Real cause of E46 318i oil leak problems?

[johndownunder]

Hi all. My daughter's 2003 318i has had a long history of recurring oil leaks and I believe there is some sort of breather buried under the inlet manifold that if blocked with crud, leads to an overpressure situation in the engine and subsequent oil leak issues. Can anyone out there confirm that this is the case and identify the breather part that I need to clean or replace?

Thanks
John

[MIKYZZ4]

For a proper diagnosis & confirmation, you really should have a diagnostic scan performed, with a scan tool/computer with BMW software.

I believe you are referring to the crankcase ventilation system, and symptom you describe is possibly due to a failed CCV, number#1 pictured here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CA08-ZA-06-1996-E36-BMW-318i&diagId=11_
I am not sure of your engine, you can verify at the top of my link-Select another car, and entering the last 7digits of your VIN#

[johndownunder]

Thanks heaps, I'll check it when I get home tonight

[E46318i]

Guys I know this isn't related but I've had my e46 a week and I'm pretty young and I bent my dad's lug wrench tryna take the wheel off. Do I need a specific bmw one or are they just super tight..?

[MIKYZZ4]

Your dad shouldn't blame you for that hopefully, as it probably was installed (incorrectly) by someone using an airtool , instead of a socket and wrench (torque). Hopefully not an airhammer, then really, super tight! Next time, attempt to loosen with the correct size socket along with a long handled, breaker bar.

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Lug wrenches, lol, they just don't make them like they used to. Cheap Chinese crap probably would have bent anyways.

[E46318i]

@mikyzz4 Thanks. A mate up the road got them off with a breaker bar.