Cracked Radiator

[Scheckat]

Anyone else have an issue with a cracked e70 radiator? I have a 3.0 si with 39k miles and it started leaking fluid. When i brought the car in the SA said it was a cracked radiator and that it was backordered. Turns out there is currently 171 on back order... Sounds like BMW may have an issue here. Anyone else have this problem?

[watrob]

Damn, 171 on back order. That does tell you something alright, there is a problem Houston. But it's amazing though how they have enough radiators for the X5's on the assembly line but there is none available for warranty work, strange that! It's because they have made a change to the radiator and the manufacturer has had build new ones urgently to supply the assembly line and all the old stock in the warehouse has been sent back to them to be altered also.

The same thing happened to one of my early E70's which was one of a hand full of the first X5's in Australia with adaptive drive. The front electronic/hydraulic swaybar was making a clunking noise, pre-mature wearing after 4 weeks. Took over 6 weeks to get new one from Germany because they had to re-design the faulty part in inside the unit. There was like 5 of this type of X5's in Australia at the time.

At least like the swaybar you can still drive your X5, that's what they told me, keep driving and if it breaks we will give you a lone car, we have checked it and its quite safe to drive!

No recall, they just repair/replace it if you have a problem, just like the 171 radiators out thousands that may or may not leak!

Hope it gets sorted for you, did they give you a time line on the back orders?

[Scheckat]

Well I have had a loaner for a week (Toyota Camry from a rental car company since they were out of loaners) and there is currently no ETA for the radiator. My guess is they will have to start pulling them from the assembly line because that is a very large number of radiators that have failed. My X5 is a 2007 (December 2006 build) so it is very early production. I have had many issues with it, including: transimission line leak, water in taillight, issue with sunroof, need to reprogram PROGMAN 3 times, short in driver side door that caused the door open chime to never go off, etc. Problem is I really like how the X5 drives but am turning sour on the whole BMW brand. I have an Audi A8L that has had 2 issues in 50k miles and and Audi R8 which is bulletproof (and georgeous to boot!). Audi is just building better cars/trucks and their interior is superior to BMW (this coming from an owner of both and I have had the 7 series as well). This may be my last BMW...

[Scheckat]

Picked the X5 up last Friday, they installed the new radiator and no leaks! Only took 10 days to get the radiator in. I think they diverted some off of the assembly line since they needed so many.

[watrob]

I spoke to my dealers service manager the other day about the radiator leaks and the problems you mentioned in the State's with 171 on back order, anyway he said they have had not even one come back in for replacement, must be a specific lefthand drive X5 problem.

[Penguin]

BMW radiators are know to have problems. In fact, it is common enough that I believe Mike Miller, technical editor of BMW Roundel magazine, recommends replacing them at 80-100K as a preventative measure. I believe they use plastic tanks/fillers which cause problems over time.

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by Penguin

BMW radiators are know to have problems. In fact, it is common enough that I believe Mike Miller, technical editor of BMW Roundel magazine, recommends replacing them at 80-100K as a preventative measure. I believe they use plastic tanks/fillers which cause problems over time.

the hose bibs / necks typically break off. plastic, planned obsolescence.

my top hose let go in the garage one night on my E36. fortunately i wasn't on the track at the time.

[MRV99]

welcome to modern day BMW's they are made to last long enough for you to trade it in and get a new one or 100k miles...