2003 BMW (Break My Wallet) X5

[Jeremy airjer W]

So this thing gets towed in for a no crank. Customer wants battery replaced. The GS from the first shift installs the battery with the same result. No crank. This is when I get involved. The flywheel is accessible through a small window and I could move it a little one way but not at all the other way, Uh Oh!!! SO I pull down the front splash shield and use a long reach 22mm wrench on the crank pulley. Same result. I check coolant level and its full. Oil is about a quart low (it had just had an oil change)?

My first thought is hydroloc (which didn't make sense because the coolant was full) and after pulling the coils and plugs it was confirmed. Except there was a quarter inch or more of oil in all the cylinders. OIL?

A quick search through TSB's, about four hours of labor, over a $1000, and a lot of thick dense smoke later It was running.

Turns out the original oil separator on these will freeze up in extreme cold climates causing oil to get sucked into the engine through the intake (you would have to stare at this engine for about 20 minutes to understand how this is possible but it is). The solution is to replace the separator, dipstick tube, and all the hoses with updated "insulated" parts (which is no easy feat since you cannot see this part in its natural habitat).

So much fun, so little time!!

[Scott K]

Just be happy it didnt have any bent rods!

[Jeremy airjer W]

Apparently one of three things can happen. You can fix it with the parts listed in the TSB and everything is fine, or everything can be fine but they will crack the valve cover, or severe internal engine damage can occur. The guys and BMW couldn't believe that the valve cover was not cracked, apparently this is the norm. Its a tough sell when you have to tell the customer we don't even know if it will run once we are done with the repairs!

[Shack]

Quote:

Its a tough sell when you have to tell the customer we don't even know if it will run once we are done with the repairs!

I loved having to do that Be stright forward, shoot them some odds you and the tech figure it will repair it and just be honest. 9 times out of 10, what is sold to the customer will fix the issue, but it does suck when that one times occurs

Cool story Jer!

[Macgyver55]

My brother-in-law has had this happen to his "Beemer" twice. Fixed both times at a BMW dealer. He is hoping for strike three so it can be gone. He is not real thrilled with his overall.