My 2007 E61 530d M sport touring was in the main dealer 2 weeks back for new brake pads and disks, whilst there they convinced me an air on Re-gas was required as it hadn't been done for 3 years. The air con worked fine but I though why not. After I got it back I realised the air con didn't work at all (no cold air at all) so booked it back in as they obviously messed it up. Today after about an hours drive (when it was warm and really missed it) parked the thing back on the drive and 5 minutes later there was a bang from under the bonnet followed by all the coolant venting out! I opened the bonnet and let it all out. A quick look showed no obvious damage and the thing starts and seems to run ok. I guess something in there got too hot (the air con switch was still on despite it not working) and the pressure built up and caused something to go pop.

Obviously going back in to get it fixed at their expense but a couple of questions for anyone who knows about these things, what do you think the problem was in the first place (why after the re-gas did it not work) and what went bang and do you think major surgery may be required as a result of the bang?

Also any obvious reason why I couldn't drive it in its current state?

Many thanks folks

 

If there is coolant leaking don't drive it! You will boil the engine. And the bang could be an air con pipe bursting,if the system wasn't drained before they re gassed it it would have nearly twice the standard pressure in the system. Which if an inexperianced techy did the job could easily happen

 

Thanks Mikethepanel - I probably didn't explain myself very well; it wasn't engine coolant it was the aircon gas that was venting out.

I'm assuming I'm all right to drive it as this isn't a critical part of the car?

 

Yes your ok to drive it but make sure that the air con is switched off as the light green oil that came out lubes the pump and system