[The_Dover]

Good day all,

I'm new on here and have a 2007 335i MSport Touring which I purchased aout 6 weeks ago with 115k KM on the clock, which I have added another 4k too since

I got a low coolant level service warning yesterday morning and when I topped it up I noticed a brown sludge in the reservoir.

This morning I have checked the reservoir after doing approximately 80km yesterday afternoon and there is an increase in the amount of sludge. I've attached a picture I took 5 minutes ago.

It feels slightly greasy but does not leave an oily residue on my fingers when washed off with household soap. It does not smell oily that I can tell.

What are the possible causes (leaking filter housing gasket? head gasket?) and how concerned should I be?

I'm going to take it to the dealer where I purchased it tomorrow and get them to have a look but I am at risk of engine damage if I continue to drive the car?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ben

[amr_e90]

Oil filter housing gasket

[EndOfAnEra]

yup! check your oil filter housing gasket!!

[The_Dover]

Thanks guys, based on the searches I had done that was my suspicion.

What sort of cost am I looking at to get it rectified? I'll go back to the dealer first but did purchase mechanical warranty when I got the car.

How urgent a job is it to get is sorted? Obviously I'll get it in as soon as I can, hopefully in the next couple of days but my 3yr old has just fractured a couple of bones in his foot falling out of a treehouse so I have a couple of apointments that I need to keep and will likely be doing a couple of hundred k's in the next day or so.

Am I putting it at any risk doing so?

[Douche]

Originally Posted by The_Dover

Thanks guys, based on the searches I had done that was my suspicion.

What sort of cost am I looking at to get it rectified? I'll go back to the dealer first but did purchase mechanical warranty when I got the car.

How urgent a job is it to get is sorted? Obviously I'll get it in as soon as I can, hopefully in the next couple of days but my 3yr old has just fractured a couple of bones in his foot falling out of a treehouse so I have a couple of apointments that I need to keep and will likely be doing a couple of hundred k's in the next day or so.

Am I putting it at any risk doing so?

Yeah man, especially cos it's summer, your car may overheat.
Not to mention it may be contaminating your oil and lubrication may also be deficient.

Keep two eyes open when driving your car, inspect the reservoir every now and then.

[srezzo]

I'd get it taken care off immediately. You don't want to be driving around with oil and coolant mixing.

[The_Dover]

Cheers, I've been checking the reservoir every trip since I discovered it yesterday and have a bottle of coolant in the boot.

Temperatures here are in their mid 20's at the moment.

I'll take it in tomorrow and if the dealer is receptive I'll leave it with them and try and get a loaner.

I've kept an eye on the temperature and it has not gone over 100, my maximum trip is about 35km.

I'll call the insurer and make sure I'm approved to get any work done if the dealer doesn't come to the party straight away.

I love driving this car but I'm a bit pissy that the gasket hasn't been done already as every indication I've read is that it should have been done before 100k KM and the car was serviced before I bought it.

There appears to be a bit of a low frequency rumble from somewhere in the drive train that I'll have them investigate while it's there.

What a shit weekend so far!

[Douche]

Originally Posted by The_Dover

Cheers, I've been checking the reservoir every trip since I discovered it yesterday and have a bottle of coolant in the boot.

Temperatures here are in their mid 20's at the moment.

I'll take it in tomorrow and if the dealer is receptive I'll leave it with them and try and get a loaner.

I've kept an eye on the temperature and it has not gone over 100, my maximum trip is about 35km.

I'll call the insurer and make sure I'm approved to get any work done if the dealer doesn't come to the party straight away.

I love driving this car but I'm a bit pissy that the gasket hasn't been done already as every indication I've read is that it should have been done before 100k KM and the car was serviced before I bought it.

There appears to be a bit of a low frequency rumble from somewhere in the drive train that I'll have them investigate while it's there.

What a shit weekend so far!

[n54SQUAD]

Definitly the Oil filter housing gasket, I just recently replaced this on my car after, I found the same exact thing in my coolant reservoir. After I got it back, it was 100% clean. Get it done asap, as anything mixing with your cooling system is definitly problematic.

[The_Dover]

Thanks for your advice guys, the car is booked in for Thursday morning and the dealer is covering the cost.

The mechanic had a look and advised that there is no sign of coolant mixing with the oil but I'll be glad when it is done.

Every noise is making me paranoid and with the road noise from the tyres, coupled with the atrocious road surfaces in NZ and the MSport suspension, I'm like a new father listening out for his crying child every km I drive!