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Originally Posted by WagnerX5
Well hell, there are a ton of things it could be....the cap is the easiest fix which is always the best way to start. I've never seen a head gasket issue blow a radiator cap out, but then again I've seen head gaskets go on almost every other manf. aside from BMW.
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No arm wrestle here, but my response was likely a result of growing up under the wing of my father, an old-school mechanic with his own shop. He didn't hold much with parts replacers, as he termed them; he taught us failure analysis, and to look for the root cause. If I was stuck, and suspected the rad cap, yes I would replace it. But in this case, I would wonder why a newly acquired vehicle would suddenly fail a rad cap. It would have been a cheap fix for the selling dealer, if the problem was known. On the other hand, needing a head gasket ($$$) is the type of reason some people trade in vehicles, and sometimes without full disclosure. Put a higher pressure cap on there, and see if it makes it off the lot. The head gasket failure would pressurize the cooling system, causing the relief pressure on the cap to be reached. Mount Vesuvius then erupts out the cap. All of this is just a hypothesis.
I would hope that the dealer is going to pressure test the cap, pressure test the system, and look for any bubbles in the cooling system with the engine at operating temperature. Thermostat is also a potential cause.
Just my $0.02.
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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White
Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
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