AGA coolant pipe job. Oh boy...

[four.8is]

06 4.8is...Mysterious coolant disappearing over night with no trace in the morning. I knew it has to be this coolant pipe. Had my mechanic take off intake and pressure test the system; sure enough, coolant coming out of the top plate covering the pipe. Didn't want to do a half job with just the plate and went ahead and ordered the AGA kit (ouch) and should have this done over the weekend.

I knew that having a perfectly reliable X5 for years on end is going to end one day and that day is today just as I hit 160k mark.

IMG_1816 by 60Dee, on Flickr

[FourPointEight-is]

I completed this job recently. Honestly, it wasn't that bad except I broke those hoses that are in the front of the intake. They were brittle and just shattered as I was pulling them off. I had replacements ready though.

I think this job is far easier than replacing the brake booster / master cylinder. Getting those brake lines threaded back in was an absolute bastard.

I think I could easily do the whole thing in a day. A good set of universal socket joints is the key to getting the intake manifold bolts off.

Also be sure to use a torque wrench so as not to over-tighten your replacement cap seal (valley pan cover).

I found the guide referenced in this thread to be very useful https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=525719

It's for a 645 but many of the steps are the same.

[four.8is]

Thank you, it doesn’t look too bad I agree but I chose to let my mechanic to the work while I get back to what I do best to be able to pay him lol
I like to wrench on the car here and there but if it’s going to take too long I just don’t have the time.

[PropellerHead]

Looks familiar!

I had mine done as preemptive maintenance while I was doing the seals.. as preemptive maintenance on replacing the intermediate levers... as preemptive maintenance on the head gasket. That had failed.

[four.8is]

Prop, when did you do yours? I remember you having pretty low miles on your lemans.
But I guess that pipe doesn’t care about mileage; if it goes it goes...
EDIT: just saw what you wrote. Dang, head gasket?
I mean I’m doing VCG water pump and thermostat. Should I be looking into doing some more “preventive maintenance”?
I have to do the stem seals as well but over 4K Bill is hard to swallow all at once. Lol

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by four.8is

Prop, when did you do yours? I remember you having pretty low miles on your lemans.
But I guess that pipe doesn’t care about mileage; if it goes it goes...
EDIT: just saw what you wrote. Dang, head gasket?
I mean I’m doing VCG water pump and thermostat. Should I be looking into doing some more “preventive maintenance”?
I have to do the stem seals as well but over 4K Bill is hard to swallow all at once. Lol

I did have low miles.. and then we started running across the country on epic summer road trips... I'm at a respectable 124k now.

I replaced the pipe last December before our annual trip south. I was their bc of a smell of burning oil. That was the gasket.

And my buddy the mechanic says, dewd.. the seals are right here. I'll do 'em for +$2k. DONE! says I. Yeah, that's another $2k, but the way I figured it, I would never find someone to do the seals for $2k. Not someone I've known for 20 yrs.

And that's sorta what started the maintenance avalanche.

"If you take a wear item off, put a new one back on. Hoses, belts, pulleys, sensors, whatever. Start fresh."

And then, hey. We're right here at the valley pan.... Dooo eeet!

And then, hey. Your cams are way pricey, but they will be trouble and we'll have to come back when they fail.... Doooo eeeet!

I had a # in my head. It was not more than I would pay for a 112k mile E53 (those miles in 2017). But it was too late. The work had been done. When you add my new transmission last year, I'd be on the way to an E70M.

But this one is mine. I wanted it when I saw it at a Spartanburg delivery in 2006. It would take years, but I got one. And for better or worse, though she drains my purse, we move along. With first and last driver's SAV.

[four.8is]

Wow, and now it’ll be especially hard to part with it ...if you ever, that is...I’m gonna take it slow. Cuz if I hear big numbers I swear I’m looking for another car. But another car comes with another problem...either now or later.
And I don’t wanna sell the X cuz it was a 1 owner car, full maintenance records since new yadayada....
Couldn’t tell you how many times I told my wife I’m selling it, but next day comes around and I change my mind.
And when I check the market and I realize there’s really not many around...I get this fuzzy feeling that ahhhh I’ve got something a bit special, old...but special nonetheless.