[BayMoWe335]

I realized my coolant level bobber stick is missing - where did it go?

I saw it pretty recently and the entire stick is gone now. Assume it got brittle and broke off, but the question is, can it get "sucked" into something I don't want?

Will it just stay in the tank? Or can plastic pieces get into the turbos or somewhere really bad and ruin my car?

To be clear, the red stick is missing.

[e90yyc]

Common failure.

From what I understand, there shouldn’t be any major risk just leaving it the way it is.

[mainbearing]

I doubt the whole stick can make through the bend at the bottom of the tank. I preventatively swapped out the tank with an aftermarket Behr (now bought by Mahle which imo is a shitty company). I do not remember if I tried to shake the broken piece out. No problems tho.

The inside tank surface was deteriorating, similar to the Mickey Mouse flange plastic turning cardboard brown and started to flake off. You might want to just replace it. Get a new Behr cap too. Unless you want to go all genuine, but I see no purpose in that.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

I doubt the whole stick can make through the bend at the bottom of the tank. I preventatively swapped out the tank with an aftermarket Behr (now bought by Mahle which imo is a shitty company). I do not remember if I tried to shake the broken piece out. No problems tho.

The inside tank surface was deteriorating, similar to the Mickey Mouse flange plastic turning cardboard brown and started to flake off. You might want to just replace it. Get a new Behr cap too. Unless you want to go all genuine, but I see no purpose in that.

Mine did this about two years ago and I just swapped it out. It was due to fail anyway since the radiator had failed just before this happened. Think I was at 155K

[BayMoWe335]

Thanks all. I think I'll replace the tank. Anyone have the part number? Will it include cap and bobber, etc?

[e91Owner]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Thanks all. I think I'll replace the tank. Anyone have the part number? Will it include cap and bobber, etc?

Cap not included. The part number is 17137640514 for most e9Xs. Double check for your specific MY.

[Joe_in_WLA]

See realoem.com for pertinent part #

[mainbearing]

Yes double check but the tank should be the mentioned 17-13-7-640-514 ($136.03) and the cap 17-11-7-639-020 ($22.13) if you go genuine, prices Silver Spring BMW. They will verify using your VIN number. (I used Behr, now Mahle/Clevite).

Behr parts are tank CRT207000S $60.79 and cap CRB4000S (out of stock on Rock Auto).

Nissens tank is $55.79. Rein cap $12.11


Behr tank (Mahle/Clevite):
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=10457&jsn=15

Rein cap:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...pt=2067&jsn=10

[BayMoWe335]

Thanks everyone! Will follow up next week.

[BayMoWe335]

All fixed...still not 100% sure where the stick went, but car is running fine.