Cracked Radiator: How and how $???

[ike301]

How does this happen? I thought it might of been a coolant tube, but it only leaks every two or three days.

Is it from a bump in the road or time? (2001 model).

I got a quote for like $700 with BMW parts. Is that about right?

[jst2878]

overtime. i would check around and for that price you could get an all aluminum. ECS tuning will have a price to compare to

[ike301]

in the meantime, is it ok to just fill with water or should i be doing the coolant 50/50 mix

[m5james]

Considering your climate, you can get away with doing just water. Please don't drag it on for so long that you end up only running water as it has no properties to stop any potential rusting. For example, I run distilled water and Water Wetter in my bike since it stays in a heated garage and doesn't get run during the winter season. NO TAP WATER, only use distilled water, it's a measily $1 for a gallon. As for repairs, you might not want to hear this, but piece mealing the M62 cooling system is a no no. Be prepared, literally, to replace everything...radiator, thermostat, waterpump, expansion tank, valley pan gasket, hoses, BMW/Zerex G02 coolant, distilled water.

On top of owning two BMW's with M62 engines, I've worked on and been involved with COUNTLESS people who tried to essentially halfass repair the cooling system on these engines. It doesn't work, because as you replace one new item within the system, it just puts more pressure on the older remaining parts, so when they break, you'll be back on the side of the road doing it all over again. Also, bleeding the cooling system on this engine is critical, so even what you're attempting to do now with just topping off and continuing to drive the car is the epitome of a bandaid fix. If you need this vehicle, you need to replace these items asap before it snowballs into more. This may sound like scare tactics, but I've seen more than most poeple as to what can happen when people take the shortcuts.

[meltdown325]

I replaced part of my cooling sys (radiator and water pump) and blew a hose a few days later sitting at a stoplight. After that I just replaced everything, including all hoses (approx 10), and have been good ever since.

I got my radiator from radiatorbarn.com and it has survived 15,000 miles in Texas heat without problems. They have the 4.4 radiator for about $150 w/ Free Shipping.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by m5james

Considering your climate, you can get away with doing just water. NO TAP WATER, only use distilled water, it's a measily $1 for a gallon. As for repairs, you might not want to hear this, but piece mealing the M62 cooling system is a no no. Be prepared, literally, to replace everything...radiator, thermostat, waterpump, expansion tank, valley pan gasket, hoses, BMW/Zerex G02 coolant, distilled water.

On top of owning two BMW's with M62 engines, I've worked on and been involved with COUNTLESS people who tried to essentially halfass repair the cooling system on these engines. It doesn't work, because as you replace one new item within the system, it just puts more pressure on the older remaining parts, so when they break, you'll be back on the side of the road doing it all over again. Also, bleeding the cooling system on this engine is critical, so even what you're attempting to do now with just topping off and continuing to drive the car is the epitome of a bandaid fix. If you need this vehicle, you need to replace these items asap before it snowballs into more. This may sound like scaretactics, but I've seen more than most poeple as to what can happen when people take the shortcuts.

+1,000,000. Do not skimp on this repair. As stated above, do it right the first time around or pay much more later.

[ike301]

anyone got a good local referral - san francisco bay area

[Roadkill]

swiss garage in larkspur. master bmw tech on duty. that's where all my work is done.

[c4racer]

I agree with the comments on the cooling system, but do you really think the valley pan gasket needs to be replaced if it has not failed? It isn't really a redundant repair from a work standpoint other than the need to drain the coolant.

My expansion tank and water pump were replaced by BMW under CPO but that was 20K miles ago. I need to do the rest over the winter when I get some time. I was planning to replace the hoses, thermostat and radiator. No sign that the valley pan gasket is failing. Not sure if there is any difference in that in a 4.6 Alpina built motor in terms of how it was assembled.

[Werewolf]

You can pressure test the coolant system. My money is on the expansion tank / upper hose