Proactively replacing cooling system - anyone doing this?

[thebluedog]

Hey guys - I was curious to find out how many X5 owners have proactively replaced their cooling systems. If you have, what did you replace and at what mileage? Costs? Or, if you haven't, do have 90k miles or more?

BMW Expert Mike Miller (from Roundel Magazine) recommends proactively replacing the cooling system on these 6 cylinder engines:
M50, M52, M54, S50, S52 (US-spec)
Lucky for us M54 owners, we made the list!
*Every 60,000 miles: water pump, thermostat, plastic thermostat housing if so equipped
*Every 90,000 miles: radiator, expansion tank, fan and fan clutch if so equipped

I've got 63k miles now was hoping to replace the complete cooling system at 90k miles or 2 yrs from today. My local Indy charges $1500 to replace everything. I just spent a large sum of money on the new belts, fluids, new axle assembly, and soon Inspection II, so I'd like to defer my costs, but don't want to risk my engine due to overheating.

Thanks!

[c4racer]

on mine the water pump and expansion tank were replaced at 85K miles or so by a BMW dealer. They checked out the whole system and the radiator and everything else checked out. A few of the hoses were also replaced. The car was also checked by a BMW dealer at 95K for a PPI and the entire cooling system checked out OK at that time as well. Car is still fine at 111K miles, but I plan to do the radiator in the next few months just in case.

[I-6]

I bought my X5 a few weeks ago and had to replace the thermostat. But with 82k miles on it, I went ahead and replaced the water pump as well.

Mike

[FSETH]

I trust Mr. Miller, but I didn't do it proactively. Funny thing though, is that I did just about all of it reactively by about 110,000 miles. Radiator, expansion tank, water pump and valley pan gasket.

[c4racer]

Originally Posted by FSETH

I trust Mr. Miller, but I didn't do it proactively. Funny thing though, is that I did just about all of it reactively by about 110,000 miles. Radiator, expansion tank, water pump and valley pan gasket.

ya funny - haha, I bet you were not laughing about any of that, eh?

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by c4racer

ya funny - haha, I bet you were not laughing about any of that, eh?

I should have said those items were replaced by 100,000 miles, so they were all covered by my extended warranty. I actually was grinning a little.

[c4racer]

oh - well that's good. Mine got the water pump and expansion tank and alternator under CPO at least.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by c4racer

oh - well that's good. Mine got the water pump and expansion tank and alternator under CPO at least.

Water pump and alternator are over $2,000 in parts and labor at a dealer combined, so you did alright there.