Help needed - E53 3.0i cooling system pressure test

[oldskewel]

Sorry, dumb questions here. If I had the car in front of me I would not need to ask, but I'm trying to help my daughter from 200 miles away.

2001 X5 3.0i

It seems to be leaking coolant from somewhere. I'd like to pressure test it. How exactly does the pressure tester attach to these cars? I've done test on many other cars, so I know how it works, I just don't know what these BMW engineer geniuses did with the radiator cap. Is there one? Where is it (I told you these were dumb questions, but I will apologize again)? Will a standard cooling system pressure tester fit and work as it normally does?

Since I'll be telling my daughter what to do remotely, guesses or close-enough won't work. So please only respond regarding the 3.0, not the V8.

From a quick search on here (difficult with slow internet), it seems the entire cooling system on these cars may have been designed by the same guys that did the window regulators. No problem, I can fix anything, I just need some information. Thanks in advance.

[crystalworks]

Pressure testing is done with a cap that screws in to the expansion tank in place of the OE cap. I'm sorry I don't remember what PSI the system should hold to verify functionality, but I'm sure someone will chime in with that.

Edit: Something like this kit was what we used at the shop.

http://www.sears.com/astro-pneumatic...SPM10526919919

[Ven]

about 15 PSI should be good test.

[Joshdub]

The coolant res cap is circled in green.

[oldskewel]

Thanks for the quick help.

First, on pressure, we're pretty sure there is a leak, so will not need to pressurize it too much to isolate it. 1 psi may well be enough.

The pressure testing kit is designed to attach the same way a radiator cap does (the standard type). My recollection is that the coolant reservoir cap there in Joshdub's photo is plastic, screws off, and is not at all like a radiator cap. So that will not help with the standard kit. May need to rig something up. This is so frustrating because I know I could do it in seconds if it were in front of me, but I am working through a flaky interweb connection and doing it remotely, and just going off my daughter's description.

Can anyone confirm if/where a traditional radiator cap exists on this car. It sounds like there is not one, right? We'll need to MacGuyver something to get the standard (PepBoys, Autozone, O'Reilly's all nearby, but I expect they're all standard types, not for this 2-bar plastic expansion tank cap) type to fit.

Update - the existence of this product:
Stant® 12030 - BMW X5 2001 Cooling System Tester Adapter
... seems to suggest something will need to be rigged to the 2-bar plastic expansion tank cap. Right?

[crystalworks]

Stant® 12030 - BMW X5 2001 Cooling System Tester Adapter
... seems to suggest something will need to be rigged to the 2-bar plastic expansion tank cap. Right?

Yep, or buy a pressure tester cap/kit designed for European expansion tanks with no need to adapt. That's what I linked as an entire kit. Not sure what you will be able to find locally though at a standard "China Zone" type retailer.

[jfoj]

I think this kit will work with the BMW tank?

Radiator Pressure Tester Kit

[upallnight]

I have one of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7099-PROFESS...524908&vxp=mtr

You will still need a pump, but since I have several watercooled cars I have a nice pump. I would buy a quality tool instead of some WING WAng tools from Harbor Fright.

[cn90]

One on hand you want to help your daughter.

On the other hand, the consequence is severe (blown head gasket).
Best is for you to come over there or tow it to a trusted indy.

[jfoj]

Upallnight,

Not sure why you have to bust on anyone that does not always buy name brand items. I fully understand and agree on engine sensors, even many "name brand" sensor can and are Asian counterfeits. You have to be very careful where you purchase sensors from to try and avoid counterfeits.

But as far as tools and other items, it boils down to how often you may actually use the tool or item as to what level of quality and durability is really needed. Many of the Harbor Freight and Asian built tools are fine for the DIY'er and even some hold up to pro use as well.

I cannot vouch for the Harbor Freight radiator pressure tester, but in general it looks to be pretty decent quality and the price is not overly cheap for what it includes, it is not a bad deal, but it is not $29.99 either. I would bet it is a decent tool, suggest for anyone that is interested to read the reviews and physically inspect the unit before they purchase it.

As for the other kit that crystalworks linked, this is a pretty nice kit, I have the exact same kit. I can tell you this much that there are even counterfeits or copies of the Astro Pneumatic kit available by different manufacturers. I originally ended up purchasing a PMD Products kit that looks the same and the Astro Pneumatic kit from Amazon for about 1/2 what the Astro Pneumatic product sold for. I receive the PMD Products kit, opened and inspected it and immediately returned it. It looked like the Astro Pneumatic kit, but the quality was by no means close at all.

I will say the Astro Pneumatic kit is a pretty decent kit and a good value and reasonable quality.

DO NOT buy PMD products as they are very cheap and lower quality items that are often copies of other products available on the market.

I ordered the Astro Pneumatic kit and even ordered the 2 additional radiator adapters that the kit did not include and have a very comprehensive kit that does a very good job and is of very reasonable quality for the amount I use it. I also have an older Stant tester that was the defacto standard US tool for many years, but has since been left way behind due to all the newer design expansion tanks and radiators. I could purchase many adapters for the Stant unit, but it is not cost effective for the amount that I might use it.

Until you have personal experience on a specific product, I am not sure how you can continually condemn something you have never purchased or used.

It's one thing to caution someone on a products quality due to not being a known name brand item or its place of origin, its another thing to basically insinuate that anything manufactured in Asia or purchased from Harbor Freight is garbage, some items can be, some items are not. I shop at Harbor Freight from time to time and I steer away from questionable items unless I view the cost/benefit/usage worth the lower price.

I have a friend that loves the cheap Harbor Freight Circular Saws and Cut Off saws. He cuts a lot of stone and other things that can be very abrasive and as he found even the name brand items do not hold up to the abrasive dust very well, so why pay for a name brand item that will be consumed and be worn out in a short period of time when the cheaper Harbor Freight items last just as long in the adverse conditions. He knows he will dispose of the saws in a short period of time, it all came down to economics for him.