Radiator Issues

[theBMWenthusiast]

we have a 2000 740iL and it seems that the coolent is leaking again, the odd thing is that the radiator was changed in late january becuase it was leaking then too, anyone have any suggestions what the issue could be or if their is a problem with BMW radiators? additionally, is their a coolent that you are supposed to use becuz my dad is just putting water into it...any help would be appreciated cuz we really dont want to spend another 1.2k for a radiator and man power (although last time we didn't take it to a BMW center so we are kind of worried that they screwed us over even though they got a good track record)

 

[Ghost]

It may be the coolant reservoir. The design is such that a crack in a seal can cause coolant to leak. Find out exactly where the leak is originating and go from there.

 

[AZRobert]

If you are not doing the work yourself, nicely ask who ever is doing the work to check pricing of radiators from BMW. I did this at my shop, and BMW even beat the inexpensive asian import radiators on pricing. This was on a '97 740il.
Also insist that they use BMW coolant, and filter water (only .25 cents a gallon).

 

[DRWWE]

Regarding coolant: I asked my BMW service guy what brand of coolant they recommended and of course he said "BMW." But if that was not available he recommended that I use a "high end coolant that was rated for aluminum engines." Go to Autozone or some similar place and they will have several brands that fit that description. Read the pabels. I don't recommend just adding water. I use Prestone but forget which one of theirs I bought (they have several).

[driving2]

 

[the2cranes]

the2cranes

I have now owned two E38s. The first was a 1997 and at 83,000 miles the radiator neck cracked. The radiator was replaced. I now have a 2001 E38 and with just 54,500 miles on the clock the radiator split open on the side just last night. I'm now waiting for a tow truck to take this to the BMW shop to replace this radiator. Estimate = $700 to replace all the plastic parts that are likely to break in the near future. Cars always garaged. No severe weather. Properly serviced and driven. This is a chronic problem with '95 to '01 E38s I'm told by the service shop here in my town. So much so that they keep an inventory of all coolant parts in stock.

 

[aNoodle]

Come on, enthusiast. Are you serious!?! Plain water will expand so much compared to coolant, I'm suprised you have any hoses left. Well, that could be your leak right there...the expanded water escaping the safty cap, so you don't loose your hoses. It's okay to top off with a little distilled water, but not too much.

 

[finch]

uh oh... i only use water... i assume it would be the same for any car

looks like im taking a trip down to get some coolant..

any recomendation for e30's

 

[Chesty Bonds]

uh oh... i only use water... i assume it would be the same for any car

looks like im taking a trip down to get some coolant..

any recomendation for e30's

Yeah just get the BMW approved stuff. Go to a BMW dealership and they'll have some in the service dept. It only cost m4 $20 for 3 litres (which is about how much you will need) and its a lot chaper than a rusty radiator!

 

[Kirby]

Estimate = $700 to replace all the plastic parts that are likely to break in the near future. Cars always garaged. No severe weather. Properly serviced and driven. This is a chronic problem with '95 to '01 E38s I'm told by the service shop here in my town. So much so that they keep an inventory of all coolant parts in stock.

This is a huge problem - check these links out -

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/4425853-1.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/e38/petition.html

You can purchase aftermaket performance parts that are not plastic to fix it once and for all.

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/...&Product_Code=NP-ALLOYRAD39&Category_Code=AR1

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

Come on, enthusiast. Are you serious!?! Plain water will expand so much compared to coolant, I'm suprised you have any hoses left. Well, that could be your leak right there...the expanded water escaping the safty cap, so you don't loose your hoses. It's okay to top off with a little distilled water, but not too much.

ya, i knew i was right to use collant and made a few runs back when this was the problem, but my dad doesn't listen to me and stuck water in teh darn system, probably messing it up more...but if i tell my dad anything he gets reallllllly pissed off, so i just let him find out his own problems so i dont get weird looks...its his car and really now i dont care...he doesn't take care of his car (engine needs service lights has been on for 15k+ miles) and im just tired of it, as of right now im taking care of my car....

 

[jrt67ss350]

Unlike what others say, you DO NOT need to buy BMW coolant. Just use a reputable "green" coolant - everything that is at your local autoparts store anymore is approved for use with aluminum. I run Advanced Auto Parts brand coolant in my BMW (it's made by Prestone - the exact same stuff, just alot cheaper).

It really is OK to let stuff that doesn't have the BMW roundel on it touch your BMW.

 

[finch]

Unlike what others say, you DO NOT need to buy BMW coolant. Just use a reputable "green" coolant - everything that is at your local autoparts store anymore is approved for use with aluminum. I run Advanced Auto Parts brand coolant in my BMW (it's made by Prestone - the exact same stuff, just alot cheaper).

It really is OK to let stuff that doesn't have the BMW roundel on it touch your BMW.

yeah thats what i thought.. so pretty much anything that is approved for use with aluminum is fine..

what is the differance.. if any.. with the BMW stuff..? is it designed for the engines/radiators specificly.. i dont see how it could affect it really..

 

[aNoodle]

Unlike what others say, you DO NOT need to buy BMW coolant. Just use a reputable "green" coolant - everything that is at your local autoparts store anymore is approved for use with aluminum. I run Advanced Auto Parts brand coolant in my BMW (it's made by Prestone - the exact same stuff, just alot cheaper).

It really is OK to let stuff that doesn't have the BMW roundel on it touch your BMW.

Hehehe. Well, if BMW had its way, we would only buy BMW original gasoline!!!! LOL.

I've used the Prestone 50/150 synthetic long life stuff. Works great, and a bmw tech told me it was fine. Last time I flushed my radiator though I went back to the BMW stuff only cuz I was already at the parts department for something else. It's only $10 more expensive, so price isn't that much of a factor. I noticed that Prestone just changed over to a new formula...a yellow color now? Hmmm....