general problems of the 2003 BMW X5

Driving on highway at approximately 60 mph, felt as if something fell off or came loose and vehicle began to slow down in middle on traffic and would not accelerate when gas pedal was pushed, which could have caused anyone to crash the back of me. Luckily I was able to get to the shoulder and stop. Very tragic, this could have been fatal. I was told there was a recall but my vehicle came from the wrong manufacturer. Very unfair :-(.

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.

Oil separator froze causing high pressure and blown seals. Initial cost about $1100 to repair. Dealer states this "happens all the time" to X5's in cold weather. Temp was in the single digits. In January 2013 oil separator froze two more times;however, this time damaging the engine - cost over $5000 to repair - basically totaling the car. With about 15 minutes of research, this appears to be a common and known issue on BMW X5 3. 0, 4. 4 and 4. 8 engines from 2001 to 2008. . . Looks like the parts were redesigned in 2009. Looks like a simple preventive maintenance routine and insulated oil lines would have prevented the "catastrophic engine failure" and dangerous condition of tailpipe fire, or being stranded in zero degree weather (which seems to be a condition required for the failure). Owner of car is the original owner, with all maintenance being done at local BMW dealerships including major services at 60k and 90k so there appears there is no "preventive maintenance" included in either of these major service milestones for the known oil separator defect. A recall on this defect to install the small amount of parts to prevent "catastrophic engines failure" and dangerous conditions "being stranded in single digit weather" seems like a logical choice. . . Or at least changing major service milestones to add preventive maintenance so the probability of the failure can be reduced.