PCV recall in the US for 3.0si zeds…

[Chris_D]

Issue a recall due to risk of fire from the PCV heater, in order to replace the same part (with same part number) just to risk the same occurrence of failure/fire at some point in the future?
The logic of that eludes me somewhat.
:?
As I said, what a sh!tshow.

Well, recalls usually have nothing to do with safety and everything with a*s-covering. But that doesn’t sell well these days…

It's hardly what i'd call covering your a$$ when you've determined a quantifiable and evidential risk, severe enough to initiate a large-scale recall, then replace the defective part with the same defective part knowing that it can fail and cause fire again at some point in the future. It makes no sense.
I'd be interested to see exactly what part BMW are replacing the defective PCV heater part with and if it's been subject to root cause analysis then revised and re-engineered taking the original defect into account, which according to Nathan in the video I posted is oil gumming up one end, then igniting. It should also have a new part number if so, or indicate a revision somewhere in the part nomenclature.
Otherwise, if I had an N52 engine I doubt whether I'd be taking it to BMW. I'd rather replace the part myself with an aftermatrket unit.


BMW in Europe have carried out multiple under-the-radar recalls. I remember when I bought my E36 coupe years ago when it was showing around 30k miles then hearing about the Nicasil bore wear issue and checking with the car's original dealer to see if it had been subject to the recall. Sure as eggs it had received a new engine at 15k miles! I'd bought a 30 grand car with only 15k miles on the engine for 12 grand. The dealer-reseller guy that sold it to me had no idea!

Then when I popped into a dealer in Liverpool to get a replacement key a service manager rushed over to me and said 'we need to perform some important work on your car asap.' Apparently the steering column was subject to premature corrosion and failure so they did a sneaky recall. I missed the letter cos I'd been living abroad for a couple of years.
Sneaky bastids.
:x

 

[javis20]

I just got my recall letter. But they said they don't have a fix yet...

 

[Piper1]

Isn't this something that affects only cars with 'cold weather spec' or something?
Feel sure it's been mentioned before on here and declared as irrelevant to UK and similar markets. Or am I thinking of something else?

"Basis for recall population determination:
All vehicles from Start-of-Production to End-of-Production manufactured with a specific engine and PCV valve heater configuration.
"This issue involves the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve heater (“blow-by-heater”) which is designed to prevent the engine’s PCV valve from freezing. The electrical contacts of the PCV valve heater are coated with a plastic material. Irregularities in the manufacturing process could allow moisture to occur near the PCV valve heater and lead to a short circuit."

I thought it was related only to the cold climate versions too but I think now it’s everything n52 and the likes with the heater in question. I got letters for both my 128 and e86 recently and show 1 open recall for this most recent on both, both are warm climate version verified by vin decoder and both still have the heater to them I visually verified.

One speculation on zpost came due to the function of the heater. It works more in cold weather climates and a member out in California disconnected his since it doesn’t really get cold enough where he is for it to kick in much anyway. So think the focus initially was in cold climates where it gets used more where issues started and then work on fixing all as time progresses.

 

[Piper1]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=112273 Last post here has a good pic of it when in doubt have a look just under your intake manifold if it’s not there then you don’t have to worry easy enough to spot just looking between the manifold.

 

[Gregory_tolson]

does the N52 have the CCV system similarly used in the M54?

 

[Piper1]

does the N52 have the CCV system similarly used in the M54?

No they’re different M54 not affected by this.