Thanks for the tips. this is very helpful. whether i am able to pull off this level of 'flush' remains to be seen as the car is currently in the garage, which i will not be able to flood.

This may be a situation where i have to get it running, then do some of this cleanout later. That said, given the manifold and cylinder head are off, i am hoping i can drain the block drain and see some plastic come out. Who knows.

i will probably wait on doing an extensive and thorough cleaning of the cooling system mainly because i first need to know if these head bolts are going to hold. If they don't, this car goes to the junkyard.

i DID find a couple of chips that had drained from the radiator...but certainly not the balance of what is missing.

another interesting note: I just picked up the OE Saleri water pump at Napa this morning. it's in a Saleria Italia box and the impeller has GERMANY stamped on it and the little circular date code like on all the other BMW parts. I was kinda shocked honestly. Unfortunately it was $80, but when i get my warranted Saleri pump back from FCP, i may put that one in the Napa Box and return it

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2005 X5 3.0i - 71k mi (9.2018) -> 81k (9.2019) -> 100k (9.2021) -> 123k (8.2025)
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SOLD : 2003 X5 3.0 - 177k mi (9.2018) -> 186k (9.2019) -> 205k (9.2021)
SOLD : 1997 328is Coupe - Hellrot Red
SOLD : 1988 528e w/ Bullseye s256 / MS2 Extra / GC Coilovers / Yukon Coils ~ 300+ HP