3.0i coolent leak help please!

[bf15]

Hey guys we just bought a 2007 e70 with the 3.0 in it. Ive been trying to find a coolent leak. i broke a plastic y in my vent tube in the process, and replaced that today and refilled, and put a new cap on the expansion tank.

well anyways, i tried following the directions i saw online for bleeding the coolant, but i cant find any specific to the engine in my car, and they all referenced a bleed screw. I cant find this on the reservoir, or near any of the radiator lines. This being the case, am i supposed to just the radiator cap off to bleed the coolant?

Anyways i went through the bleed procedure a few times leaving the cap on, and then took it for a test drive. when i got back home, there was a leak spry from the side of the expansion tank.

Im guessing either i did the bleed procedure wrong, or.... when i put the new cap and vent line on, this made it better able to hold pressure and exposed the small crack where it had already been leaking all along.

Thoughts? tips?

[bf15]

also my first round when i tried the bleed procedure i had the cap off because i was wanting to make sure water was circulating in the tank. And it was circulating through it. Would this mean that both my waterpump and thermostat are fine?

after this first round i put the cap back on and ran it a couple more times because most post i saw for this procedure on a e70 said to leave the cap on during this process.

[AlphaBetaX5]

Welcome to X!


This is your X5 venting procedure:


17 00 039 Venting cooling system (N52/ N52K/ N51/ N53)


Venting cooling system:
Note: Do not open the coolant expansion tank cap during the venting procedure.


1-Connect battery charger.
2-Switch on ignition.
3-Set heater to maximum temperature and turn fan down to lowest speed.
4-Press accelerator pedal for 10 seconds to floor. Engine must not be started.
5-The venting procedure is started when the accelerator pedal is pressed and takes approx. 12 minutes.(Electric coolant pump was activated and shuts down automatically after approx. 12 minutes).
6-Then top up fill level in coolant expansion tank with 100 ml above max. (Approximately 6 mm above the max level )

Check cooling system for leaks.

If venting has to be carried out again (e.g. if cooling system is leaking), allow DME to fall completely (leave ignition key removed for approx. 3 minutes), then repeat the venting procedure.



Only when venting!
Perform filling operation slowly.
Fill coolant expansion tank with 100 ml above max.



From newTIS.info


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[AlphaBetaX5]

Originally Posted by bf15

it was circulating through it. Would this mean that both my waterpump and thermostat are fine?.

Yes, and no!

Yes your Electric Coolant Pump is working. But that does not necessarily mean it is “fine“.


Here is how to test them:
Unlock your OBD menu.
Go to menu #7 to see engine coolant temperature.
Bring engine temperature to 100-105C
Allow engine to idle for 3-5 minuets
Once temperature reaches 108-110C, the thermostat will open, directing coolant to the radiator. E-fan will step in. And engine temperature will drop.
This happens in 2-3 minuets.
Engine temperature drops to below 100C.

Only then you can safely conclude that your thermostat and ECP are “fine”.


Note1: the given times are for a warm climate like Southern California. It may vary in your area.


Note2: Crack in expansion tank is a known issue. Replace it quickly.
Use approved coolant. It doesn’t have to be BMW. But it can worth your engine!
Find leaks and cure them before you get “engine overheated” message on your display.


Good luck





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[bf15]

Originally Posted by AlphaBetaX5

Yes, and no!

Yes your Electric Coolant Pump is working. But that does not necessarily mean it is “fine“.


Here is how to test them:
Unlock your OBD menu.
Go to menu #7 to see engine coolant temperature.
Bring engine temperature to 100-105C
Allow engine to idle for 3-5 minuets
Once temperature reaches 108-110C, the thermostat will open, directing coolant to the radiator. E-fan will step in. And engine temperature will drop.
This happens in 2-3 minuets.
Engine temperature drops to below 100C.

Only then you can safely conclude that your thermostat and ECP are “fine”.


Note1: the given times are for a warm climate like Southern California. It may vary in your area.


Note2: Crack in expansion tank is a known issue. Replace it quickly.
Use approved coolant. It doesn’t have to be BMW. But it can worth your engine!
Find leaks and cure them before you get “engine overheated” message on your display.


Good luck





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thanks for the help, i'll have to search for a doc on accessing the hidden menu. Unfortunately there are no parts stores around with the expansion tank, and there are no dealers open in NC. so i guess on these, does it just vent through the cap?

i pulled the expansion tank out, that was a pain. Its a shame that the one connector for the bottom hose is not reversed. it makes getting to the clip for it a real, pain.

[bf15]

one more quick question.

on these cars if the water pump is bad, would that result in coolant loss? I know most american cars i've had ahad holes in them that when bad you would see fluid leaks. I'm new to the bmw platform, with getting my 335i e93 earlier this year, and we liked it so much that we got this x5 for wife family.


or would the coolant loss come from it being bad causing an overheat with the fluid coming out around the cap?

[AlphaBetaX5]

You need a code to unlock your menu.
How to get the code: add up your last seven digit of your vin#.
For example:
Vin: xxxxxxxxx123456
Code= 1+2+3+4+5+6=21

Press the knob 19 times.
Then press it once
Then press it 21 times (your code).

Then go to #7 for temperature.



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[AlphaBetaX5]

Get the expansion tank online from FCP euro, pelican Parts, or ecstunning,
Ir even Amazon and eBay.


Enter your vin on realoem.com for a diagram of your cooling system.


If you see trace of coolant on your tank around the cap, your cap is faulty. New tank and cap will fix it.

If the coolant was circulating when you did venting, your waterpump is working. So fix the tank asap.


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[bf15]

Originally Posted by AlphaBetaX5

You need a code to unlock your menu.
How to get the code: add up your last seven digit of your vin#.
For example:
Vin: xxxxxxxxx123456
Code= 1+2+3+4+5+6=21

Press the knob 19 times.
Then press it once
Then press it 21 times (your code).

Then go to #7 for temperature.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

is this the i drive knob, or is this the trip button?

[bf15]

so i youtubed it, once its unlocked, does it stay unlocked, or do you have to unlock each time you do it?