BMW 4.4I X5. HAD SECOND OF TWO VALVE COVER LEAKS DUE TO OIL SEPARATOR BLOCKAGE. BOTH HAPPENED UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE ORIGINAL OIL SEPARATOR DESIGN WAS PRONE TO BLOCKAGE AND BMW HAD REDESIGNED THE SEPARATOR TO A "HEATED PART" ACCORDING TO MY DEALER. IN BOTH INSTANCES OF MY CAR'S FAILURE, THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED UNDER PRESSURE AND OIL LEAKED OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO FIRE. BMW DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGED THE COMMON FAILURE OF THE OIL SEPARATOR DESIGN. ALTHOUGH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY I PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS. I HAVE UPDATED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEW "HEATED PART" BUT HAVE NOT HAD A FULL WINTER ON THE VEHICLE TO STATE WHETHER OR NOT THE RE-DESIGN WAS SUCCESSFUL. *TR
2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON AND THEREAFTER BECAME DANGEROUSLY HOT AND BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S COAT. *TR