phenryiv1's 530xiT Thread
#51
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
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Cooling woes continue. I drove the car to work yesterday (with a jug of distilled water in the back just in case) and things were fine. No puddles under the car that I could see, but as I got ready to head home I got a "Coolant too low" warning. I topped it off and drove home.
Once there, I checked the level (still good) and put the car up on ramps.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pTaXKu6XXNePuApoSreihHZ9E5XYu9aakkOrXUjo89kN4rDj0vFbJMZ1lGXuKEfViV89E9tAjbpwRVpBoDLDI-BP5ElXnZ0E0JCQx1jifGZLTqJxt1AdSplulkpAcR-neAuqcoOpD4ANmw0Jlqnq22scdwIbD9Vu3PKJum2B8N_uW63vmm5UaaGPpMUOVf3mrg8JNx3qef16xKUCeLuqu_RtRmLON5itke0raKqvJU5HuJfuE79vYZgxntk8yqANr1EsFNESsDED-_-FOx6QXnW6YeW2y8kfLLYtcQ35q9TOGDwlGGEkY_btSFO3q4i-A2dFn_qtGn00FVGg9zpm3sEGM8zWcZzqoVV7zBGc3iVdHzcoI0J0mE_zBmltdwkKT1q7dC0YQOq-ewnbqdBV0VqWAlAXqT7cUOcDVU-Ve41G-dDeJdunpaS6FRwaNd4ecE7gVFz2aKG6mgfwY-2JeWnIcegr5plC5A8LfAZkt2VWUVbu_3wZi1bd2fjy3dhiRuR5fYcGOu2ZHexf7IDnwUjuIKb1KMPpddVQsPNj86jhQQqTAkDJhEOGxZBN9-9DL7DNg0jKChv5eN6MIv5IcFSGyQRT5aNL2_9w08Mq32TEHBURRkdZku_D=w1246-h934-no)
I took off the lower splash cover https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_5089 in an attempt to find the leak but no luck. I let the car run for over 30 minutes and never saw a drop of coolant. I checked the tube over the radiator and it was completely dry, and checked every hose connection that I could while I was under the car.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yerd3Oy9qy_PQzPqWCphJTR_r1R3oU8GZIJAcieQMwbv8EM-mEV6SvsIXnnBsnUUd8ROqu0ZtUaQI378mZW8w7oV9akomhwhWQSmh-SKt3yh0nP5RWKMU3GZmOSg8tXFkAF4BS6p_MHln3JczMViRhlJiKYPa6aXIP6o4NL4Bs_i5J36x5yoXsKghIcY9-09VRjJZZmy272PLqkSyB999TAGpEZNiFBxMoUZ6Os_Rd8eKqqHHoJQetRMs6RyZ9GNDw2BfOyTg9Mr5XeASqUdZ5SUX9EpNXCbATeDbcKlaKfIOeR1Mwh9vQePErHFkn1RyCw2ykkTIpp_Bicp7RWlyGL10YdETWMqbl_a30DulI7gxWxIgBPKe-XlSQyjiEL1aePEF19T23ivlRQ7Yxf-0Y2qfm8CW5LXVPR5BFgPMmHHFzNmRNPtBnimEmqKWoQXHAg7S8XyxsOkZFPxUcsV2ND9RhoW_52IWQMddpxX8ZKfuRMhpYMOPcP0Z2Y84L4RFEOFZp3wUTcqonPL_d_uR7Ggfm8ffPUtQJgQjFr6Oe8w7NZG05kNkciekPX8XNaJNwFWO4DWt2NpC4kTg10aPM61Wa8kAP9GY08n7hZMv6sKhFz5LsO0vmnz=w701-h934-no)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MBkjVV89XGhe-MiWBHpvhXaME3hSmE6PT0NH0SShJP3lcoMr54ACBCbBRUzGT44wCfKYtaLxpOA_AuRpFayIN56uerDY42HM1X1f6BxdoqgXjHuCdZmIWMKuayqJyImLX69c5gviiBL9SelO5VRfVqk3p4FH_pO8q1Dt6W5--AVGi_usLkX1BjDq_UceHOugnGQYoTQXd2NtA5CfmliV-nQJflevGVzB_kf6WkscIoAbRcIHU3XXLB1CszVFeNHDv99qU4OW88HJRWFKeOh_jZWxHguX7TQpRTDg5YZGbcyQZWFKmCoPszUkxnuI5j0uAkBQ1C1fW44t_RTDY7qGDRg_fp_mEl20H6hbjSFWMY-PxreCh7Sr5C1ETRtVvW_RX3fuQU50K8Hzz08sg65hC09YmWjOr58gJBcQCQ8ZVp5EBtzuu5fZk37tterD-9C7NWupnToiURwqzmn5XMWkQoq7s8Ms-XagE0PqtbDPaR8jP5RzAk5yTpDlchcQwRM8zE5lm-vznKrugAQGOh9Ncu3123dorrpmQ2pZZK9jiTA6wUMHQ74VvMkgsYyYVgsUzP47mPhA4gcuU2gxUB1Li4cCCUdt234sRHJJUPCbxAENp5Bia7we=w701-h934-no)
At that point, I assumed 2 things:
1. The drop in coolant level was the result of the car "burping" and the level dropping accordingly, and,
2. The small amount that I saw under the car was the result of spillage when removing and/or refilling the tank, since some coolant was on top of the splash shield.
At least one of these assumptions were incorrect.
I decided to try to drive the car to work today (it is supposed to be 97* today) and the E30 - though a convertible - lacks A/C (and if it rains, driving in 97* weather with no A/C and the windows up is a bit uncomfortable) but as I left me development I realized that leaving the front splash shield off was not going to work, as the back panel is held in place by the screws from the front panel. I turned around with plans to install the crews or the whole shield (while on a dirty garage floor, dressed in work clothes, no less) but I saw more coolant pissing out of the lines near the radiator. At least I could now locate the source of my leak.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EEYVQfKtf12tF9Q9brbICvjhddXC5cNPI0yVmbE62xtIek-hz1GR7m0ERihQozeIjJrlj0lBw1XtFVxUu3dsc0ak44Dwqf9lK793kucFfh6y7BJ4gzxPBQpa76M8XhRAuj9V0VW5DnEWABYAnTtoFh7pFhrNviWMSdHzM_wyz2YfnCrvMZy_JgChtF2sEstJyO4wHLgEHqi3YGCn_pkMJIjfnGb3H0ANBdvjQ8Syxe6R7ZJCuEZboiXMHEJ65k1GG6V1r9rJ0l5D5kuCOQoL5w_MVobQV6f94ivyA1XeJk6O6HJN681U0OwKl9ukB6z6QS1WePACbII2O5_7ZOF8k-iMW8yauZ6znXLGdOJI0zaT3McHEe-JiYYkaAg1SopjdTFpeE34FyWmL6_0zBDbRFMyD5lPYYFo01DShypHnPQu4jP6MFNT57IqHRF608yVz5Es5jJcSDCdoh5iYsJvCALqD2jXNJkGau_KYRRYf9SsN9K0omuWJPryM8ApUiBbvonJXY_kMA9_I5mkJu0szUVubDKbDhBTQcHrlRjIzGydMBH2O36o33YQC0eZGh8zLVwcjKaxaaUOC2WvMx2V6wvo8d4hPlkcegqqjFzAlHkgf4uFXNlf_-oR=w1246-h934-no)
Based on this https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0742 it looks like I need at least 17127521778
And maybe some hoses from here, if I find anything else wonky: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_3755
Once there, I checked the level (still good) and put the car up on ramps.
I took off the lower splash cover https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_5089 in an attempt to find the leak but no luck. I let the car run for over 30 minutes and never saw a drop of coolant. I checked the tube over the radiator and it was completely dry, and checked every hose connection that I could while I was under the car.
At that point, I assumed 2 things:
1. The drop in coolant level was the result of the car "burping" and the level dropping accordingly, and,
2. The small amount that I saw under the car was the result of spillage when removing and/or refilling the tank, since some coolant was on top of the splash shield.
At least one of these assumptions were incorrect.
I decided to try to drive the car to work today (it is supposed to be 97* today) and the E30 - though a convertible - lacks A/C (and if it rains, driving in 97* weather with no A/C and the windows up is a bit uncomfortable) but as I left me development I realized that leaving the front splash shield off was not going to work, as the back panel is held in place by the screws from the front panel. I turned around with plans to install the crews or the whole shield (while on a dirty garage floor, dressed in work clothes, no less) but I saw more coolant pissing out of the lines near the radiator. At least I could now locate the source of my leak.
Based on this https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0742 it looks like I need at least 17127521778
And maybe some hoses from here, if I find anything else wonky: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_3755
Last edited by phenryiv1; 07-13-2017 at 04:44 AM.
#52
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My Ride: BMW 530xiT (E61)
Model Year: 2007
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Based on this https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0742 it looks like I need at least 17127521778
And maybe some hoses from here, if I find anything else wonky: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_3755
sorry to hear about your issues, but i'm glad you've potentially tracked down the problem.
#53
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Me neither. I tried to explain it to a buddy of mine who (like me) has an E36. He recommend that I just replace all the lines on the front of the cooling system, just like most older BMW owners do. The E30/36 has a limited number of hoses. This thing is a mess. I was over $600 in hoses alone.
#54
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My Ride: BMW 530xiT (E61)
Model Year: 2007
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Me neither. I tried to explain it to a buddy of mine who (like me) has an E36. He recommend that I just replace all the lines on the front of the cooling system, just like most older BMW owners do. The E30/36 has a limited number of hoses. This thing is a mess. I was over $600 in hoses alone.
sadly, it's probably easier to replace some of them together rather than dig in there a few different times to replace them one by one.
are you positive that the leak you're seeing is due to a faulty hose/clamp and not a abnormal buildup in pressure that is finding the path of least resistance to escape?
#55
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I ended up ordering the offending hose and a few fasteners that were missing from the splash pan, plus a new radiator drain plug (those tend to fail). If this fix does not work then I will just run down the list of hoses on RealOEM and replace them all. The one that looks to have failed is actually fairly easy to access. If I have ot start doing other ones then the mess of interconnections are probably best served with a total replacement of all of them. And with 130K on the car right now it might not be a bad idea anyway, but I would like to see what this hose does for the problem.
Logically, one might deduce that there is a blockage caused by the thermostat failing to open but I don't know how likely that is. I have seen leakage after being parked, and the thermostat should have opened last night during 30 minutes of idling in a garage when ambient air temperatures were 90* or better.
#56
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Added my photos to the post above.
Also, while I was under the car and awaiting drips that never materialized I did go ahead and install some Nokya yellow fog light bulbs. The off-white color of the stock bulbs always bothered me, given the contrast with the HIDs. No more:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/In9DS309O87HCVQRvBg66iOPB1wICLbQpFNJthALWmJdJF5iysInH7w51zRdZhAeSd_lQSYxG-pM82ZWzNVwOE6dQcQenSf824ypnFfDWJusy1WhCgGp387ANe4-GQA0e_xFWwZM156j2S-QW_34kyvDAKHzoh5v92Ew0OoXA_rg_ci1uBaIWj1RMFxmvow20Py6DnQhAQw7twUL1odMNis-TNQ5axJLWAbXKVN__J-Nkxu3lrwAIubyBZ7jENRb9RrRn3OAb3rCLEjjwYsKcIhtOX2uCxpoY15nFE8OougXuEstIYX5xIrDf9JsN0yDt1I1RZWiAa0JOF9ZHQz-cG03-TxltF1xjuwjqoLvFtcbVw9PxXxlU_BcVG3P3S7D6tYSYgXqMSNh8aZUHz7eD4yVi8LKgZ_6V8-K6SC0tT_bq9IsagbfJtAOalvutvBwLRap1BMIZ4pHKDUSdYRZt3JRk1MNZwceLQk9nXu36oY6WiLrSAAQ98gTHniSkJEzzBccu5SIGUxvs0eNjgpwYr0jYgZplMFy0DXGE8IgJztsAJ_wg-Hzq3xUngDniqaQ1o6fd4Cg9nlavIom2KrL4n_okmFIdvGGZzTAPImJkKjvXdsMS1Oa=w1246-h934-no)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/thmvYazO6ZrcdkgA__HrIuX0_P6relwP3jYZTC5_ZYhrOCGLf7mjN7x7FE33IHxYndDX1B8_bUj9GlXpfEGG2WLKq4rKla2hXfmBfJs452wovCLHPx-Yq_VQLF3OzTfmJxni42S8_-xlumL-4y5YI5hKtEEGyhLPbUEGh8HYsqWiiFuduA8pGHTD5W22yn95YOzjK93GbTsBTOHAdvKE32GYrh1Afq3ODMmPzslE3tL0oPFvYWBn9jrfAOwIy0k500Iq6UB1cV-TMquOBzD7dciVlzPQX-Y9wwRrf7XCrh-0bN-Di1NHoUrUAhxZxP7laTyHIdSpf-YBV7vgdTmmNFlxeC_zLr2e0Mf5BwVQ7GdFd6AmaJToqAXP5CCFsh-hyILr_6n3iSnj0K-6QdeJplcd106uFUoh8p989JuiWRLN9CtkCu_w_4tQ3uwM2vK9VVQSiBB8kBUTY2-eGqHL7KGP35_eW_f5RZLxTqWuHX40UbvurBXFit1NuC76_LOza-Wxx86zULXJKyzW9XK2vG-M7iOr47benkFH-PSDfZFfBJ-7Ha9aFsjeUbVZ3E3NgJ1wiBipxM0kMJBqJUYQnSOIV2tUnVyOsUA9rSr2El_4zW4VXS0CqhX7=w1246-h934-no)
On a not-so-happy note, there was a LOT of oil on the underside of the motor:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XPbsT62kaB76wCyOqUw8bZHcHFAwxg0EQUMmVHwgcIG5FeSWooGYd-XMGJihySI5pDlV3zxiXeNmroUKsnRi6Cs3z8R0Ya19o8XAPTrkoZmNQpGNB5RhMrp3u_TuOKoRWV1Ob7tMABHbcZkaob0GaTLCn6oBtLOWaYqus_U05iOqWY2MBkpwrUz4D6tOF2-Wz0ZGPFZ_l_sgSSGiP2pUYFkFHauHOqE8g5rYeeq5hne9kZ8HViFrvarYpQChGYegH6Kk2_9Fx4kOkGF-opibzi_YO4qeaSXq3rqMx8L9nS84nDfzWZxFpqLAp4DRgVRNABOU42gQS9uKhsM_qYDkNuCHDImB3NYhSYgEbx7BhH2cSnzyyq2FJlxrogKf04yToRabXRN70yOsCPmugmXjJcT6arzuDBXYmAa4NzEJNJTSYmUo2d7bddK1QARY9lv6fbl8-CmpvMYHyHMG9pJ3uokwecjpjauU2Mka34OpDBjbyQxniGU598df3AJ2FcLwyFWhqPbUHTyL5LI9kRGKqMAUGt6ZzfOqNmk-fkhpZWvjO5R8H_jSp8vkjxjoBIeFMCXh0kkjBhNPuNYtz_l2RDiPm5ySF0g6diLYW1STcTG8M2uoUyYf54yq=w701-h934-no)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eEiHk6dJ-MI4u-BkH6qkCLdCndDuU_87U7Bm1IKy9F_sqLqwikJdZtwDLycM3by1eVChUsT8PPnHUMqyTtGRq5zjUMqvIfoNT-uCU5AbCEYbQSpQs9GE00Gmm5whn0KovWOcHPXGUdzctne0Vz8yoB6am7eia9eImkoQqqojDMTUhKVjaLV0GoP-YQNGkszGpkrI6fqE30ehhd4Jn3KY_NRdKCXo6dLQY5W3ShbwWGhkUi9dAP__NXbb_vx8PY-LGujdHstbTCg-xyUr6TRGuxpRp5PaB5JtGbeuGSHZksSI2P0k19qOEhuIH-X4Ssl_oSHXulBS-sUgidT3Z6Fx33TNhR-ojj-FzOY3pF9lrE-o8_DeOslcXNyQnGpVkIQB1-VaomhTt61kqb5Yld74JWVKP_vfyT_Guk-BrYIuNMkN_wecSew7o80II_-rLLXn0O4PX9Alx9QGl9PmPcHdEjPMn4Ly0FGSUwzY0GUOZ3MxVCbZjVg9vRb41g8dNho8z7HeT1OeidQLxBzfc7Gf80FI695XAPXvCbi4VKnz9EOSbtCwZzuYQYaOlFPEc8uyMpr9eepB0ZEFUjS4Wte1D-s1jmSMRf1nDqUYwdM8i_2aUfB-n0kY=w1246-h934-no)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wxYrHIlL6Hr0eSUyevHLwgNIoLBTGmKjjtneNksCVFs1v6p9VuSqLC9AK52voempr0aSfD9QTdcl7ErkGh1gwfnjrJIKwV24ymjRtoifxtjuPzg0mStP-h0CNLknDrjb0D8bAbyWFxu31eWdnHvxoQuaoJqpj9qiJiHwbQiQkpikevgjbZVooFv2ETagDo8O9YB1SK2C22vd8T6lWlH2L_Eh-wqtuIfLhPcDgJR4YvfmG7vwVH1caBZc8WVkkLzJVZRFIJnak_yetkw8iCk51vJ1yQOSsYAZ8Z0AuXNdT4DQkpauFClRZMEOKJnMjH7kQGamYEeKUtzGliugufJtUb2flpxNh5RrrmnL9S_z3J6EXzaO54fr6uDv_82T2xYFiQXuY9zFZyut74UYpyHXHAQn7JC2GIEvlD4ksHbmfymd5KAIj29jyw2WBdWXdat8pK0DjF3NO498ZwBcEKfhP1Td_T6_oDAAI4Qz-VHoMhLHjZccYcGOv0tQrpjs8HIz4C_53b02rU4_eZLKknA_J3p0lH0xTImsOzXjgYtr8A-9_HuYSVeAjHl4sL9IF7mWS-3uQbt8yZwf8Gw_SXkzZuoNyv24l3zEFHPNazH_wjQ3hkMf94VO=w1246-h934-no)
Also, while I was under the car and awaiting drips that never materialized I did go ahead and install some Nokya yellow fog light bulbs. The off-white color of the stock bulbs always bothered me, given the contrast with the HIDs. No more:
On a not-so-happy note, there was a LOT of oil on the underside of the motor:
#57
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So the replaced coolant tank did not solve the problem. After almost a week of waiting for the replacement lower radiator hose it finally arrived.
I give up on the picture links. I'll post them later.
I give up on the picture links. I'll post them later.
Last edited by phenryiv1; 07-19-2017 at 01:48 PM.
#58
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My Ride: 2010, E61, 535i xDrive
Model Year: 2010
#59
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My Ride: 2006 530xiT, 2001 325ciC, 1989 325iC
Model Year: 2006
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
All of the links are broken in the whole thread or just the more recent ones?
I use PhotoBucket and my early posts have the PB links. Recently I tried Google Photos. I can see all but my most recent post.
Do do any of them work for you?
I use PhotoBucket and my early posts have the PB links. Recently I tried Google Photos. I can see all but my most recent post.
Do do any of them work for you?
#60
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My Ride: 2010, E61, 535i xDrive
Model Year: 2010
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Cannot see any of them...not a single one, just to be redundant ;-)