Quick oil separator question

[J8NWK]

Just a quick one.

The oil breather/separator on the 3.0d, if the car has the new style all plastic separator fitted rather than the cotton filter does it still need replacing ? Surely if it's just all plastic it can't really make a difference ?

Thanks

[Sanj]

Yeah - leave it be. Makes no difference.

[J8NWK]

I thought as much.

Thanks for the reply !

[max]

Sanj, would you say the same if your going to be changing air and fuel filters and access to the breather will be right there?
I'm just thinking for the sake of the cost of the part c.£30 it should be changed or is it simply a waste of money if I've already got the later vortex style breather

[X5Sport]

The air filter requires all the same bits removed as the separator so it is a no brainer.  The separator is easier to do than the air filter.

Our E46 with the same engine had the later separator but at 55k miles I still changed it as I had one in stock.

In the piccie below are the yellow screws to lift the injector loom and the red bolts that hold the separator.  The air filter (removed) runs along the bottom of the picture.



Richard

[Sanj]

The part was redesigned from the original to get over the clogging issues. It was a foam type and would eventually strangle and choke...

So yes, it's right there for replacement purposes when you're doing the filters but I just don't see the point of replacing it when it can't clog up any longer. But anyone's choice...