Ever wonder how the V8 PCV fails? Pictures inside...

[Ferret]

Well it looks like I finally found out what was causing the misfire!

Before we get to the good pictures.... why the ****ing hell do bmw use shallow torx bolts on the manifold? Two of the buggers stripped out on the process and before you know it, ferretrage! (tm)

Cue one pair of molegrips, a hammer and a chisel aaaand:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/PCV/IMG_1985Medium.jpg
bits of PCV all over the place!

As you can see, prisoners were not taken - the plate came out in the end. Below show a picture with the back popped off!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/PCV/IMG_1983Medium.jpg

All was looking disappointingly normal/uncracked until I levered the rubber diaphragm out of its hiding place...
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/PCV/IMG_1981Medium.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/PCV/IMG_1980Medium.jpg

Oh well, yet another trip off down to the dealers then for the torx screws, and why oh why do fuel injector o-rings never, ever go back in in one piece? I've gotta get 6 or so of them now! *rolls eyes*

[Ferret]

While I'm at it, the new manifold seals are quite impressive!
Bmw have considerably changed the part - they're now a lot thicker and have steel plates in them! (Bloody expensive too at $80 for the lot!)
Some random pix for you guys:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/Car/DSC00070.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/Car/DSC00069.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Ferret101/Car/DSC00065.jpg

BTW : why does everyone whine about how hard the manifold is to get out of the car? Using ferretrage (tm) it only took me about an hour to strip down?

[Ferret]

What did your injectors look like?

The injectors are all looking squeaky clean inside mate, no build up on them at all!

[Ferret]

Can you get Ferretrage*TM from Halfords? If so, will it be in the aisle next to the WD40?

Hahahaha... :D

Sorry, ferretrage (tm) only comes in cans from that locked cupboard at the back of the store! Dropping the can is known to be fatal, 99% third degree burns usually happen.

[Tiger]

Mmm... just like a typical V8 problem.. intake manifold... PCV/ICV valve or MAF... Now don't you forget to change that waterpump bypass tube or you are gonna have to use more Ferratrage TM in the future.

[Tiger]

BTW, How old is that PCV? What is the year stamped on that part?

[repenttokyo]

i've never seen a pcv fail like that in my life, had it ever been changed?

[MBXB]

What did your injectors look like?

[whiskychaser]

Can you get Ferretrage*TM from Halfords? If so, will it be in the aisle next to the WD40?

[whiskychaser]

Hahahaha... :D

Sorry, ferretrage (tm) only comes in cans from that locked cupboard at the back of the store! Dropping the can is known to be fatal, 99% third degree burns usually happen.
This Ferretrage *TM is really good stuff!! It enables you to answer a query at 0552hrs - 2 1/2hrs BEFORE I asked it at 0828hrs!! As we are in the same time zone it cant be the site. No wonder it is kept under lock and key!!!

[Paul in NZ]

This Ferretrage *TM is really good stuff!! It enables you to answer a query at 0552hrs - 2 1/2hrs BEFORE I asked it at 0828hrs!! As we are in the same time zone it cant be the site. No wonder it is kept under lock and key!!!
AHAA! Perhaps the same Phenomena explains why the manifold can be removed with ferretage *TM speed in only an hour!

[Ferret]

BTW, How old is that PCV? What is the year stamped on that part?

As far as I can tell the old one and the new part are not stamped with year of manufacturer...

However the part numbers are radically different!

The old one starts 1.... the new one 7...

[winfred]

there should be a date somewhere on it the intake port gaskets are dated too, don't forget to do the seal between the throttle body and the intake as it's usually rock hard on the botom where the oil collects, i can't even remember how many of those i've done at this point, you don't need to pull the injectors and yes if a left side knock sensor fails you either gotta pull the water pump or the crossover pipe on the back of the heads to get the tube outta your way after you pull the damn intake again :D

[Atl530i]

Yep, that's next on my list.

[Ferret]

Holy crap batman!

Finally got it all back together this morning... and drove it to work.

Except 'drove' might be a bit of an understatement - 'powerslid' might be a better one. For the first time since I bought it I really saw what this car was capable of... I thought it was quick when I bought it but now...?

Gives you a nice feeling when you look in the rear view mirror while changing gear and you can see the boot lift a good half a foot as the power comes off :P man it's awe inspiring now.

That air leak must have been more severe than I ever realised - it's idling perfectly now - it's not even rocking around on its engine mounts... and the amount of power it's laying down compared to day one is awe inspiring. The car behind me most of the way to work just stopped bothering to try and keep up with me f**king around on the gas pedal :)

Now the engine's sorted I'm faaaar more inclined to drop some serious money getting the suspension, brakes and possibly the gearbox all sorted out...

[Ferret]

Good work. I'm in the planning stages of doing exactly the same thing to my 540. Hoping this will aslo sort my rough idle problem.

One question:
Got the gaskets for the intake manifold, although they didn't come from BMW (They want about 41 dollers per gasket).
Sorry about the really rubbish pics (Camera phone).
Do these ones look like the ones you put in. Reason i ask is that i helped a friend do the valve cover gaskets on his 98 740i (M62). Tried these in his intake manifold and they stuck out about +-5 mm. Was wondering if they are supposed to do this.

<snip>

Any help would be a appreciated

Those are the new design gasket, identical to the ones that bmw just shipped me :) they do stick out a little bit, but will compress properly once the manifold is torqued down!

[Uber Soldat]

Good work. I'm in the planning stages of doing exactly the same thing to my 540. Hoping this will aslo sort my rough idle problem.

One question:
Got the gaskets for the intake manifold, although they didn't come from BMW (They want about 41 dollers per gasket).
Sorry about the really rubbish pics (Camera phone).
Do these ones look like the ones you put in. Reason i ask is that i helped a friend do the valve cover gaskets on his 98 740i (M62). Tried these in his intake manifold and they stuck out about +-5 mm. Was wondering if they are supposed to do this.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5044/15022008656zi0.jpg
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4464/15022008654pk5.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7070/15022008653zs4.jpg

Any help would be a appreciated

[charlie]

Tiger,
you have to change the o-rings or the whole pipe?


Mmm... just like a typical V8 problem.. intake manifold... PCV/ICV valve or MAF... Now don't you forget to change that waterpump bypass tube or you are gonna have to use more Ferratrage TM in the future.

[Tiger]

O-ring... just the o-ring. Winfred also brings up a good point on the knock sensor too.

[fin]

I have a can of a similar product called FinRage(tm), but it only seems to achieve efficacy when I am holding an eight pound sledge and an working on delicate aluminium parts. Chopping wood for the fireplace seems to be the only way to get the toxic ingredients in FinRage(tm) out of my system in a quick and fairly safe manner.

I think I'll try a can of FerretRage(tm) the next time I have stubborn parts. It seems to get better results with less side effects on both the car and the product user.

Fin