NHTSA Complaint #10379866 — 2006 BMW X5

THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON THEREFORE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHANGES ON THE CAR EXCEPT THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHERE IT CONSUMED MORE THAN USUAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OIL VAPOR SEPARATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR DID NOT DIE ON ME. THEY ARE CHARGING 1400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AS I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, THIS PART HAS BEEN FAILING FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT DRIVE THEIR CAR FAR ENOUGH. THE CONDENSATION COAGULATES IN THE OIL PASSAGES. ONE OF THOSE PASSAGES IS THE TUBE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR WHICH GOES BACK INTO THE OIL PAN. OVER TIME, THE REPEATED DRIVING ON SHORT TRIPS CAUSES THE COAGULATED OIL AND CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP INSIDE THE PASSAGE WHICH RUNS FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR TO THE OIL PAN. WHEN ENOUGH CONDENSATION GATHERS IN THE OIL SEPARATOR AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING - HYDROLOCK MAY BE CAUSED BY OIL INGESTION. DUE TO THIS, THE SUV CAN JUST STOP ANYWHERE, I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE MY SAFETY. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. *LN