Dilemma dilemma dilemma....
 

So I have a 04 4.4i and it runs great, shifts smooth and love driving the car. It has 206K and car does not smoke, but there is major issues (for me at least) The valley pan gasket is toast and it leaking coolant. It's a $2200.00 fix from an Indy shop. That seems a lot for an old car.

Would you take the hit? or would you let her go and move on. I don't know what else is going to go next. BUT I love driving the car. It's not too big and it has plenty of power for me. Ahhhhhh! decisions decisions..

Or is there anyone here in the PNW that can do this repair at a fraction? :)

Pretend that you are going to move on and see what that looks like, what are you going to get for yours and what are you going to replace it with?? That might help with some decisions ;)

Ouch. Labor costs of 10 hours is a lot. I stayed away from V8's due to timing guides and coolant leaks. After working on the I6, for an extremely good condition X5 V8, I would do the repairs myself.

You could try a quick fix.

Interesting! But the leak seems to be coming from the back of the engine.

Thanks

I was thinking e70 35i. How are those cars? I'm sure the I6 turbo is much better than the V8? I haven't really read much on them yet.

I have a guibo disk repair to be done. I've done it before myself ten years ago. Going to try completing the job in my garage this weekend. I feel the same about my BMW. That's $1500 I'll keep in my pocket. Wish me luck!

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These cars are frequently $1500-$2000 per year some years less...

$2220 is about half of a what a new (modest) annual car payment would be...

I would take the hit if the car is good otherwise.

Any chance there is a vocational school nearby that trains auto techs than might take it on?

Good advice in the earlier posts :thumbup:

I have the same model and year. I get compliments on how it looks. Probably will be a classic. It has aged so much better than the Mercedes ML from the same period.

If there isn't any other major work on the horizon, go for it!

https://i.imgur.com/miZUUBn.png

They are designed to leak from the back as that is where the weep hole is. Could be the valley pan or either of the cooling tubes. The pipes fit into the manifold in the back, and the water pump in front with o-rings.

Regardless, the job is the same for these leaks and if it comes apart for a valley pan, the pipes should get done too, or vice versa. It’s definitely A DYI job, with proper preparation and tools. The problem with having it done is there are several other things to do while “you are in there” that will add more money to the cost, but are foolish to not have the shop do while they have the car apart.

Lots of good write ups on the valley pan and coolant pipe jobs.

The video is interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jab7kv4-EeQ&t=225s

HMMM, my next X5 might be a V8. :bmw:

Good commentary to fix the coolant pipe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0a8SDa5BeA

Pipe replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15ANbAtrKA