Coolant leak --- wet at bottom tray directly under headlight area

be-em-veh-808 · 03-10-2013, 04:08 PM

My E91 2007 has 117K Miles. I've had low coolant warnings twice in the past year. First time I only had to fill less than a quart. the second time, seems like half a gallon.

I looked down the engine bay and noticed that there's wet (likely coolant) spots at the bottom panel/tray. This is almost directly under the headlights towards the very bottom of the car. Something is leaking. Could it be the water pump? Or just hoses/connections? I need to open the panel up and inspect.

Does the water pump begin to leak prior to failure? Or does it just stop working?

I have not yet had high temp warnings. I'm very nervous because my daily commute is ~ 45 miles (1.5 hrs) each way on LA freeways.

Much thanks in advance!

humbertob · 03-16-2013, 01:29 AM

Probably the coolant hoses, I don't think this is an alert for a faulty water pump, the water pump usually fails and the car goes into limp mode, without any advice, with that mileage I bet more than half of your coolant system hoses are shot !

03-10-2013, 04:08 PM	#1
be-em-veh-808 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Touring Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Coolant leak --- wet at bottom tray directly under headlight area My E91 2007 has 117K Miles. I've had low coolant warnings twice in the past year. First time I only had to fill less than a quart. the second time, seems like half a gallon. I looked down the engine bay and noticed that there's wet (likely coolant) spots at the bottom panel/tray. This is almost directly under the headlights towards the very bottom of the car. Something is leaking. Could it be the water pump? Or just hoses/connections? I need to open the panel up and inspect. Does the water pump begin to leak prior to failure? Or does it just stop working? I have not yet had high temp warnings. I'm very nervous because my daily commute is ~ 45 miles (1.5 hrs) each way on LA freeways. Much thanks in advance!
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03-16-2013, 01:29 AM	#2
humbertob First Lieutenant 132 Rep 318 Posts Drives: '16 BMW M235i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Laredo, Tx. iTrader: (0)	Probably the coolant hoses, I don't think this is an alert for a faulty water pump, the water pump usually fails and the car goes into limp mode, without any advice, with that mileage I bet more than half of your coolant system hoses are shot ! __________________ (OO)-(////)(\\\\)-(OO) '16 F22 M235i '19 G01 X3 \| Wife's '15 F30 335i M-Sport \| Son's '10 Porsche Boxster
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