Solution to broken coolant return line
 

Just found that my 2nd replacement coolant overflow line grew brittle and disintegrated. You'd think BMW would figure out how to make this out of a material that's up to the job and BMW's reputation? Fed up with the OEM parts turning to dust, I came up with a simple replacement. Just went to the hardware store and bough some copper tubing. Used the existing rubber ends to secure it with hose clamps, and voila!, Problem solved! No more broken lines and leaking coolant!

Good idea! That piece has failed on me twice.

your coolant color is green? the OE is blue.

Genius!

9 years and over 150 k miles on the OE tube here with no issues except for having to replace the waterpump, expansion tank and upper radiator hose. Using BMW coolant and distilled water, replacing every 2 years.
If you're using non-approved coolant and/or tapwater, you could be causing the issue. Don't believe Danica P, when you Peak, you lose!

I am sorry, that looks terrible to me.
It should work, but dang, its ugly.

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Ugly tupe works great...beauty shit break :nanana:

And you one of those guys who need rocket scientist to change the headlights bulbs too?:rofl:

not just cosmetic point of view, it does not seem to be a good idea. I would worry about sort of chemical reaction between the Cu tube and the coolant solution(acid).

No Garage Queen here!
 

Guys, my X5 isn't some wannabe pimp ride, its my daily driver, and is well used for its intended purposes. Its got 184K on it, is parked outside, and the headlights are sandblasted opaque from normal use. It pulls a 20 ft. race car trailer, and hauls a crapload of band gear. I could give a crap what the overflow hose looks like, as long as it WORKS and doesn't disintegrate when I use NORMAL anti-freeze in it (that works with EVERY OTHER auto manufacturer's aluminum engines and cooling systems). I also don't care if there's some chemical reaction, as if there is, its likely better than the OEM part which DISINTEGRATES with predictability when used as designed! Did you notice that the cam cover paint is flaking off the heads from its many temp cycles?

:thumbup: Same here with my X5 ..200k miles on the clock and NEVER been wax and parked out side,my X5 is at Home depot and Lowe's parking lot all the time, hauls a crap load of cements, dirt,woods,dry walls etc..

No guarantee it "works great". When a vehicle manufacturer (like BMW)has a fluid (like antifreeze) formulated for a vehicle. The fluid manufacturer is given a list of materials the fluid will come in contact with, and therefore is required to NOT interact with or degrade. Throwing non-BMW-approved materials at the problem is hardly "I came up with a better solution to the problem" post worthy. FWIW, whenever I shop for a vehicle and see things such as this, I run! If I can see "shoemaker" repairs on inexpensive items first glance, I wonder, what other hokey repairs have been done on the vehicle?

I had to do the same fix recently after leaning on and breaking the plastic tube on a weekend with no options other than a length of copper heating pipe .
I later read up on possible issues with copper leaching into coolant thus contacting the alloy of the engine .
I can`t remember all the details but was convinced to buy an 8mm internal diameter rubber coolant hose and 2 alloy connecting sleeve tubes .
I noticed the copper has turned blue where it contacted coolant . The motor has only run a couple of hundred miles with the copper pipe .

I guess time will tell. I really wanted to just duct tape that tubing on, but decided on a high tech hose clamp solution! ;-)

Mrbmwx5-
No I am an ASE certified master technician.
My x has 350,000 miles

And never waxing your car isn't something to be proud of. The paint needs care occasionally too.



If you took that to a shop, they would be laughing once your back was turned.

Any potential buyer or technician would see that as a warning sign to look for other corners cut or shady repairs.

That should not be read to say that it will not work or that you have done any other shady/poor repairs. I was just commenting that it stood out and didn't look nice.
But you should flare the ends so the coolant doesn't leak past the hose clamps.

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