NHTSA Complaint #10561450 — 2003 BMW X5

THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 5 DEGREES F. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ENGINE OIL WARNING MESSAGE AND SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE HESITATED AND MISFIRED. AFTER STOPPING, THE BACK OF THE X5 WAS COVERED IN OIL. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COVERED IN OIL AND OIL COATED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE X5 HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THE CCV WAS FROZEN AND IT WAS COMMON IN THESE CARS. WHEN THE CCV FREEZES, IT CAN SUCK THE OIL FROM THE OIL SUMP THROUGH THE CCV INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VALVE COVER GASKET USUALLY BLOWS FROM THE INCREASED PRESSURE. IF ENOUGH OIL IS SUCKED IN THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IT CAN HYDROLOCK THE ENGINE, BREAKING PISTON RODS, ETC OR THE ENGINE CAN SEIZE FROM LACK OF OIL. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE CARS WHEN OPERATED IN COLD CLIMATES AND IS PROVIDING SOME RELIEF FOR SOME OF THE CARS THAT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. OIL HAD TO BE VACUUMED FROM THE SPARK PLUG WELLS. THE CCV AND ASSOCIATED HOSES WERE REPLACED WITH A NEWER INSULATED DESIGN. THE DIPSTICK TUBE WAS REPLACED. THE OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED. ANY OIL THAT MAY REMAIN IS DRAINED AND NEW OIL WAS ADDED. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DEGREASED. *TR