealer, wasn't expensive. The labor was 4hrs which cost me a total of $700.00

Nice! Glad it worked out for you. Did you get the cold weather replacement that BMW came out with after the original was found to fail in cold weather? I am also in Maryland; which shop did you take it to?

No I need to call about about that. What does the cold weather package include? I went to Brookman Motors off Padonia Road, they work on BMW's for Towson. How much did the cold weather package cost? If the original failed, shouldn't that be something covered such as a recall?

Originally Posted by LRM403

No I need to call about about that. What does the cold weather package include? I went to Brookman Motors off Padonia Road, they work on BMW's for Towson. How much did the cold weather package cost? If the original failed, shouldn't that be something covered such as a recall?

It's the same price or within $10. The "cold weather" replacement just has some insulation around it so the cold doesn't cause it to crack as easily.

As for a recall, there isn't one. I guess they consider this normal wear and tear.

I am a little confused, I need to look that up, I never heard of that, and where does this go? Is it around the crank case valve?

Originally Posted by LRM403

I am a little confused, I need to look that up, I never heard of that, and where does this go? Is it around the crank case valve?

The insulation goes around the hoses; see the image under CORRECTION on this link:
http://chrisparente.com/Images/530/CCV-SIB110803.pdf

includes part numbers.

If they replaced it with the original OEM part, I am not sure I'd worry much about it (unless you spend a lot of time northward). Even then... it took six years to crack, so it's probable that you won't own the car when it fails again (if it does).

Nothing to really be that concerned about, IMO.

Thks alot......

This is all great information... what shop did you guys used in MD? I'm in Silver Spring and would love to have a shop to go to that's not dealer priced...

I went to Brookman Motors in Timonium (410)666-0800 off of York Road. A old friend of mine use to work there he was good, unfortuantely he passed. However Mark is excellent, Joe will answer the phone. The are all pleasant. Good Luck!

Thanks, it's a solid hour from me but if the service is great and the prices are good. Business is business! I'll tell them I was referred by another BMW owner too!

your welcome