Oil venting and circulation continues to be a problem on BMW engines and now even more so on the turbocharged N54 and N55 engines. The existing stock system does a very poor job of separating fluid and vapor and this leads to an oily film or even small pools of oil throughout the turbos and intake. We're seeing a lot more 135 and 335 cars with drivability and performance issues because oil has sneaked by the ring seals and is coating the intake piping, intercooler, intake valves, and other critical areas. The problem is worsened with higher boost levels. Oil is excellent for lubricating moving parts but terrible when it gets into the combustion chamber, effectively lowering the octane rating and reducing performance. Our own shop has gone the extra step and offers media blasting of the intake valves to strip away the oily buildup we have seen.
Our shop also strongly recommends an oil catch can be installed in the line for the crankcase vent. The oil catch can traps oil as it leaves the valve cover and holds it in a canister. This catch can is located on the cooler side of the engine where the oil will condense easier and stay in the can. Whatever minimal vapors are left over in the oil is then vented back through the canister and into the intake where it is safe to be burned up in the engine or recirculated back through the system again. This is the way the system was designed! At each oil change simply unscrew the canister and empty the trapped oil with your regular used oil. The Burger Tuning oil catch can is the best we have seen so far. Installing one of these will avoid costly repairs in the future and help maintain your boost and performance. It's one of the smartest modifications you can make because it demonstrates a well-thought out tuning strategy and care for the condition of your engine.
The BMS Oil Catch Can is made from aluminum and with a stealthy black anodized finish. It installs on the cooler side of the engine with a dedicated bracket and new oversized vent lines. The location is key as heat will evaporate the oil and send too much vapor back into the engine (where cooler air will turn it back into fluid). The BMS OCC also has a factory-like appearance. Since BMS designed their catch can from scratch they can guarantee it fits and performs correctly for the N54/N55 engine, unlike other catch cans on the market that are poorly retrofitted from other applications and under-sized for the N54 engine.
Note: Since the crankcase vent system is considered part of the overall emissions system, installing this may be a violation of local, state, and federal laws. While exemptions are made for track/race and off-road use, check with your local state inspection facility on using this in street-driven vehicles
BMS Oil Catch Can Features:
+ Increases air intake efficiency
+ Promotes engine longevity
+ Double-baffled design allows excellent air/oil separation
+ Large In/Out ports (no tapered sizes that slow flow)
+ Stealth mounting on cooler side of engine bay (promotes condensation of oil to vapor)
+ Anodized black lightweight aluminum
+ N54 version mounts out of sight under the cowl
+ Made in USA with a lifetime guarantee
