[Longdoggy]

Just what I need.

So earlier in the year, I got a low coolant warning; drove to dealer and they topped me off. They said this happens.
It's a 2011 335 sedan xDrive. It is Cobb tuned stage 1 aggressive with PE exhaust.

Last night pulling into my driveway; I got the low coolant indicator and figured oh; again? So I'll go in the morning and get it topped off.

Well, in my garage this morning, I noticed a little trail of fluid coming out from the car. Putting 2 & 2 together and I figure I got a coolant leak. Greaaaaaatt.

It's not pissing antifreeze, but it's not just burning off either. So I gather I have a leak.

I'll be going to drop it off at dealer tomorrow.

What should I expect here for costs? What should I look out for? Any common weak points you all are aware of?
Could it be a hose or tube? (I hope)!
Or is it likely to be a busted radiator. God please no!

Thanks for the feedback dudes and dudettes.

[shadow191]

There's a hose that goes from coolant reservoir to radiator that fails pretty often.

[E9TOU]

Sometimes this could be a sign of a bad water pump. How many miles do you have on your car? They usually go out around 70k miles. Let's hope it's not because water pumps (and thermostats) are an expensive job.

[Built My Way]

IDK... waterpump maybe? $1500 dealer parts and labour

[Longdoggy]

Fahhhhk.
Yea I got 64000 miles.

Honestly; I'm about to trade this thing in and get a new car. I need a bigger car with a second baby coming.

Looking at
5 series
A6
Dodge Charger RT

A 1500 bill would suck. And I was figuring it would be some shit like that.
A hose I'll take.

When I get home from work; I'll do some poking around with a flashlight.

[Longdoggy]

I'm CPO with extended maintenance.
Would this cover anything?

[Vitalität]

Originally Posted by Longdoggy

Fahhhhk.
Yea I got 64000 miles.

Honestly; I'm about to trade this thing in and get a new car. I need a bigger car with a second baby coming.

Looking at
5 series
A6
Dodge Charger RT

A 1500 bill would suck. And I was figuring it would be some shit like that.
A hose I'll take.

When I get home from work; I'll do some poking around with a flashlight.

It could be anything. WP, Hose, etc. You will have to rule the components out and narrow things down until you see the problem.

[Longdoggy]

Originally Posted by Vitalität

It could be anything. WP, Hose, etc. You will have to rule the components out and narrow things down until you see the problem.

Obviously.
But it's interesting that it could be water pump. This is why I came here. I knew you all have seen it all and may have some insight.

I'll be taking the car to the dealer, and I want to me as educated as possible.

[E9TOU]

Originally Posted by Longdoggy

I'm CPO with extended maintenance.
Would this cover anything?

I think waterpumps are covered under CPO, not sure but check with your SA. You might have to pay a deductible but it beats having to pay for the entire thing.

[Longdoggy]

Originally Posted by E9TOU

I think waterpumps are covered under CPO, not sure but check with your SA. You might have to pay a deductible but it beats having to pay for the entire thing.

Hope and pray that is he case.

[Longdoggy]

So the coolant line runs through the water pump?
I have been waitin for water pump issues. It would make sense that is what it is; just hope it's not something bigger

[Vitalität]

Originally Posted by Longdoggy

Obviously.
But it's interesting that it could be water pump. This is why I came here. I knew you all have seen it all and may have some insight.

I'll be taking the car to the dealer, and I want to me as educated as possible.

They can fail as early as 40K. Mine was original til' 106K when I replaced it.

[Gohan335i7]

Save yourself from at the least 1/3 of the bill and find a reputable Indy. For your sake, your cars, & your wallet's. Bimmer shops dot com. thank me later.

[Vitalität]

^^ Also OP, look for coding folks in your area so they can access your DME to see the health of your WP if that really is the culprit. It is cheaper than indy and dealer.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Longdoggy

I'm CPO with extended maintenance.
Would this cover anything?

If your on CPO, you are probably fine, But I'd take the tune off and restore the ECU to normal before you take it in.

I don't think it's the water pump. In think you just have a leak. The hoses going to the water pump might be leaking, but if it were the water pump, you'd be getting 1/2 engine light and overheating warnings.

[kkasson]

The water pump can leak on the 335i....328i water pumps hardly ever leak, they just stop working....335i pumps can stop working and also the housing can crack and leak.

The hose they're talking about goes across the top of the radiator and connects the coolant tank to the upper radiator hose, on the driver's side of the engine bay.

The coolant tanks also sometimes develop a leak at the seam where the top and bottom of the tank are fused together.

The hose might not covered by the warranty, but I'd think the pump and coolant tank would be. The hose itself is ~$50 and it's probably only about an hour or labor.

[Longdoggy]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

If your on CPO, you are probably fine, But I'd take the tune off and restore the ECU to normal before you take it in.

I don't think it's the water pump. In think you just have a leak. The hoses going to the water pump might be leaking, but if it were the water pump, you'd be getting 1/2 engine light and overheating warnings.

I thought about this later. Totally forgot I am under CPO still.
I'm going to uninstall my Cobb tonight. Drop off tomorrow at 830am at BMW.
I think this may be covered? I hope?

[ArcticRik]

Originally Posted by Longdoggy

I thought about this later. Totally forgot I am under CPO still.
I'm going to uninstall my Cobb tonight. Drop off tomorrow at 830am at BMW.
I think this may be covered? I hope?

Ya CPO should cover it. Also had this issue a few months back, turned out my radiator was leaking, fast forward to a few weeks ago, same issue (leaking coolant) turned out my coolant tank was leaking... Could be either one of those too...

[Longdoggy]

Originally Posted by ArcticRik

Ya CPO should cover it. Also had this issue a few months back, turned out my radiator was leaking, fast forward to a few weeks ago, same issue (leaking coolant) turned out my coolant tank was leaking... Could be either one of those too...

A relief.
I was able to get in there with a flashlight this evening.
I saw the coolant level in the bottom of the coolant tank so it did not all piss out.
I topped off with distilled water to the appropriate level. Took about 1/4 of gallon.

My CPO better cover this. CPO is up in June 2017. I think I'm trading in before that.

I kind of like new cars.

[bman5150]

My car (same as yours) developed a coolant leak at the coolant reservoir tank, which cracked. Common issue. Covered under CPO. If it wasn't covers, it's a super easy DIY repair. That's my bet (coolant expansion tank crack). But lm just waiting on the water pump going out. Seems I've had all common major issues already happen except the wp going bad, lol! I've got about 63k miles. Also haven't driven it since mid May due to bad airbag and BMW enterprise rental

[Longdoggy]

Originally Posted by bman5150

My car (same as yours) developed a coolant leak at the coolant reservoir tank, which cracked. Common issue. Covered under CPO. If it wasn't covers, it's a super easy DIY repair. That's my bet (coolant expansion tank crack). But lm just waiting on the water pump going out. Seems I've had all common major issues already happen except the wp going bad, lol! I've got about 63k miles. Also haven't driven it since mid May due to bad airbag and BMW enterprise rental

Yea, sounding like a nightmare. I thought I was up for maintaining a car, but I don't really have the time to deal with it these days.

I did go do a test drive today.

[jsanchez335]

I had a coolant leak recently on my 2007 335i. Turned out to be a cracked radiator. My mechanic said that it was the age of the component. A week later, the electric water pump went out. $$$$$$$$$