Yikes - Broke the Crankcase Vent Tube...

Okay, so how much trouble is this fix going to be?

While doing my valve cover seal job I broke off the crankcase vent tube clean while pulling it. Honestly, I can't see how I could have saved it. It's unreal how brittle plastic is under the hood of these cars.

Anyone have experience with this fix?

I would say that is going to have to be a replacement job. Repair just seems out of the question from the picture.

Have u stuffed it up with mayo?

You will need to change it and maybe the CCV as well. that hose goes to the CCV. a quick fix would be using aluminum tape. it will stand the heat and seal it.

Its an easy fix, I believe that hose is about 25 bucks at BMW, the only hard part is getting you hand all the way in the back where the other side connects but it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to change out. It's number 2 on the diagram below, says $25.75 for the part.

Originally Posted by blacksport325

Its an easy fix, I believe that hose is about 25 bucks at BMW, the only hard part is getting you hand all the way in the back where the other side connects but it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to change out. It's number 2 on the diagram below, says $25.75 for the part.

Its going to take more than 10 mins

lol at 10 min. now, you might as well do the ccv and all the hoses since you already broke it. they are a pain in the butt but always need to be replaced on e46's

Originally Posted by BQuicksilver

Honestly, I can't see how I could have saved it.

You gently wiggle it from the valve cover instead of pulling on it...

Reasonably easy fix though. You could also substitute a better (flexible) hose and clamp it the old elbow fitting so it doesn't happen again

The entire kit cost something like 146.00 including the CCV. The DIY is a PITA but worth doing, especially if your up North. Be sure to order the upgraded Canadian version. Could be they dont even sell the non-upgraded version any longer.

Good luck

I dont know about replacing the entire CCV, but the hose literally took me 10 minutes, just fitting a hand down there is the hardest part and getting the tube off, I didn't take anything out to get the hose off, might have been easier if the intake box was out though im guessing.

See post #107
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...parator&page=5

I had this exactly happen to me during my Vanos repair. The ideal solution to replace the whole tube.

I used alot of black tape, and it has held up over the last year no problem.

Originally Posted by Mclovin1458

Have u stuffed it up with mayo?

Originally Posted by Toad21

I had this exactly happen to me during my Vanos repair. The ideal solution to replace the whole tube.

I used alot of black tape, and it has held up over the last year no problem.

I did the same, it lasted till I got the replacement CCV sys.

Originally Posted by olinjohnston

You gently wiggle it from the valve cover instead of pulling on it...

Reasonably easy fix though. You could also substitute a better (flexible) hose and clamp it the old elbow fitting so it doesn't happen again

Yeah, thats what I did. It was amazingly brittle. I just held it with a Knipex Cobra so I could focus on pulling easy...it was doomed from the start. My valve cover seal and plug seals were just as brittle. I dropped a spark plug seal (the set of three) and it shattered like a piece of tempered glass.

Is this normal for a car with 80k on the clock? Are new seals less prone to this, or is this a side effect of some form of abuse by the previous owner?

As noted, it seems like my other CCV hoses are affected as well.

A 3/4" hose would fit over those pieces. An alternative to replacing that brittle plastic hose. Keep the original elbow, but cut off the hose that covers the end. A single 3" piece of 3/4" hose would then patch the split.

having this hose broke affect you car in which way?

No need for this dam kit this is what you need right here

I'm now officially a member of the Broken Crankcase Vent tube club

Originally Posted by Mclovin1458

Have u stuffed it up with mayo?

Look like he used.............