I have a 2018 X5 that I love. Only drive it on road trips of +25 miles. Would my BMW have the CCV issues?
How was your 2024 year in review?
- Thread starter BrianNole777
- Start date
Not bad. Made more money than ever, by a decent margin. Made a bunch of moves that are putting me on the path to becoming a digital nomad. (Have the fiberglass camper -- now working on building a battery system and some rudimentary furniture) So I'll be able to travel the country and work pretty soon from an off-road truck.
Negative would be weird health stuff after a weird surgery late last year. So getting that squared away will be item 1 for 2025. (aside from completing build)
Negative would be weird health stuff after a weird surgery late last year. So getting that squared away will be item 1 for 2025. (aside from completing build)
It was mediocre. There were some good things early in the year, but the second half of the year was a struggle.
Personal - I got to go to Charleston, SC with the GF (no pics) in May. We had fun going to Kiawah and sightseeing. We also got to go to the Texas vs Texas A&M game in November and that was so much fun even though Aggies are douchebags. I struggled with my health in October with the flu and then a sinus infection. In November, I got the stomach flu and then a respiratory infection that set me back about 10 days. Lived through a Derecho in May and a Hurricane in July.
Work - I moved to a new team in January and got baited and switched in the role I transitioned into with a maniac boss that led me to work 60 hour weeks since August doing two roles concurrently. I transition to a new boss in January so hoping that might help as she has moved some stuff off my plate in December. Unfortunately, Amazon doubled down on RTO going from 3D to 5D. Ultimately, I might need a new job.
Family - We experienced an unexpected loss in October as my stepbrother that I've known for 10 years committed suicide. He had been clean for about 1.5 years after multiple stints in rehab and (I thought) was doing a lot better, but unfortunately the demons in him still existed and that was tough to process. I have struggled with depression for 20 years and feel guilty that maybe I didn't do enough to let him know he could have reached out to me.
Personal - I got to go to Charleston, SC with the GF (no pics) in May. We had fun going to Kiawah and sightseeing. We also got to go to the Texas vs Texas A&M game in November and that was so much fun even though Aggies are douchebags. I struggled with my health in October with the flu and then a sinus infection. In November, I got the stomach flu and then a respiratory infection that set me back about 10 days. Lived through a Derecho in May and a Hurricane in July.
Work - I moved to a new team in January and got baited and switched in the role I transitioned into with a maniac boss that led me to work 60 hour weeks since August doing two roles concurrently. I transition to a new boss in January so hoping that might help as she has moved some stuff off my plate in December. Unfortunately, Amazon doubled down on RTO going from 3D to 5D. Ultimately, I might need a new job.
Family - We experienced an unexpected loss in October as my stepbrother that I've known for 10 years committed suicide. He had been clean for about 1.5 years after multiple stints in rehab and (I thought) was doing a lot better, but unfortunately the demons in him still existed and that was tough to process. I have struggled with depression for 20 years and feel guilty that maybe I didn't do enough to let him know he could have reached out to me.
Sorry for your loss.
Here's the #1 book for depression as recommended by doctors. "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns.
You can get a copy for free at your local library. Also, there's a new app called "Feeling Great" with a free AI chat you can download.
Let me know if you have any questions. Godspeed.
Feeling Great App
Feeling Great is a mental wellness app that offers a revolutionary AI-powered chatbot and interactive learning program, which have been developed based on the groundbreaking work of David Burns, MD and his T.E.A.M. approach to cognitive behavioral therapy.
www.feelinggreat.com
Hang in there. I highly recommend you find a good therapist or spiritual advisor to help you get through your grief and struggles. Best wishes!
Certainly possible. Not sure what engine yours has, but it appears they still use the same basic system that can be found on lots of different BMW engines of yours' era. You got the valve itself, all the connecting hoses, etc - plus if it indeed blew out, the cleanup, any other replacement parts, etc.
Like I say, all engines have some sort of variation of this system - it's not solely a BMW issue so much as BMW's seem especially prone to CCV (PCV) issues. Many owners change their entire system every 3 or so years as preventative maintenance. If you don't do that, frequent oil changes are an absolute must.
One thing to remember...mine all happened when temps were below zero. If you live in an always warm climate, might not ever be an issue.
It was very, very frustrating. The 3 liter engine in mine - damn near 300,000 total miles - ran absolutely perfect otherwise. I never had another engine related issue with it other than the CCV blowouts.
Thank you man, I appreciate it. I think I will. Hope you have a happy new year.
Yes, mine is a 3 liter twin turbo. I think driving habits have a lot to do with engine issues.
I love it. never gets old. working. sleeping. eating. drinking. peeing. pooping. paying bills.Most of life is work, commute, sleep then repeat until death occurs.
It's a shame we only get 50 or so years to do it over and over. happy new year!
Lol, then, hopefully an eternity of bliss after we stroke out from all that working, eating, pooping and paying bills. 😆
“hopefully”. That’s a lot of faith, and I attend mass regularly.
Hope is a virtue.
"The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men's activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude."
Last edited:
Overall: C-
The good: family is healthy, kids continue to do well in school and grow socially, got promoted at work - likely last big promotion of my career.
The bad: basically everything I internalize. Probably drinking too much to numb work stress. Having trouble staying on top of finances while giving kids opportunities to travel, do all the extracurriculars, etc. Both of which contribute to what’s become borderline crushing insomnia. Which in turn results in missing morning workouts and starting to lose the physical form I used to pride myself on.
I have room to improve in 2025, that’s for sure.
The good: family is healthy, kids continue to do well in school and grow socially, got promoted at work - likely last big promotion of my career.
The bad: basically everything I internalize. Probably drinking too much to numb work stress. Having trouble staying on top of finances while giving kids opportunities to travel, do all the extracurriculars, etc. Both of which contribute to what’s become borderline crushing insomnia. Which in turn results in missing morning workouts and starting to lose the physical form I used to pride myself on.
I have room to improve in 2025, that’s for sure.
I do my best to keep this same perspective. It’s hard at times when I’m getting crushed at work, unforeseen expenses are piling up, and I haven’t exercised in 4 days. But I try.
Pretty crazy 2024.
Best friend got colon cancer. Almost died. Had 3/4 of his rectum removed. Had complications and ended up with a bag. He is cancer free now and just had the reversal surgery.
Son graduated from HS. Thank God. Sent him to Germany to visit his twin friends who he grew up with. He got a reality check on life there.
Finally received my Rivian R1S. Was an early pre-order in October of 2021. Was offered a 20% discount and the $7500 tax credit. #winning - love this thing! It's so damn fun to drive.
Moved to Inlet Beach full time. Moved into our beach house and to be closer to our best friends. It had been incredible making this move from Tallahassee after 27 years. My wifey (no pics) works remote. I traveled 50% of the month and worked from home the rest. Was perfect.
Then I went to Ukraine in August to help fit high level upper limb amputees. This lead to a discussion about what is really needed. Something that can't be accomplished with the current situation. So I was offered a job in Ukraine and Poland to help on a level I never thought possible.
Put our Tallahassee house up for sale. It sold in one day closed in 18.
So in October I accepted a job to work in Ukraine and Poland starting in November. I gave my notice to my current employer of 15 years that Oct 31st would be my last day. I really should have thought about doing it on Nov 1st considering I would have benefits throughout November.
Decided to start discussions with another company based in Sweden to work as a consultant to help with training. I can't believe I convinced them to pay me as much as they do for a weeks worth of work.
Went to Ukraine for a week in October. Was invited to speak at an international conference for the future of Ukraine in Kiev. Was an amazing experience.
On November 5th I officially moved to Poland. Wifey joined 10 days later. Got an apartment set up in Poznan Poland. Then left for Ukraine for 2 weeks to take care 10 patients.
Then flew to Stockholm to meet the team there. Do Upper Limb training there and all over Sweden. Was a fun exciting trip.
Flew back to Poland. Then the next day went to Ukraine to see 10 more patients and finish the last 10.
Wow. My Nov and Dec travels have been incredible!
Well Cheers and best wishes to you all in 2025.
Best friend got colon cancer. Almost died. Had 3/4 of his rectum removed. Had complications and ended up with a bag. He is cancer free now and just had the reversal surgery.
Son graduated from HS. Thank God. Sent him to Germany to visit his twin friends who he grew up with. He got a reality check on life there.
Finally received my Rivian R1S. Was an early pre-order in October of 2021. Was offered a 20% discount and the $7500 tax credit. #winning - love this thing! It's so damn fun to drive.
Moved to Inlet Beach full time. Moved into our beach house and to be closer to our best friends. It had been incredible making this move from Tallahassee after 27 years. My wifey (no pics) works remote. I traveled 50% of the month and worked from home the rest. Was perfect.
Then I went to Ukraine in August to help fit high level upper limb amputees. This lead to a discussion about what is really needed. Something that can't be accomplished with the current situation. So I was offered a job in Ukraine and Poland to help on a level I never thought possible.
Put our Tallahassee house up for sale. It sold in one day closed in 18.
So in October I accepted a job to work in Ukraine and Poland starting in November. I gave my notice to my current employer of 15 years that Oct 31st would be my last day. I really should have thought about doing it on Nov 1st considering I would have benefits throughout November.
Decided to start discussions with another company based in Sweden to work as a consultant to help with training. I can't believe I convinced them to pay me as much as they do for a weeks worth of work.
Went to Ukraine for a week in October. Was invited to speak at an international conference for the future of Ukraine in Kiev. Was an amazing experience.
On November 5th I officially moved to Poland. Wifey joined 10 days later. Got an apartment set up in Poznan Poland. Then left for Ukraine for 2 weeks to take care 10 patients.
Then flew to Stockholm to meet the team there. Do Upper Limb training there and all over Sweden. Was a fun exciting trip.
Flew back to Poland. Then the next day went to Ukraine to see 10 more patients and finish the last 10.
Wow. My Nov and Dec travels have been incredible!
Well Cheers and best wishes to you all in 2025.
Last edited:
Now, if you ask Mrs. Alaska, she may have a different take. Her mom went into the ICU on Dec 1st and Mrs. Alaska had Tarsal Tunnel surgery on Dec 17th....holidays have been all about hospitals.
Melatonin is great for insomnia. Ask your doctor if interested.
Trump victory. Massive gains in net worth. Healthy and prosperous family. Life is great.
Work wise I moved to a back shift to help work with the young inexperienced operators who were out there with zero support. The move proved to work out so well that the bosses have added more crews to the swing shift and while, I'm not doing the physical lifting I had been, it can be a bit overwhelming.
Health wise in was pretty neutral, no new injuries, illnesses, or surgeries. That's an every other year deal with me, and it was to be an off year.
Personally the reality of being a lifelong blue collar guy with 6 kids and a younger wife is sinking in. I'm 2 1/2 years from my planned retirement date, underfunded and have no hobbies to keep me out of my recliner that cripples me after a week off. I really need to work out a plan that earns some cash after I retire that puts me on the road 2 or 3 days a week. If it were a really good plan, I would move the date up a year or 2.
Health wise in was pretty neutral, no new injuries, illnesses, or surgeries. That's an every other year deal with me, and it was to be an off year.
Personally the reality of being a lifelong blue collar guy with 6 kids and a younger wife is sinking in. I'm 2 1/2 years from my planned retirement date, underfunded and have no hobbies to keep me out of my recliner that cripples me after a week off. I really need to work out a plan that earns some cash after I retire that puts me on the road 2 or 3 days a week. If it were a really good plan, I would move the date up a year or 2.
Similar threads
