[AngelFarelli]

If you have a e90 f30 328i or 335i n52 Or n54 or n55 please check this vital weak point especially if your tuned. This was discussed about a year ago but since it just happen to me I figure I bring it to light to help you prevent it. BMWs are notorious for cheap plastic and rubber materials and this is especially true for the hose that runs from the upper radiator hose to the expansion tank. The material it's made out of becomes brittle and cracks easily. One crack and the hose will break,which will leak your entire coolant reservoir all over your radiator and fans within a matter of minutes. If you do not notice your coolant warning light you can easily blow your entire engine on a long drive! I would hate that to happen when the hose is less than $30 with lifetime warranty.

Luckily I was right up the street from my house when it got the low coolant warning but by then the coolant was everywhere. Looks like I'll have a fun time making my engine bay look clean again .

Also on that note, I am curious how many of you would consider replacing the brittle hose piece with a metal brake line and clamps as seen in this video ??

I just bought the replacement hose but am definitely considering keeping a set of clamps and break line in my trunk incase This ever happens again.

Opinions appreciated

[AngelFarelli]

Credit to people who have posted issue prior...

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1547622 10/22/18

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=935690 1/16/14

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Thanks. Just picked one up for $22 + shipping.

[porsche959]

Part number for n52?

[tony55343]

Yup lol, I broke mine doing the belt and tensioners when I bent it out of the way . Simply used a barb fitting and some rubber hose to replace the hard line that was over the radiator.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by AngelFarelli

I just bought the replacement hose but am definitely considering keeping a set of clamps and break line in my trunk incase This ever happens again.

Opinions appreciated

If you had to tell yourself that for every single hose in this car that is potentially problematic and can leave you stranded....

Just inspect it from time to time and if it's been a considerable amount of millage change it out proactively instead.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by porsche959

Part number for n52?

Originally Posted by porsche959

Part number for n52?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...;q=17127618510

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by tony55343

Yup lol, I broke mine doing the belt and tensioners when I bent it out of the way . Simply used a barb fitting and some rubber hose to replace the hard line that was over the radiator.

Originally Posted by porsche959

Part number for n52?

Originally Posted by tony55343

Yup lol, I broke mine doing the belt and tensioners when I bent it out of the way . Simply used a barb fitting and some rubber hose to replace the hard line that was over the radiator.

1/4" hose? What kind of barbs did you use? Brass or plastic?

[tony55343]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

1/4" hose? What kind of barbs did you use? Brass or plastic?

I believe it was 3/8" i.d hose. And I used a metal barb , I believe it was brass . It has been on the car for about 10k miles with absolutely no issues .

[AngelFarelli]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

If you had to tell yourself that for every single hose in this car that is potentially problematic and can leave you stranded....

Just inspect it from time to time and if it's been a considerable amount of millage change it out proactively instead.

True I had that same opinion however I've taken my bmw to the dealership multiple times through the last few months they performed full inspections and safety inspections and managed to miss this. Either because it's hard to estimate it's health or probably because they know that if they try to test it's strength they will break it and have to pay for your new one. Checking this hose is hard being it's so tiny and under the air intake. Look at a lot of the other coolant hoses they are all look a bit stronger and easier to notice wear? However it seems the other most common hose to go out is upper radiator hose. Any one have any other good examples of weak hoses ?

[smass]

Originally Posted by AngelFarelli

True I had that same opinion however I've taken my bmw to the dealership multiple times through the last few months they performed full inspections and safety inspections and managed to miss this. Either because it's hard to estimate it's health or probably because they know that if they try to test it's strength they will break it and have to pay for your new one. Checking this hose is hard being it's so tiny and under the air intake. Look at a lot of the other coolant hoses they are all look a bit stronger and easier to notice wear? However it seems the other most common hose to go out is upper radiator hose. Any one have any other good examples of weak hoses ?

Here is my opinion on most common failure point. I recently replaced every hose on my 06 N52 w/ 120k miles. The worst hose was the thermostat to head hose just to the left of the upper radiator. 2nd was the upper radiator. Both of these had denigrating plastic on the inside of the fitting that connects to the head. 3rd was the heater hose under the air box. It had oil damage from previous owner leaks. All 3 of those were at risk of coming apart. The rest of the hoses looked OK at 14 years old.

When I changed the hoses, I also replaced the tank, cap and radiator. Waterpump and thermostat were changed a few years ago. I elected to change all of this because my daughter took the car to college in AZ.

[AngelFarelli]

Upon further inspection I'm going to consider getting a hose kit the quality of my other hoses are starting to degrade as well and I do not want to have a good hose connecting to a bad one might as well get a kit. Do you know of any good hose kits or did you order your parts separate?

[AngelFarelli]

Originally Posted by smassey321

Here is my opinion on most common failure point. I recently replaced every hose on my 06 N52 w/ 120k miles. The worst hose was the thermostat to head hose just to the left of the upper radiator. 2nd was the upper radiator. Both of these had denigrating plastic on the inside of the fitting that connects to the head. 3rd was the heater hose under the air box. It had oil damage from previous owner leaks. All 3 of those were at risk of coming apart. The rest of the hoses looked OK at 14 years old.

When I changed the hoses, I also replaced the tank, cap and radiator. Waterpump and thermostat were changed a few years ago. I elected to change all of this because my daughter took the car to college in AZ.

Originally Posted by smassey321

Here is my opinion on most common failure point. I recently replaced every hose on my 06 N52 w/ 120k miles. The worst hose was the thermostat to head hose just to the left of the upper radiator. 2nd was the upper radiator. Both of these had denigrating plastic on the inside of the fitting that connects to the head. 3rd was the heater hose under the air box. All 3 of those were at risk of coming apart. The rest of the hoses looked OK at 14 years old.

When I changed the hoses, I also replaced the tank, cap and radiator. Waterpump and thermostat were changed a few years ago. I elected to change all of this because my daughter took the car to college in AZ.

How many hoses did you get did you get in a kit or separately ? Thank you

[smass]

Originally Posted by AngelFarelli

How many hoses did you get did you get in a kit or separately ? Thank you

I used part numbers from this thread. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=936250

Scroll down to my post at the bottom if you have an automatic transmission. I pieced everything together with mostly Rein parts. Paste the part number into ECS or FCP and it will show you aftermarket and BMW to compare. A couple I got may be Vaico. And one was only available as BMW. It was the one that is mostly plastic running across the subframe. I think it was around $500 for all the hoses, radiator, tank and cap.

[iqraceworks]

Thanks for the heads up!

[JunkyardDogg]

I'd rather not replace with the plastic OEM again.

Anyone have links to a rubber or steel replacement and appropriate size fittings?

[JunkyardDogg]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

It's all 3/8".


3/8" silicone hose. Get 2 feet just in case.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DIPN1AO..._WBpeEbGNB976N

3/8" stainless steel barbed union fittings:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P2DLBPC..._TFpeEbGRW1GBZ

Assorted sized hose clamps:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GQTETJQ..._zEpeEbH7MJRS2

Thanks!

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by JunkyardDogg

Thanks!

Wait sorry no ignore all that. It's 5/16", not 3/8". Not sure why I had that in my head.

[riczon.335i]

Count me in as a victim lmao...

I was trying to tighten some bolts this Christmas eve and this exact thing happened to me because my right elbow was pressed against it and I didn't have to put much pressure either, so the nipple part broke right off and it shot right into my forearms luckily didn't hit my face and watched coolant fly everywhere into my garage lol. It was a messy clean up indeed and luckily autozone had the part in stock the very same day so my Christmas eve day turned into a coolant flush job on my car.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

If you had to tell yourself that for every single hose in this car that is potentially problematic and can leave you stranded....

Just inspect it from time to time and if it's been a considerable amount of millage change it out proactively instead.

Mainly just make sure and have one on hand any time you need to go anywhere near it. Mine disintegrated when pulling it to remove radiator.

Most of the hose designs are fine and fail in a predictable way but dont catastrophically fail like the plastic ones.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by riczon.335i

Count me in as a victim lmao...

I was trying to tighten some bolts this Christmas eve and this exact thing happened to me because my right elbow was pressed against it and I didn't have to put much pressure either, so the nipple part broke right off and it shot right into my forearms luckily didn't hit my face and watched coolant fly everywhere into my garage lol. It was a messy clean up indeed and luckily autozone had the part in stock the very same day so my Christmas eve day turned into a coolant flush job on my car.

Haha same here. Sheared right off. Coolant hit my ceiling. Autozone saved the day for me as well.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by JunkyardDogg

Thanks!

Originally Posted by JunkyardDogg

Thanks!

These links are for 3/8" is their links for 5/16"?