Engine coolant loss

thenew3 · 10-07-2019, 10:22 AM

Had the warning pop up on my wife's 2016 X3 28i. We were out picking strawberries when on the way home we got the notification suddenly. Pulled over and restarted the car still had same warning so drove over to the dealer. Got there right before they closed (on a Saturday afternoon). No techs were available but the service advisor said it's pretty common. He went to the shop, brought out a gallon jug of coolant and filled it up. the reservoir was empty and it took almost 3/4 gallon to fill up. He said it would not have done any damage since the temps never went higher than normal.
I checked a few months later and the reservoir was at the max mark. So it appears to be a fluke. Maybe they didn't fill it up properly at the factory and the 3 year 20k miles we put on it caused some water to evaporate.

pokerface · 10-09-2019, 05:52 AM

I've had to top up a second time now. Once a few months into ownership, and just this month @ 63,000 km / 7 years. No noticeable leaks.

FranzX3M · 10-15-2019, 07:41 PM

I noticed a small drip leak at the bottom of the reservoir where the sensor attaches. Not sure if this is a result of all the work I did on the X3 recently where I may have knocked it will tools or parts. However not sure if I need to replace just the sensor, just the reservoir or both? Does a new reservoir come with the sensor?

E90705 · 10-16-2019, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FranzX3M

I noticed a small drip leak at the bottom of the reservoir where the sensor attaches. Not sure if this is a result of all the work I did on the X3 recently where I may have knocked it will tools or parts. However not sure if I need to replace just the sensor, just the reservoir or both? Does a new reservoir come with the sensor?

I believe when I changed mine it had the sensor already attached but don't quote me 😆

Wgosma · 10-16-2019, 08:53 AM

Look up the tanks p/n at realOEM. com- input last 7 of cars CIN and you'll find your answer.

E90705 · 10-16-2019, 09:51 AM

Coolant Expansion Tank (35i N55) DIY https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1563296

Oilverland · 10-21-2019, 11:42 PM

I got the warning once when I bought the car at about 45,000 miles then again at 58,000. Just topped it up with 50/50 BMW spec antifreeze/distilled H2O each time. All my cars have required the occasional top up, there must be some evaporative losses. The X3 has a particularly limited range between min and max so it doesn't surprise me to see a more frequent warning. If you get your oil changes done at a dealer ask them to top up the coolant for you also.

raddoc · 11-03-2019, 07:52 AM

I got the low coolant message around midnight driving my 2016 X3d home but wasn't able to find a safe place to refill immediately. Drove home (6 miles) and parked in my garage. Called BMW road service and was told that they'd deliver coolant to my house within an hour. I sure will miss their road service when my warranty expires in Feb 2020, but I'm not sure the extension is worth the $$$$.

raddoc · 11-03-2019, 08:20 AM

Update! Road service company said they don't have BMW brand coolant, so no delivery today. Maybe I won't miss their extra cost service extension after all. I'll stop at the local dealership tomorrow to pick some up on their dime.

raddoc · 11-05-2019, 04:38 PM

EGR cooler was not the issue according to local dealer today. Hoses, water pump & radiator intact.
Did a pressure test for over an hour, but no loss. Drives fine now, but leaky head gasket is my suspected culprit. Will need more testing if coolant loss continues. Engine now @ 45K miles, so a ways to go before warranty expiration.

10-07-2019, 10:22 AM	#23
thenew3 Lieutenant Colonel 639 Rep 1,587 Posts Drives: 2020 X7, 2016 X3, 2021 MME Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central coast CA iTrader: (0)	Had the warning pop up on my wife's 2016 X3 28i. We were out picking strawberries when on the way home we got the notification suddenly. Pulled over and restarted the car still had same warning so drove over to the dealer. Got there right before they closed (on a Saturday afternoon). No techs were available but the service advisor said it's pretty common. He went to the shop, brought out a gallon jug of coolant and filled it up. the reservoir was empty and it took almost 3/4 gallon to fill up. He said it would not have done any damage since the temps never went higher than normal. I checked a few months later and the reservoir was at the max mark. So it appears to be a fluke. Maybe they didn't fill it up properly at the factory and the 3 year 20k miles we put on it caused some water to evaporate.
	Appreciate 1 pokerface429.50 Quote

10-09-2019, 05:52 AM	#24
pokerface Colonel 430 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I've had to top up a second time now. Once a few months into ownership, and just this month @ 63,000 km / 7 years. No noticeable leaks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-15-2019, 07:41 PM	#25
FranzX3M Private 17 Rep 80 Posts Drives: '13 X3M Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Coolant level sensor leak I noticed a small drip leak at the bottom of the reservoir where the sensor attaches. Not sure if this is a result of all the work I did on the X3 recently where I may have knocked it will tools or parts. However not sure if I need to replace just the sensor, just the reservoir or both? Does a new reservoir come with the sensor?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-16-2019, 08:53 AM	#27
Wgosma Lieutenant Colonel 806 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52) Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northern Nevada iTrader: (0)	Look up the tanks p/n at realOEM. com- input last 7 of cars CIN and you'll find your answer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-16-2019, 09:51 AM	#28
E90705 First Lieutenant 127 Rep 383 Posts Drives: E90/F25 M-sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Central iTrader: (0)	Coolant Expansion Tank (35i N55) DIY https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1563296
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2019, 11:42 PM	#29
Oilverland Red-gistered 11 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 F25 xDrive 35i Join Date: May 2018 Location: Great Northwest iTrader: (0)	I got the warning once when I bought the car at about 45,000 miles then again at 58,000. Just topped it up with 50/50 BMW spec antifreeze/distilled H2O each time. All my cars have required the occasional top up, there must be some evaporative losses. The X3 has a particularly limited range between min and max so it doesn't surprise me to see a more frequent warning. If you get your oil changes done at a dealer ask them to top up the coolant for you also.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2019, 07:52 AM	#30
raddoc Private First Class 107 Rep 175 Posts Drives: X5,Model3,M240i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tucson AZ iTrader: (0)	I got the low coolant message around midnight driving my 2016 X3d home but wasn't able to find a safe place to refill immediately. Drove home (6 miles) and parked in my garage. Called BMW road service and was told that they'd deliver coolant to my house within an hour. I sure will miss their road service when my warranty expires in Feb 2020, but I'm not sure the extension is worth the $$$$.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2019, 08:20 AM	#31
raddoc Private First Class 107 Rep 175 Posts Drives: X5,Model3,M240i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tucson AZ iTrader: (0)	Update! Road service company said they don't have BMW brand coolant, so no delivery today. Maybe I won't miss their extra cost service extension after all. I'll stop at the local dealership tomorrow to pick some up on their dime.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2019, 04:38 PM	#32
raddoc Private First Class 107 Rep 175 Posts Drives: X5,Model3,M240i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tucson AZ iTrader: (0)	EGR cooler was not the issue according to local dealer today. Hoses, water pump & radiator intact. Did a pressure test for over an hour, but no loss. Drives fine now, but leaky head gasket is my suspected culprit. Will need more testing if coolant loss continues. Engine now @ 45K miles, so a ways to go before warranty expiration.
	Appreciate 0 Quote