Radium Engineering Catch Can Kit | 1998-2006 BMW 3-Series E46 (20-0073)

The E46's CCV system is famous for two things: clogging with sludge, and feeding oil into the intake until it does.

BMW's crankcase ventilation on the E46 routes oil-laden vapor back through the intake tract, coating the throttle body and manifold while the CCV itself accumulates the condensation that eventually kills it. The Radium Engineering Catch Can Kit for the BMW E46 intercepts that circuit with a billet Fluid Lock catch can mounted in the RH compartment near the firewall, drawing oil and water condensation out of the crankcase gasses before the intake ever sees them. The closed loop system does not vent to atmosphere, keeping it emissions and track legal while promoting the negative crankcase pressure the engine actually wants. Chassis-specific bracket, hose, and fittings make it bolt-in.

What You'll Feel

• A throttle body and intake manifold staying clean instead of accumulating oil film
• Effectively higher octane and cleaner combustion from de-oiled intake air
• Reduced load on the failure-prone CCV, with condensation caught in the can instead of the system
• Emissions and track legality preserved by the closed, non-VTA loop
• No oil vapor odor reaching the cabin

Features

• Billet aluminum Fluid Lock catch can with integrated dipstick, 10AN ORB ports, 4AN ORB drain port, and 2-step oil separation baffling
• Laser cut anodized E46-specific mounting bracket for the RH firewall compartment
• Anodized aluminum 10AN hose ends and adapter fittings
• Generous 10AN (5/8") PCV hose supply, cut to length, with enough for modified vehicles
• Closed loop, non-VTA routing: emissions and track legal
• Compatible with early models with the ABS module in the compartment and later models with the secondary PCV system

The Details

Routing differs by engine, and Radium's instructions cover both. On the M3's S54, the can's top port takes a hose from the valve cover with the return continuing to the intake manifold port; on non-M cars, the top port serves the valve cover while the side port routes to the CCV port under the cylinder 1 intake runner. Either way, the can becomes the condensation trap the CCV system never had, with the 2-step baffling dropping oil and water out of the vapor stream and the Fluid Lock mechanism guaranteeing an overdue service never dumps the collection into the intake. The hose supply is deliberately generous so modified cars with relocated components can still route cleanly. Fitment is left hand drive only, since the can's home in the RH firewall compartment does not exist as free space on RHD cars. Check the dipstick frequently on tracked cars.

Kit Includes

• 1x Billet aluminum Fluid Lock catch can with integrated dipstick
• 1x Laser cut anodized E46-specific mounting bracket
• Anodized aluminum 10AN hose ends and adapter fittings
• 10AN (5/8") PCV hose, cut-to-length supply
• Mounting hardware

Applications

• 1998-2006 BMW 3-Series E46 (LHD only)
• 2000-2006 BMW E46 M3 and 2003-2004 M3 CSL (LHD only)
• Compatible with early ABS-module-in-compartment cars and later secondary-PCV cars