Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

I've got a friend with an BMW 530i 52 plate (M54 engine), 100k on the clock.

Its losing approx 2 pints of water every 100miles or so.

He's taken it to a small garage & they've told him that its definately the headgasket and quoted him a small fortune to do it, I'm a little dubious though due to lack of other signs of headgasket failure - its in excellent condition, engine runs perfect, no missing on startup, no bubbles in expansion tank, no mayo in header cap, oil is clean too and level hasnt changed, doesnt overheat, temperature is bob on, no smoke out of exhaust.

I've told him I can do it for him but I'd like to have a look at it first so I'm taking it home tonight.

I think he's got a leak somewhere....after doing a bit of research apparently they are prone for the expansion tank cracking, or the water pump seal failing. Anywhere else that is common for them leaking from.

Cheers guys

Lee

P.S. I've got a block test kit coming so that I can test the coolant too!

fordsportjay

iTrader: (6)

i would have thought you would see an external leak if its losing that much.....

BM08

I dout a 100k bmw engine would do a head gasket anyway

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

WHo the fuck is carlos?

AlexF

~Thats alot of water...

Do a sniffer test on the coolant....

If your thinking of doing the HG lee, have you got the special tools for the double VANOS?

Alex

Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

Yeh I thought so too.....looking down onto the undertray it does look wet I have to admit so I'll whip it off and have a look.

Alex....I'll probably rent them. Already bought the long E12 tool for headbolts. Have you got them?

Its not unheard of for these engines to do a headgasket at this mileage apparently!

Lee

James Porter

iTrader: (1)

Thats exactly what happened with my old 325ci & that was the head gasket, I was told by numerous people with good BMW knowledge that often if fucks the threads for the head bolts when trying to refit the head they wont pull down as the ally blocks are so soft? Not sure how true but the cheapest way in the end was to replace the whole engine!

carlo

iTrader: (4)

Its a hell of alot of water mate if there are no obvious leaks it sounds like the headgasket , the radiators are very bad for swelling & bursting in the corner but im sure you would have seen that

It's Czech Mate

You had to ask if your 3 series was FWD so what the fuck do you know?

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

^^^ Compact

AlexF

Hi Lee,

Yes I have them but the job is a RIGHT pain in thee arse to do - very long and fiddely!

Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

Carlo, top of the class again!!

Drove home earlier and popped the bonnet for a nosey whilst it was up to temperature etc and low and behold there in the bottom right hand corner was drip drip drip!! So looks like its new radiator time then!!

Alex - yeah I saw the book time was around 15 hours according to autodata, but looks like I won't need to do it now! LOL!

He needs new brake discs too as the steering wheel vibrates like a bastard when you slow down from over 50 odd!!

Thanks again for the advice!!

T3ORA

iTrader: (1)

they am really common

chaged loads

there is a reason why they do that

the elec fan packs up and they over heat,then the rad looks like someone has blow it up ,

the best way to check the leak is take the elec fan out first
then run the car up and you should be able to see where its leaking from and check the rad ok as well
the easy way to check the elec fan is working,start the car up and turn the a/c on and see if it works

hope it help,
need any more help just ask

Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

Nice one mate! Electric fan is working fine as it cut in and out a couple of times whilst I was nosing around!

Gonna get it on the 2 poster and drop the undertray off as it looked to be coming from the very bottom corner!!

I also heard that there's a temp sensor that can leak too, not sure if that's on the rad or elsewhere though!

Will look tomorrow tonight!!

carlo

iTrader: (4)

The radiators are terrible for it we done a E39 on friday was the same wasnt pissing out tho only leaked when warm , the E46's also do it or the plastic bottle bursts on the side of the radiator but you know when that happens. Lucky you mate not a nice job as above to do a head gasket on these we dont do many, the engines are fairly bullet proof its silly things round about them that cause probs , coils,air flow meter,radiators or the heater resistor drains the battery all can be sorted fairly easy.

AlexF

Cool!
Much better news than a HG!

carlo

iTrader: (4)

If it were the headgasket & using that much water the car would have been running like a bag of shite for sure

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Nice one Carlo

AlexF

absolutly!

Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

Exactly....I just didnt think it added up....hence why I didnt believe the garages diagnosis and thought I'd have a nosey around before I started ripping things apart! LOL!

Dodgy bloody backstreet garages!!!

carlo

iTrader: (4)

We see it alot ppl tend to look for the worst case scenario (sp) these radiators are deceiving to look at as well if you look through the front bumper they dont look sagged its not till its up in the air with the undertray off you see the extent of the swelling

danneth

Lee_R21Turbo

iTrader: (1)

Carlo....

Does this look familiar....



Although its still very hard to see the exact place where its leaking but it appears to be about halfway up the radiator close to the plastic bracket area!!

...and what was I saying about the dodgy brakes...

danb21t

stop f..king around with a BM fooking W and get the 21cossie FINISHED FFS!