BMW cooling issues
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Princeton Junction, NJ
Have any of you guys have had any issues with coolant leak in your cars. I recently had our lower radiator hose start leaking and I was foolish enough to let my wife convince me to have the dealer fix it ($250! with labor, part cost approx $25-$30). I recently noticed that I was still getting a few spoons of coolant on my garage floor every morning (have the garage floor sealed so it's easy to notice). I took the car back to the dealer and they "think" it's the radiator. The SA advised that at 72k miles it's not uncommon for the radiator to start leaking. I was quoted $650 for the radiator change which included my 20% CCA discount on parts and labor.
I opted not to get the job done at the dealer and instead have decided to tackle it myself. I already bought the radiator and expansion tank but did not purchase the water pump ($500 at dealer). I plan to change the upper hose and serpentine belt while at it.
My question to you guys is:
How many here have had radiators fail at such low mileage?
Were any other items that failed ie expansion tank?
How do the waterpumps hold on these cars. I know E46's have waterpump issues but am trying to guage how good an E60 waterpump is.
If I was the one driving the car, I would feel safe taking chances but my wife uses the car for a 140+ mile commute to work 3 times a week and I am afraid that it will happen while she is driving in rain or snow and she will not pick up on it and destroy the engine. I do have AAA plus but don't want to deal with the hassle.
Please share your experiences on coolant leak issues. I promise to do a writeup with pictures as I tackle this.
Regards.
Raj
I opted not to get the job done at the dealer and instead have decided to tackle it myself. I already bought the radiator and expansion tank but did not purchase the water pump ($500 at dealer). I plan to change the upper hose and serpentine belt while at it.
My question to you guys is:
How many here have had radiators fail at such low mileage?
Were any other items that failed ie expansion tank?
How do the waterpumps hold on these cars. I know E46's have waterpump issues but am trying to guage how good an E60 waterpump is.
If I was the one driving the car, I would feel safe taking chances but my wife uses the car for a 140+ mile commute to work 3 times a week and I am afraid that it will happen while she is driving in rain or snow and she will not pick up on it and destroy the engine. I do have AAA plus but don't want to deal with the hassle.
Please share your experiences on coolant leak issues. I promise to do a writeup with pictures as I tackle this.
Regards.
Raj
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Los Angeles
My Ride: 05 530i
87 325is
85 VW GTI
I'm also having the lower radiatior hose issue. Too lazy to replace it atm but I need to tackle it soon. I'll do it when I put in some HID fogs. I don't know if the M54 ever changed to metal wasserpump blades. I do recall reading about issues with the thermostat sticking and the housing cracking. They have since redesigned the part and it has a metal housing now.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Princeton Junction, NJ
Originally Posted by einstein57' post='1020290' date='Sep 29 2009, 01:13 PM
I'm also having the lower radiatior hose issue. Too lazy to replace it atm but I need to tackle it soon. I'll do it when I put in some HID fogs. I don't know if the M54 ever changed to metal wasserpump blades. I do recall reading about issues with the thermostat sticking and the housing cracking. They have since redesigned the part and it has a metal housing now.
. The waterpump is quite expensive so I might not do that for now. I will stop by teh dealer to see if the new pump is actually metal.
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From: Thousand Oaks, California
My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
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My radiator started to leak last year from around a sensor, but so far (knocking on wood) no other issues! 
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
Originally Posted by armen_n' post='1020465' date='Sep 29 2009, 05:01 PM
I HAVE A 2006 530I AND I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR. AND THEN I ONLY HAD ABOUT 33000 MILES.
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From: The State of Southern NJ!
Originally Posted by porsche911targa' post='1020514' date='Sep 29 2009, 06:30 PM
Wow, I thought these were problems that only affected the E36 and E46. Haven't they learned anything from those cars??????
BMW must be very aware the plastic cooling system parts are the most under-engineered components of their cars.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,718
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='1020519' date='Sep 29 2009, 06:32 PM
How about extending the cooling system issues to e32 and e38 I replaced radiators, overflow tanks, and hoses every 50K miles
BMW must be very aware the plastic cooling system parts are the most under-engineered components of their cars.
BMW must be very aware the plastic cooling system parts are the most under-engineered components of their cars.