[sysy]

Hi all,

I notice some anti freeze spills on my driveway, and got the "low coolant" warning after topping it off very recently. (less than 2 months)

Took it to a shop today and their assessment was the radiator connection is causing the issue and radiator needs to be changed, cost: $1600. ouch.

Wanted to get some opinions here to see whether this is normal and/or i should get a second opinion from another mechanic. Attaching a couple photos that shows the leak too.

Would appreciate any thoughts / suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by sysy

Hi all,

I notice some anti freeze spills on my driveway, and got the "low coolant" warning after topping it off very recently. (less than 2 months)

Took it to a shop today and their assessment was the radiator connection is causing the issue and radiator needs to be changed, cost: $1600. ouch.

Wanted to get some opinions here to see whether this is normal and/or i should get a second opinion from another mechanic. Attaching a couple photos that shows the leak too.

Would appreciate any thoughts / suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

Not a radiator. Just need an upper radiator hose.

[smaglik]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Not a radiator. Just need an upper radiator hose.

It depends what's cracked. If it's the plastic nozzle coming from the radiator, and it's integral to the radiator, then yes, radiator.

But, this raises a good point. I'd clean all the mess off, run the bleed procedure (or drive it up to temp), and see where the coolant is coming out. It could be the radiator hose connection, or the o-ring inside that connection. Lots of things to try before gonig to the radiator. And, even at that, you can't be much out of warranty, and this shouldn't happen on a 4 year old vehicle. If it is indeed the radiator, it might be worth asking if the dealer can take care of the parts, if you do the labor, or something like that....perhaps a little goodwill.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by smaglik

It depends what's cracked. If it's the plastic nozzle coming from the radiator, and it's integral to the radiator, then yes, radiator.

But, this raises a good point. I'd clean all the mess off, run the bleed procedure (or drive it up to temp), and see where the coolant is coming out. It could be the radiator hose connection, or the o-ring inside that connection. Lots of things to try before gonig to the radiator. And, even at that, you can't be much out of warranty, and this shouldn't happen on a 4 year old vehicle. If it is indeed the radiator, it might be worth asking if the dealer can take care of the parts, if you do the labor, or something like that....perhaps a little goodwill.

I’ve done several upper radiator hoses on these cars. I assume this is a 30i. OP needs to get phone camera in there and take a good photo. It leaks from the T connection that goes to another coolant hose that goes behind the driver headlight area. It doesn’t actually leak at the actual radiator to upper rad hose connection, but just after that. That’s why it may look like it’s leaking from the radiator and to the untrained eye they may think it needs a radiator. Regardless, not enough info with these photos alone to definitely prove anything.

[sysy]

Originally Posted by smaglik

It depends what's cracked. If it's the plastic nozzle coming from the radiator, and it's integral to the radiator, then yes, radiator.

But, this raises a good point. I'd clean all the mess off, run the bleed procedure (or drive it up to temp), and see where the coolant is coming out. It could be the radiator hose connection, or the o-ring inside that connection. Lots of things to try before gonig to the radiator. And, even at that, you can't be much out of warranty, and this shouldn't happen on a 4 year old vehicle. If it is indeed the radiator, it might be worth asking if the dealer can take care of the parts, if you do the labor, or something like that....perhaps a little goodwill.

@smaglik I'll try cleaning up and drive it up to see if i can spot it, thanks for the advice on the dealership as well, I'll call them Monday for an evaluation.
I got this car last year as CPO but warranty expired just before purchasing it.

[sysy]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

I’ve done several upper radiator hoses on these cars. I assume this is a 30i. OP needs to get phone camera in there and take a good photo. It leaks from the T connection that goes to another coolant hose that goes behind the driver headlight area. It doesn’t actually leak at the actual radiator to upper rad hose connection, but just after that. That’s why it may look like it’s leaking from the radiator and to the untrained eye they may think it needs a radiator. Regardless, not enough info with these photos alone to definitely prove anything.

freshxdough fair, i'll take better photos tomorrow, thanks a lot for chiming in.

[mct128i]

@freshxdough I believe I have the same leak that is described here - I see/feel fluid on the underside of the molded plastic upper radiator hose end (that incorporates the tee to the smaller coolant line).

I took it to the dealer (since the car is still covered by the CPO warranty) who confirms the leak only to learn that the CPO coverage does not cover rubber hoses. That seems like a lame position for BMW to hide in their small print.

The dealer quoted around $2,500 for this repair, claiming that the inlet manifold needs to be removed and, in addition to the upper radiator hose, a "connector pipe" needs to be replaced.

The upper radiator hose is around $130 and I'm contemplating replacing this myself. I would be grateful if you can confirm whether the inlet manifold really needs to be removed in order to access and replace the upper radiator hose and also whether the "connector pipe" noted by the dealer also must be replaced.

Any info you can provide will be welcome.

[mct128i]

Answering my own question regarding the connector pipe - it's item 8 in the diagram linked below, P/N 11118511205:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_6371

[E44]

I had this exact repair done on my 19 x3m40i.

paid about 1k for the repair to be done at local BMW dealer I had a few other items being fixed under CPO warranty, so bit the bullet and kept a loaner for about a week and a half. A Local Euro shop wanted about 800 for the repair.

[dan_guz089]

Just replaced my upper radiator hose on my 2019 x3 30i. I added something like JB weld around the metal ring to see if that was the issue but it was still leaking at the bottom of the upper radiator hose which I concluded the leak was coming from the connection itself, mostly likely the o-ring was bad but I went ahead and replaced the hose. Dealer wanted $1,100 but I ended up taking it to a euro indy shop and paid around $500.

[mct128i]

@Dan - in my case, the leak seems to be from a crack in the crevice in the plastic where the small coolant hose tees off the main radiator hose, as highlighted in the second picture in the first post above.

I bought the parts and hope to replace the hose this weekend - I'll update later, hopefully confirming a successful repair.

I'm ticked off for 3 reasons - that BMW has a design defect in this particular hose assembly, that a failure like this isn't covered by the CPO warranty and by the $2.5k repair estimate provided by Long Beach BMW.

[mct128i]

I'm pleased to report that I was able to replace my upper radiator hose today and fix the leak (and save myself > $2,300).

It's not at all necessary to remove the intake manifold (as Long Beach BMW had quoted). By disconnecting and removing the ECU and then removing it and its carrier (mounted on the driver side wheel arch in the engine compartment) there is just adequate room to see and access the rear connection of the radiator hose where it connects to the engine block.

Since the part is relatively inexpensive and also made out of plastic, I elected to replace the connecting pipe as well - this is a short plastic pipe with a flange and seal that mounts to the engine block using 3 T8 fasteners and a male fitting that connects to the radiator hose. Removing the old pipe was easy but, lining up the new pipe and getting the fasteners installed took some patience.

Here are some pictures showing the underside of the old/leaking hose fitting at the radiator end where it was leaking - a poor design in my opinion since there are likely to be high structural stresses in the crease between the main hose and the small T. Also, a picture of the removed connecting pipe.

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

Originally Posted by mct128i

I'm pleased to report that I was able to replace my upper radiator hose today and fix the leak (and save myself > $2,300).

It's not at all necessary to remove the intake manifold (as Long Beach BMW had quoted). By disconnecting and removing the ECU and then removing it and its carrier (mounted on the driver side wheel arch in the engine compartment) there is just adequate room to see and access the rear connection of the radiator hose where it connects to the engine block.

Since the part is relatively inexpensive and also made out of plastic, I elected to replace the connecting pipe as well - this is a short plastic pipe with a flange and seal that mounts to the engine block using 3 T8 fasteners and a male fitting that connects to the radiator hose. Removing the old pipe was easy but, lining up the new pipe and getting the fasteners installed took some patience.

Here are some pictures showing the underside of the old/leaking hose fitting at the radiator end where it was leaking - a poor design in my opinion since there are likely to be high structural stresses in the crease between the main hose and the small T. Also, a picture of the removed connecting pipe.

Hey , happy to see that you were able to repair it yourself and save thousands of dollars . I have a 2018 that was CPO and had a hose that went to the expansion tank that was replaced under the CPO warranty. I had to bring it back twice because they didn’t fix it the first time but ended up replacing the hose and a new expansion tank under CPO warranty. Not sure why they said hoses aren’t covered . Must be a dealer to dealer thing . Glade you got it fixed buy DIY !

[383vett]

Thanks freshxdough

[smaglik]

It's pretty bad that they wouldn't cover under CPO. This may be pissing into the wind, but perhaps the next poor soul who was to deal with this could fire back with 'the hose isn't leaking; it's the plastic connector' and see if that gets more traction.

[mct128i]

Per the BMW guide. "rubber engine and heater coolant hoses" are not covered by CPO. See attached document with the full list of exclusions - so it's a BMW issue and not a dealer issue (@ X3rd Time is a Charm).

smaglik - may be worth a try, the plastic has long been the failure point on BMW cooling systems over the past 30+ years.

[smaglik]

Originally Posted by mct128i

Per the BMW guide. "rubber engine and heater coolant hoses" are not covered by CPO. See attached document with the full list of exclusions - so it's a BMW issue and not a dealer issue (@ X3rd Time is a Charm).

smaglik - may be worth a try, the plastic has long been the failure point on BMW cooling systems over the past 30+ years.

I just recently replaced a similar connection on my e83. It's comforting to know that some things never change...😂

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

Originally Posted by mct128i

Per the BMW guide. "rubber engine and heater coolant hoses" are not covered by CPO. See attached document with the full list of exclusions - so it's a BMW issue and not a dealer issue (@ X3rd Time is a Charm).

smaglik - may be worth a try, the plastic has long been the failure point on BMW cooling systems over the past 30+ years.

Well @mct128i they covered mine . I guess they were in a good mood .

[Accop]

I’m about to tackle this job, is there anything special you need to do when disconnecting the DME and removing the computer/carrier?

[mct128i]

Originally Posted by Accop

I’m about to tackle this job, is there anything special you need to do when disconnecting the DME and removing the computer/carrier?

Disconnect the battery first! I also labelled each of the connectors (there are around 10 I believe) in order to make the reassembly easier. Be sure to tug on each of the 6 large electrical connectors to make sure they are truly latched and locked in place before firing it back up - they can appear to be in place but aren't latched.

I'm not convinced it was necessary to replace the plastic connector pipe although this might be a failure item in the future. Omitting this would make this a 2 - 3 hour job.

Good luck!

[Clamb]

mct128i, What part number did you use for the upper radiator hose?

[mct128i]

Originally Posted by Clamb

mct128i, What part number did you use for the upper radiator hose?

The upper radiator hose is P/N 17-12-7-535-529. This is for a 2019 X3 4 cylinder.