NHTSA Complaint #10253739 — 2002 BMW 530

CERTAIN BMW ENGINES HAVE AN OIL SEPARATOR VALVE. IT IS PART OF THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM, AND IT IS INTENDED TO ELIMINATE MOISTURE FROM THE OIL. SEVERAL BMW OWNERS ARE NOW REPORTING THAT THIS VALVE CAN FREEZE IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. WHEN IT FREEZES, EXCESS PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE CRANKCASE. VALVE COVER GASKETS OFTEN BLOW OUT, AND OIL OFTEN PUMPED INTO THE INTAKE CREATING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF OIL SMOKE. IN MY CASE THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE DISABLED VEHICLE CREATED AN OBVIOUS TRAFFIC HAZARD, AS WELL S A SECONDARY RISK OF EXPOSURE TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES. BMW HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL NOTE TO ITS DEALERS, AND HAS DEVELOPED A RETROFIT KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. COST FOR DEALER REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,800. BMW IS NOT OFFERING TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIRS INCURRED OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR