[MikesX35i]

I have a coolant leak coming from the side of my radiator every time I let it warm up to temp and turn it off. Now I’m already assuming I need to replace it but I just want someone else to confirm for me.

Pictures Provided Below.

[pungo]

Confirmed "it gone"

[pungo]

Nice edit on the "Title" from "Radiator it Gone"

[MikesX35i]

pungo
You love me for my spelling errors

[pungo]

Originally Posted by MikesX35i

pungo
You love me for my spelling errors

I thought your were just being funny to make the best of needing to replace the radiator.
Get one from FCP for their lifetime warranty

[MikesX35i]

pungo thank you for your information, gonna go and buy and install it😖

[chris55552]

Id definitely replace it, I tried patching mine up with JB weld and radiator weld type fixes and its just a wast of time and money. Where are you at with your radiator situation?

[MikesX35i]

chris55552

I bought it and now waiting for it to arrive, did all the research I needed but I’m wondering if you can drain the coolant from anywhere at the bottom instead of the auxiliary cooler on the side.

[chris55552]

Na sure cant, and its a messy ordeal. May want to try and set a catch pan to catch the fluid as your losing it when you discconnect your hoses in hopes of recycling it. I just went outside and double checked that on my old radiator and ill attach some pics of it so you can see it has no drain valve on it. I dont see an option for a photo attachment on here...

[chris55552]

pics illustrating lack of drain port.

[chris55552]

I had hell trying to get the hoses to fit back onto their fittings, had to rub a small drop of dawn soap to lubricate plastic nipples and fit firmly back in place in case you run into the same dilemma.

[MikesX35i]

chris55552 well damn, I have my car on ramps as shown below so I’m not sure how I’m gonna be able to remove the wheel to get to the auxiliary, but I’ll figure something out🥲

[MikesX35i]

Pictures Shown

[chris55552]

im going to take some pics of mine, and what I removed to get the radiator out, it will make life easier for you. I followed the instructions of another members experience and it was godsend. What in the world would we do if we didnt have these forums..Before owning bmw's if I so much as picked up a hammer or a wrench, destruction would follow. My first x3 I literally paid someone to replace the air filter..I knew that little, but have learned so much and thanks to these forums Ive replaced radiator, changed oil, differential fluid, transfer case and the big thing is im no longer afraid of touching it. Ill take some pics and illustrate some things to help ya, should have them in the morning.

[MikesX35i]

chris55552
Thank you for anything you send me, it would be so useful to me. Guess who got their radiator….😎

[MikesX35i]

To update all of you interested, today I drained my coolant from my car and it came out black. As it turns out, the coolant has never been flushed which I’m assuming resulted in the color of this coolant being dark as hell (if someone has another reason for it I'd love to know). I also removed the air intake disconnected the top hose and cleaned both of them off. I’m trying to take off the bar blocking the radiator fan from coming out but sadly one of the bolts is stripped so that is something I am figuring out right now. The next steps for tomorrow are to remove the bar blocking the radiator fan, disconnect the radiator and install the new one, flush the system with distilled water, and then fill it up with coolant it should be good.

I’ll keep updating,
-Mike

[pungo]

Put the torx bit on an extension and hit it hard with a hammer a several times. The torx doesn't look too bad, dip the torx bit in some oil, then coat it with some ground up metal to take up some of the gaps and use a lot of downward force when trying to crack it loose. I keep a small container of coarse metal dust for stripped fasteners, been doing this hack for decades.

[383vett]

The BMW coolant is blue. In a red container, it might appear black.

[MikesX35i]

I need help from all of you guys, I got the last bolt out and replaced the radiator but when putting the hoses back on with the new gaskets the lower coolant hose will refuse to go on. I pushed as hard as I could with two hands, used pb, and used lubricant and it won't go on still. I'll send a picture as well.

[chris55552]

Originally Posted by MikesX35i

I have a coolant leak coming from the side of my radiator every time I let it warm up to temp and turn it off. Now I’m already assuming I need to replace it but I just want someone else to confirm for me.

Pictures Provided Below.

got those illustrated pics for you, you have an email? It wasnt lettimg me post pics earlier.

[MikesX35i]

chris55552
Yeah bro, michaelgamez97005@gmail.com

Can you also help me out with this lower radiator hose. No matter how hard I try to push it in it won’t go in, i tried lubricant nothing. Pictures linked below.

[Hellshalfacre]

Hey Mike, hopefully you got it sorted out but if not, try removing the metal retaining clip and using a very thin coating of silicone grease (ok for nitrile rubber, BUNA N) on the oring. Then make sure you are coming at it straight on. It takes some force but a bit of wiggling should seat it. If you're cocked to one side or the other it just won't seat.