Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #10001  
Old 12-19-2018, 01:08 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 11,435
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Replaced wife's coolant reservoir. A couple weeks ago replaced her thermostat when the car wouldn't maintain 90c core temp.

A week later I checked the level and it was a little low I figured I just didn't top off completely after three job, but a couple days ago I noticed low cabin heat then the next day wife texts me a picture of the temp idiot needle on red.

I had her pull over and meet her with a couple gallons of distilled water, pour in about 2/3 gallon before I get it topped off but the engine is still quite warm so it manages to boil some of the water and I get some bubbles, I put the cap on and drive in circles to get some cooling through the radiator and park and check things out.

I hear a very odd sound, like a rattle I can't figure out until I notice it also sounds like water boiling and then I noticed the side of the coolant reservoir is peeing a pretty healthy stream out the corner not even at a seam.

Local parts place had a knock off for $77 including the thermostat which self destructs on disassembly. I used the same on my truck a year ago and it's still going. I had no problem installing mine but wife's would not fit over the o-ring: something was out of tolerance but enough pushing and pulling I got the thing on and it is working, wife reported getting cabin heat in a short time this am. Have to check when cool to get the level correct and hope no other leaks.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #10002  
Old 12-19-2018, 01:44 PM
Overboost's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 3,281
Overboost is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
Replaced wife's coolant reservoir. A couple weeks ago replaced her thermostat when the car wouldn't maintain 90c core temp.

A week later I checked the level and it was a little low I figured I just didn't top off completely after three job, but a couple days ago I noticed low cabin heat then the next day wife texts me a picture of the temp idiot needle on red.

I had her pull over and meet her with a couple gallons of distilled water, pour in about 2/3 gallon before I get it topped off but the engine is still quite warm so it manages to boil some of the water and I get some bubbles, I put the cap on and drive in circles to get some cooling through the radiator and park and check things out.

I hear a very odd sound, like a rattle I can't figure out until I notice it also sounds like water boiling and then I noticed the side of the coolant reservoir is peeing a pretty healthy stream out the corner not even at a seam.

Local parts place had a knock off for $77 including the thermostat which self destructs on disassembly. I used the same on my truck a year ago and it's still going. I had no problem installing mine but wife's would not fit over the o-ring: something was out of tolerance but enough pushing and pulling I got the thing on and it is working, wife reported getting cabin heat in a short time this am. Have to check when cool to get the level correct and hope no other leaks.
Yep, I just did the Dorman kit myself because of the trip the next day and had to have it NOW. (I read your thread when you did yours) Mine fit fine on the bottom but I struggled to get the clip to seat on the upper hose expansion tank fitting. It just would not seat. I ended up "deburring" the clip slot on the expansion tank and it finally seated. Took it out for a 1095 mile test drive and everything was fine.
Reply With Quote
  #10003  
Old 12-19-2018, 05:18 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 11,435
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Three top was also a tight fit but by removing the clip I was able to use a small screw driver through the clip slot to pry the fitting over the very tight o-ring

On the bottom the bigger fitting did not have the captive o-ring so I removed the o-ring and put on the car side and it worked out better.

I almost started filling the coolant before I realized the middle hose wasn't actually snapped on talk about dodging a bullet!
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #10004  
Old 12-20-2018, 10:02 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 527
snik is on a distinguished road
Well poop. I've been away for a month. Got the tranny sorted just before I left and took off. Wife tells me on Tuesday the "coolant low" message popped up.
She couldn't get the cap open, someone passing by helped her get it open and it was really low. I guess it took a lot. She says there's no sign of coolant or leaks of any kind on the ground or anywhere in the engine bay.

I'll have to check my receipts, but I'm pretty sure the valley pan tube has been replaced with an expandable one.
I'm really hoping it's not the cap at the back of the motor, but I think that one would leave stuff on the floor wouldn't it?
Anyway, gotta go investigate this shit when I get home.
It's always something with this damn thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Black on cream 04 4.8iS
Black on black 330i ZHP auto
Imola on black 01 M3
Reply With Quote
  #10005  
Old 12-20-2018, 10:14 AM
Overboost's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 3,281
Overboost is on a distinguished road
Remember, we have different engines and expansion tanks so YMMV. When my low coolant warning came on, I didn't see any coolant leak either. Spent an hour under there looking at everything. Once I filled up the tank and ran it again, found the crack in the expansion tank pissing coolant.

My coolant level had dropped below the hairline crack in my tank so no visible leak when it was low. Have her look around now that the system is full and engine warmed up.
Reply With Quote
  #10006  
Old 12-20-2018, 10:32 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 527
snik is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overboost View Post
Remember, we have different engines and expansion tanks so YMMV. When my low coolant warning came on, I didn't see any coolant leak either. Spent an hour under there looking at everything. Once I filled up the tank and ran it again, found the crack in the expansion tank pissing coolant.



My coolant level had dropped below the hairline crack in my tank so no visible leak when it was low. Have her look around now that the system is full and engine warmed up.


That's great news.
Just went and looked at the records on my phone. Entire cooling system done at 88k.
WP and coolant pipe were done again at 110k. Now at 138k I think.
I really hope it is the expansion tank.
I also just ordered two 1.4 bar radiator caps and a pressure test kit too. Hopefully I can find the issue when I get home, I hope it is as simple as yours was. Expansion tank is often neglected when changed. Especially with like the N62 where it's away from the engine and radiator and not subject to crazy heat like the inline 6 cars.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Black on cream 04 4.8iS
Black on black 330i ZHP auto
Imola on black 01 M3
Reply With Quote
  #10007  
Old 12-20-2018, 01:26 PM
burninator's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 120
burninator is on a distinguished road
The expansion tank in my 4.8iS failed the day I bought it (at 135k). The seam where the top and bottom halves of the tank meet was leaking near one of the corners.
__________________
2003 X5 4.6iS S/C | 2006 X5 4.8iS | 2009 M5 | 2000 Range Rover S/C
Reply With Quote
  #10008  
Old 12-20-2018, 01:29 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 527
snik is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by burninator View Post
The expansion tank in my 4.8iS failed the day I bought it (at 135k). The seam where the top and bottom halves of the tank meet was leaking near one of the corners.


You guys don't know how much I'm hoping for and looking fwd to a busted expansion tank. lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Black on cream 04 4.8iS
Black on black 330i ZHP auto
Imola on black 01 M3
Reply With Quote
  #10009  
Old 12-21-2018, 12:26 AM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 11,435
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
What did you do to / for your E53 today??

When the expansion tank fails it will typically have a hairline crack you often can't even see, the coolant leaks so slow you won't get drips because it will evaporate. Eventually you get low coolant message or weak cabin heat output.

The danger is that the idiot non gauge will be in the danger zone very quickly if you have a rapid release of your coolant!

When wife's blew recently she texted me a picture of pinned high temp (I had her take a reading of the temp and it was 260!). Fortunately the oil temp was a far more modest 217 so I'm sure ECT sensor was dry allowing it to spike but no warning at all because of the moronic non gauge.

The day after I replaced wife's, helped a fellow xoutpost member via text tried his on a 4.4: the new one did not come with a level sender so he had to move the old one over: problem was the new tank had only one bayonet hole and the old sender has or I did say HAD two bayonet ears. He cut off one ear and it worked. Knock off part because only local option of course.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #10010  
Old 12-21-2018, 09:27 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,755
SlickGT1 is on a distinguished road
E30 1.4bar cap boys. Give the coolant system a break with that 2.0 bar bullshit they install from the factory. 30k miles and like 6 years on mine.
__________________
2006 4.8is, Black on White. SOLD Sniff Sniff.

2017 F85 x5m, Black on Red. BEAST MODE


"The older we grow the greater becomes our wonder at how much ignorance one can contain without bursting one's clothes." - Mark Twain

Unlock OBC post 5
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:41 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.