Coolant Leak....
 

I have 67K on my 03' and found a small coolant leak on my garage floor this AM. I had the dealer look at it (with a pressure test/dropped 3psi over 20 minutes) and there is coolant coming out near the bell housing. He pulled the cabin air intake filter housing out and looked down the rear with a light and mirror but did not see a leak coming from the rear of the motor. He seems to think it's a rear motor coolant manifold gasket?? and will need to drop the tranny to get at it

Has anyone had this issue or any thoughts? I've combed thru all the coolant leak threads but have not found one that specifically deals with what I am being told

That coolant manifold is a pain to get to, but I would not drop the transmission to get to it. I usually remove the intake to get more room to work with, and change the intake valley pan while in there. (which could be the leak itself) It is about the same if not less in labor costs vs dropping the tranny, and the valley pan is one of those things that needs to be done usually by the 100K mark anyways.

Quote was $2200....$18 gasket and the rest all labor

I'd definitely tell them you'd prefer to go the way I described. Honestly in over 6 years working in the dealership and a couple years on this forum I've never heard of removing the transmission to do the rear coolant accumulator gaskets... Maybe it was just anew tech that didn't consult anyone before putting up the estimate.

They are now calling it a Rear Manifold Cover that is between the engine and the transmission under the flywheel....I'm waiting on the actual hard-copy estimate to be faxed over now

Anyone have any idea what this part is?...I just found it in my engine compartment, more than likely leftover from yesterday's shop visit...it's rubber

NEVERMIND...It's the Gearbox (Tranny) Mounting Ventilation Cap..they forgot to put it back on....brilliant

I'm beginning to think it is the valley pan gasket and they just see the coolant leaking down through the bell housing... I'd ask for the shop foreman to confirm the diagnosis before you approve the work done as you suspect the valley pan and/or rear coolant accumulator manifold, neither of which calls for transmission removed.

Here's a link to the rear coolant accumulator, which should be removed to do the valley pan anyways. It goes from the back of one head to the other.

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i COOLING SYSTEM PIPE

I'm going to take it to another BWM dealer (that I prefer) and have them look at it also....I'm with you, I'm leaning towards the valley pan gasket and/or the accumulator

So what happen??

mine had leak. some hose had to be replaced.