In process of buying a 2012 X5 xDrive35i: oil/coolant issues

[n64456]

The oil cooler is a heat exchanger cooled by the engine coolant. A badly leaking oil cooler gasket will let pressurized oil seep into the coolant stream; so I'd do a complete coolant flush and refill while changing the oil cooler/housing gaskets. That should resolve the fluid mixing issue. I think the indy was correct to not be terribly concerned with that problem. Replacing those gaskets should cure that issue

[youry]

Is it possible the oil in the cooling system put extra stress on the water pump and all cooling parts that were designed to handle liquid with a much lower viscosity?
On the other hand, why not ask the dealer to fix the problem, as part of the deal? At least that's what I'd do.

[London Lad]

The odds are the car needs a head gasket and may have other issues as a result. Why bother? BMW made hundreds of thousands of x5s

[youry]

Originally Posted by London Lad

The odds are the car needs a head gasket and may have other issues as a result. Why bother? BMW made hundreds of thousands of x5s

I remember back in time when I was fixing my own cars, oil in the coolant line meant a blown head gasket. It was a real pain to change it.

[json]

Thank you all for your opinions. I understand fluids mixing can be a very bad sign, but it is clear that the oil cooler gasket is leaking, causing oil and coolant to mix. This doesn't mean its the one and only problem, but certainly possible.

Anyways, after more investigation, it appears the original owner purchased an extended warranty AND maintenance plan thats good until Aug 2016 and appears it can all transfer to a new owner.

[London Lad]

I just can't work out your logic. There arehundreds of thousands of X5 to choose from, why buy a broken one that's got oil in the water and much more importantly water in the oil which may lead to numerous other serious problems in the future ?

[youry]

Originally Posted by London Lad

I just can't work out your logic. There arehundreds of thousands of X5 to choose from, why buy a broken one that's got oil in the water and much more importantly water in the oil which may lead to numerous other serious problems in the future ?

Maybe the price is right. Maybe the car has the right color combination in and out. Maybe the car has the desired packages. So many reasons.

[London Lad]

Originally Posted by youry

Maybe the price is right. Maybe the car has the right color combination in and out. Maybe the car has the desired packages. So many reasons.

And maybe the big ends and mains have been scored running on water in the oil and it will need a new engine or a full rebuild?

I think BMW have made well over a million x5s and about 35% are in the USA. There is plenty of choice of colour and spec without buying one with water in the oil. But hey, its his money.

[RIHI]

You can look at the glass half empty or half full. If the price is right, and it turns out to be nothing more than the gasket, then you walked away with a very good deal. If the price is still right with a head gasket replacement, then you walk away with a good deal.