scottalexander

If you are talking about the hose in the picture above ( #14):

- one end of the hose is connected to the valve cover (emissions leave the valve cover)
- the other two ends connect to the intake manifold (emission are recirculated)

donpb

I was referring to the hose in my photo that I put a red arrow pointing to it. And also the ones right below it.

scottalexander

I don't have that hose on my vehicle.

donpb

OK I just found the culprit... It looks like I broke a hose while jostling around the intake manifold. UPDATE: P/N 11157522931, Crankcase Ventilation Pipe.

scottalexander

Good work finding the broken hose. It looks like your car has the oil separator configuration?

When you had replaced the starter, if you had fully removed the intake manifold during the process, would you have saved that hose from breaking?

When I replaced my starter, I didn't take a chance and just bought the new PCV hose. I was so paranoid when I replaced the starter I went out and bought a new crankshaft position sensor. If I'm going to do all that work to pull the starter, I don't want to go back and replace the crankshaft sensor 2 years from now.

I'm going to replace my valve cover soon (leaking). While I'm in there, might has well replace the eccentric shaft sensor.

seanjordan20

The time I did mine a lot of people were having the same issue. I took precaution and removed my intake and replaced the hoses and oil separator. The car was 11 years old so it was more of a maintenance thing. Better safe than having to do it all over again

donpb

It was so brittle, who even knows. Disconnecting it at the crankcase end might have helped.

I ordered a new hose already. I see they have the kit with all the hoses and CCV but I'll just replace the one hose for now. Will cross that kit bridge if it comes to that. I got the old hose fittings removed but cannot see where the heater element plugs into the CCV wire. I see the wire but not enough of it to see the connector though.

donpb

The saga continues....
I went and purchased long needle nose pliers (I read someone else did that) but that did not help at all. I then crammed my hand down in there and yanked on the wire and it came out. That wasn't so hard. I was then able to plug the new part in blindly. You just have to feel around for the open connector. First attempt I plugged it in backwards and so it would not plug in. Well I had a 50/50 chance. You just gotta make sure the small tab is facing away from you. I did that and it clicked right in.

Now for the bad news...
The heater wire is too short to reach and so the tube is unable to connect to the CCV. Fn great. I had to pull it back out and need to return it. It's not original BMW obviously.

scottalexander

Buying non OEM parts is art work. You have to know when you can and when you can't.

Quick story:

When I took the oil cooler apart to change the gasket I ordered the expensive BMW gasket and also at the same time I ordered the Rein brand oil cooler gasket.

When the two gaskets arrived, the original BMW gasket was so much bigger and thicker. Anyone using the Rein gasket was going to endure pain and their oil cooler was going to leak oil again very quickly.

I've bought knock off coolant expansion tanks and power steering reservoirs, etc, etc that worked out just fine. You never know...

seanjordan20

Scott is absolutely correct. If you don't know how, make sure you buy OE/OEM. It will save you a headache in the long run. Especially with a part that needs to be plugged in.