Coolant System/Radiator Issues
 

I just recently purchased a 2002 4.6 with 89k on it. It's been leaking coolant slowly, so I took it to an indy. This is what he said needed to be replaced, and his prices. Do you think this is fair, or should I look elsewere? It seems high to me. Is there any chance of repairing the leaks, instead of spending almost $2,000 to replace everything? I'm not very mechanically inclined, but can do minor/moderate repairs...

Quote:
Replace Leaking Water Pump, Valley Pan, Reseal The Intake:
Labor=$748 Parts=$551 Total=$1,299
Replace Leaking Radiator:
Labor=$200 Parts=$453 Total=$653
Grand Total:
Labor=$948 Parts=$1,002 for a Grand Total of $1,952!!!!

Parts:
# of Hours
2.0 -----------Premixed Antifreeze $19.90
1.0 -----------11 51 0 393 336 Water Pump $192.79
1.0 -----------11 14 1 742 042 Valley Pan Gasket $99.93
1.0 -----------11 61 7 508 541 Intake Mani Cover $109.67
1.0 -----------11 61 1 729 728 Intake Mani Gasket $9.98
1.0 -----------11 61 1 729 727 Intake Mani Gasket $9.98
4.0 -----------11 61 1 433 328 Intake Mani Gasket $109.48
1.0 -----------17 10 1 439 101 Radiator $433.95
2.0 -----------Premixed Antifreeze $19.90

Well if the valley pan gasket is leaking it will be quite a bit of labor since the heads gotta come off. I know just for the water pump people get quoted in the $900-$1200 range or so including parts.

You should probably replace all your coolant hoses, thermostat, and belts as well. I just spent $425 on this and will be doing the job this weekend hopefully.

On a V8 the heads do not need to come off. What needs to come off is the intake manifold. I just went through the same thing with my 2001 4.4 X5. Using all BMW parts, including the following it cost me $2200 = $1000 labor and $1200 parts.

1. Waterpump (and gaskets)
2. Thermostat
3. New valley pan (updated style)
4. Intake gaskets
5. Injector gaskets
6. Upper, lower and middle radiator hoses
7. Oil change
8. 2 new O2 sensors (went OEM Bosch verses BMW - just couldn't justify the extra $125 a sensor for the BMW logo)

Not the heads, just the intake manifold. (hence the intake reseal on the estimate)

That is a big job... but you can get the radiator cheaper yourself as well as the waterpump. I got my radiator from here for half of what they quoted you... and it is a good qualith radiator. (I got it over the OEM radiator at employee cost)

I'd see if you could search down the parts at a better price and just pay their labor, you could save a couple hundred that way.

woops my bad I meant intake mani.

I take it that rad is not OE? Wonder if it is more efficient?

Could always get the Zionsville aluminum radiator. Works great on the race car! :D

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. I'll probably shop around for the parts myself, and see if I can save a little money...On the upside, I LOVE the car! Got a good deal on it (other than this issue). One owner, 89k miles, new tires (20", as you know) clean carfax, maintained with extended warranty up to 72k miles through BMW. Very clean. Doesn't look like anyone's every sat in the back seats...Got it for $17k! The indy shop looked it over and only found a couple of small issues (other than this issue).

Buy the Bentley manual so you have a step by step way to take it apart and put it back together. Digital pics will help you remember where things go too. Take it slow and things will be fine.

Where would I pick that up?

Turner motorsport sells them as do many other places. Google or search ebay for the Bentley X5 Manual and see what pops up. Sorry, I forget where I got mine (ebay I think for a new one). They are not cheap but they are phone book sized (major metropolitan area, not Yankton, South Dakota sized. :D

Seriously, it is worth every penny. I have one for each of my three BMWs (e36, e46, e53).

Ok, cool...I appreciate the help...Would one portion of the repair be easier for me to do, such as swapping out the radiator, and then letting the indy do the other stuff??

Once you have the radiator out, the water pump should be easily accessable (though I've never done it on an X5, just e30/e36/e34/e46.

I've never had to do the valley pan gasket (knocking on wood as I type) so I don't know how hard it is. I'm sure others will chime in.

What about the electronic version of what you're talking about. It's called a BMW X5 Series E53 Factory Repair Service Manual 1999-07. Check this out on eBay for $9.99: BMW X5 Series E53 Factory Repair Service Manual 1999-07:eBay Motors (item 150392258490 end time Dec-25-09 20:40:23 PST)

Bentley Publishers Home *-* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books

I prefer the TIS but I'm sure this is quite nice.

OE style direct fit replacement, seems identical to the OEM one I pulled out. I've been running this one for almost a year now.

I went with it because not only was it $100 less than my cost on the OEM radiator (which was not in stock for some reason) but it was in stock at the local performance radiator outlet/warehouse. I had one of their radiators in my old ford bronco, my E36 325is, my mothers old dodge van, etc. Always had nothing but good luck with their products.

Right on - I hear nothing but mostly complaints about the OE radiator cracking. I'm sort of worried about mine since I am replacing everything else. I hope it doesn't stress it and cause it to break. I am even more worried about the valley pan gasket becoming a problem.

I don't think you need remove the radiator to reach the water pump on the X5 - just the fan clutch, belts, h20 pulley, lower & upper rad houses. Sure it would allow for more room but I think it's already pretty spacious in there.

You can do this job yourself. It helps to have another person for some of the steps, including getting the belt on and off if you're gonna change the water pump and thermostat. I had the valley pan leaking. My pics are still located here:
The BMW Diaries

All those things you listed can be done fairly easy yourself. But... I refuse to have someone touch my cars and find mechanical work easy.

Correct, and none of those cars he listed require radiator removal either :confused:

He's sticking it too you on the radiator repair. The dealership and a local indie shop tried to hit me with $450+ for the part and 2.4 hours labor. For the dealership the total cost was almost $800 and for the indie it was $620.

I called a reputable radiator shop and they are doing the repair for $359 parts and labor. The radiator carries a 3 year warranty instead of the 1 year OEM warranty.

I got my radiator from performanceradiator.com for $100 cheaper than my cost at the dealer. Good quality product with warranty and all. Worth a look.

**edit** just realized I already linked this earlier :D)

Honestly with the mileage that you have I STRONGLY recommend replacing the whole cooling system (minus the heater core) which you are close to doing anyway.

Replace radiator, all hoses, Tstat, waterpump and expansion tank.

These pieces all are weak at 100k and any one of them, including all 18 hoses, can quickly leave you stranded in the middle of no where...Trust me, it has happened to me.