Degrading plastic - older X5's - plastic degradation

HSV2006 · #1 10-20-2011, 07:37 PM

This thread is simply to share my experiiences with those of you with aging X5's.
I own a 2002 X5 4.4 with the sport package/suspension.
Presently have 194,000 miles.
I endured a valley pan gasket leak for a long time. Finally decided to fix it, and do other things along the way. Normally I do things myself, as much as I can, but after a recent move I let my local private shop do the work.
While going into the valley pan gasket, we also replaced the valve cover gaskets, all water hoses, and the water pump.
The ills of plastic degradation then started showing its ugly face.
First to go was the expansion tank. It developed a leak.
Replaced it.
A little while later another leak developed.
Couldn't find it at first. It did get worse.
After a few weeks, the leak was significant and easier to locate.
A broken hose.
We missed one in the replacement.
OK. Good to go!
Well... not quite.
Another leak.
The small leaks can drive you nuts.
Found it.
Degraded plastic under the upper hose connection.
So, a new radiator.
Granted, some of the plastic could possibly be repaired another way, but let's face it. Plastic only lasts so long.
Great weight saver. POOR for longevity.

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Nik · #2 10-20-2011, 08:51 PM

Better for company

PersonaNonGrata · #3 10-21-2011, 02:12 AM

I think the moral of the story is that when you get the chance and have access to change out these perishable parts on older X5s, it's wise to do so. For example, when changing the water pump you might as well change out hoses and even the coolant reservoir. It'll save some headaches and expenses in the long run.

TiAgX5 · #4 10-21-2011, 12:02 PM

FWIW, ANY car with almost 200k on it will have these issues, regardless of brand. What owners CAN do to prolong the life of these items is ONLY use BMW approved fluids or ones that meet the OEM approved specs!!! BMW provides their fluid manufacturers with a list of ALL materals used in a system that the fluid will come in contact with, along with other info such as operating temp range, the fluid manufacturer then uses their base and additives database, which has cost TENS of MILLIONS of $s in research and development to establish, to define what base and additives packages the fluid requires to properly protect the system and it's numerous materals. This is why knowledgeable people LAUGH at the claims made by fluid manufacturers such as Prestone (protects all makes, all models, all materals??? My a$$, why not say it makes a great mouthwash too!). Royal Purple Oil (nothing protects better??? Why has no independent test lab been able to reach that conclusion?????). There are many other fluid producers out there making BS claims too.

heuer21 · #5 10-22-2011, 12:48 AM

Coolant also likes to eat plastic and make it brittle. Not to mention heat cycling. Everything you mentioned was involved with coolant.
I also changed everything that you replaced. and a battery.

TiAgX5 · #6 10-22-2011, 01:09 AM

There are still some out there who hang their hats on the results of used oil analysis, such as Blackstone Labs. These reports only show what metals have been wearing during the miles from your last oil change, they DO NOT define what plastic and rubber degredation have occurred due to the use of non OEM approved fluids! IMHO, the owner who swear by the lab results of these tests, while not using OEM spec fluids are PINHEADS!

heuer21 · #7 10-22-2011, 05:09 AM

People who send there oil in to be tested are pinheads. The only people that have any reason to do that are people with built engines. The only way to get real results is to get it tested every oil change over a long period of time, that way you can compare results to see what metals are appearing...waste of money in my opinion.
OEM coolant will still eat plastic.

skeetjunkie · #8 10-22-2011, 09:10 AM

heat cycling over time is the primary culprit for plastic parts. preventative maintenance is probably the best and least expensive approach, IF you wish to keep a vehicle with over 100K for the long term. if you R/R the expansion tank, do the hoses, water pump, thermostat, belt tensioner pulleys, and take a hard look at the radiator plastic hose connection points while the patient is open.

the alternative is to fix coolant system parts as they break - spreads the $$ outlay over time, but risks engine overheating and cracked head (ask me how I know with a failed radiator on an E39 @ 93K).

TiAgX5 · #9 10-22-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heuer21

People who send there oil in to be tested are pinheads. The only people that have any reason to do that are people with built engines. The only way to get real results is to get it tested every oil change over a long period of time, that way you can compare results to see what metals are appearing...waste of money in my opinion.
OEM coolant will still eat plastic.

I agree that the plastic and rubber will degrade with the OEM coolant, my point is that the degradation will occur at a slower rate then when using an unapproved coolant.

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