CCV Vacuum Leak

Beemer Fever

New member
Hi Everyone

For a while now i have had a vacuum leak on my 2002 E46 325i auto.
I changed the intake boots, vacuum lines running to the fuel pump from the "F" connector. I changed the DISA o ring as well. Over the weekend i decided to get my hands dirty and try and locate the leak.
I removed the airbox, intake boots and the panel which covers the computer box to gain some access. low and behold i found the CCV pipe running to the dipstick was broken. I am so pleased to find the source of the leak.

While diagnosing the vacuum leak, it raised a few questions for me:

1. I found that my oil smells a bit like fuel. Could this be due to the vacuum leak? I am guessing that the fact that the engine would run lean due to non metered air entering the engine, the computer would over fuel due to the vacuum leak?

2. The car has 250k on the clock. Should i try changing out the bottom CCV pipe first, or should i just assume that the entire CCV is shot and replace the whole system?

3. I am in CPT, where would the best and cheapest place to buy the CCV system be. I have called BMW and almost fell off my chair. They want around R3k for the system. Called Goldwagen and was told they don't stock it. Nor does Midas or Masterparts.

Thanks guys
 

evnmopwr

Well-known member
Beemer Fever said:
Hi Everyone

For a while now i have had a vacuum leak on my 2002 E46 325i auto.
I changed the intake boots, vacuum lines running to the fuel pump from the "F" connector. I changed the DISA o ring as well. Over the weekend i decided to get my hands dirty and try and locate the leak.
I removed the airbox, intake boots and the panel which covers the computer box to gain some access. low and behold i found the CCV pipe running to the dipstick was broken. I am so pleased to find the source of the leak.

While diagnosing the vacuum leak, it raised a few questions for me:

1. I found that my oil smells a bit like fuel. Could this be due to the vacuum leak? I am guessing that the fact that the engine would run lean due to non metered air entering the engine, the computer would over fuel due to the vacuum leak?

2. The car has 250k on the clock. Should i try changing out the bottom CCV pipe first, or should i just assume that the entire CCV is shot and replace the whole system?

3. I am in CPT, where would the best and cheapest place to buy the CCV system be. I have called BMW and almost fell off my chair. They want around R3k for the system. Called Goldwagen and was told they don't stock it. Nor does Midas or Masterparts.

Thanks guys

Im going to suggest you replace the Entire CCV unit PLus its 4 vacuum hoses. At that Kms, its probably caked on the inside and in any case due for replacement.

Call Masterparts in Bellville. Speak to Courtney. Ask him for the Vaico brand CCV.
Cost is about R570 Incl vat.. I had that brand fitted on All my past and Present E46s.
Cant go wrong with it.
I bought 1 from them 9th October 2018 and he had stock.

When i done mine, Masterparts had 3 of the pipes and Goldwagen only had the pipe from CCV to Dipstick tube.
 

DoctorJ

Member
I replaced mine last year, around Sept or so.

Brilliant Mechanical Workshop did mine, I replaced the valve and the 4 hoses, with original parts. Bill came to 5k all in.
 

Beemer Fever

New member
evnmopwr said:
Beemer Fever said:
Hi Everyone

For a while now i have had a vacuum leak on my 2002 E46 325i auto.
I changed the intake boots, vacuum lines running to the fuel pump from the "F" connector. I changed the DISA o ring as well. Over the weekend i decided to get my hands dirty and try and locate the leak.
I removed the airbox, intake boots and the panel which covers the computer box to gain some access. low and behold i found the CCV pipe running to the dipstick was broken. I am so pleased to find the source of the leak.

While diagnosing the vacuum leak, it raised a few questions for me:

1. I found that my oil smells a bit like fuel. Could this be due to the vacuum leak? I am guessing that the fact that the engine would run lean due to non metered air entering the engine, the computer would over fuel due to the vacuum leak?

2. The car has 250k on the clock. Should i try changing out the bottom CCV pipe first, or should i just assume that the entire CCV is shot and replace the whole system?

3. I am in CPT, where would the best and cheapest place to buy the CCV system be. I have called BMW and almost fell off my chair. They want around R3k for the system. Called Goldwagen and was told they don't stock it. Nor does Midas or Masterparts.

Thanks guys

Im going to suggest you replace the Entire CCV unit PLus its 4 vacuum hoses. At that Kms, its probably caked on the inside and in any case due for replacement.

Call Masterparts in Bellville. Speak to Courtney. Ask him for the Vaico brand CCV.
Cost is about R570 Incl vat.. I had that brand fitted on All my past and Present E46s.
Cant go wrong with it.
I bought 1 from them 9th October 2018 and he had stock.

When i done mine, Masterparts had 3 of the pipes and Goldwagen only had the pipe from CCV to Dipstick tube.

Thanks so much. Really appreciate the feedback.


DoctorJ said:
I replaced mine last year, around Sept or so.

Brilliant Mechanical Workshop did mine, I replaced the valve and the 4 hoses, with original parts. Bill came to 5k all in.

I can believe that. the kit at BMW was around R3k parts over the counter.
 
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