coolant leak

yonversace · 05-07-2022, 10:37 PM

can someone tell me if this is the radiator or upper radiator hose leaking? i need to order the part asap before i go out of town at the end of this month, it’s a far drive so i’m not planning to deal with breaking down.

(leak is slow, coolant light comes on about every 1500 miles.)

Nando_e90 · 05-07-2022, 11:45 PM

It’s the radiator. A VERY common leak.
Mine was leaking exactly the same some months ago.

yonversace · 05-08-2022, 12:01 PM

Well it’s a very very slow small leak so I assume I could drive a while without replacing it. I’ll probably order a new one for good measures anyways though

Serf27 · 05-08-2022, 07:05 PM

It looks like the coolant stars leaking from the hose. It could just be a bad o ring on the hose.

Brian86 · 05-08-2022, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yonversace

Well it’s a very very slow small leak so I assume I could drive a while without replacing it. I’ll probably order a new one for good measures anyways though

Meh... I dunno about that. Once plastic fractures it can have a nasty habit of propagating very quickly. The only thing keeping it together is that the leak prevents the system from building any pressure.

I'd be more comfortable letting a leaky gasket or coupling ride than a cracked plastic water neck.

fazm · 05-08-2022, 09:09 PM

Get you a CSF all aluminum radiator and literally never think about this again!

yonversace · 05-10-2022, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serf27

It looks like the coolant stars leaking from the hose. It could just be a bad o ring on the hose.

That’s what I was thinking it was too. Thankfully I bought O rings for the cooling system a while ago so I’ll replace the radiator, the hose, & put the o ring in. Better safe then sorry when driving 1800 miles especially when it’s this hot

fastboatster · 05-10-2022, 03:08 PM

Get a coolant system pressure tester kit and pressurize the system, that’ll tell you for sure

E90Graphite07 · 05-11-2022, 07:22 PM

Definitely the radiator; might as well replace that hose while you're at it. CSF aluminum was my choice as well... well worth it and a plus on the peace of mind.

yonversace · 05-24-2022, 06:32 PM

I replaced the upper rad hose lower rad hose and expansion tank line hose and it’s still leaking.

mainbearing · 05-24-2022, 07:02 PM

Others suggested it was the radiator plastic that cracked.

In addition to the two rad hoses and the reservoir vent line, you now have also replaced the radiator as in your post below?

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1925436

05-07-2022, 10:37 PM	#1
yonversace Private First Class 32 Rep 169 Posts Drives: 2007 328i sedan (dior) Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: mississippi iTrader: (0)	coolant leak can someone tell me if this is the radiator or upper radiator hose leaking? i need to order the part asap before i go out of town at the end of this month, it’s a far drive so i’m not planning to deal with breaking down. (leak is slow, coolant light comes on about every 1500 miles.) Attached Images Last edited by yonversace; 05-07-2022 at 10:43 PM..
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05-07-2022, 11:45 PM	#2
Nando_e90 Second Lieutenant 111 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: El Salvador iTrader: (0)	It’s the radiator. A VERY common leak. Mine was leaking exactly the same some months ago.
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05-08-2022, 12:01 PM	#3
yonversace Private First Class 32 Rep 169 Posts Drives: 2007 328i sedan (dior) Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: mississippi iTrader: (0)	Well it’s a very very slow small leak so I assume I could drive a while without replacing it. I’ll probably order a new one for good measures anyways though
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05-08-2022, 07:05 PM	#4
Serf27 Brigadier General 2856 Rep 4,325 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Sitting in a BMW. iTrader: (-1)	It looks like the coolant stars leaking from the hose. It could just be a bad o ring on the hose.
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05-08-2022, 09:09 PM	#6
fazm First Lieutenant 617 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW E91 xDrive Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (2)	Get you a CSF all aluminum radiator and literally never think about this again!
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05-10-2022, 03:08 PM	#8
fastboatster Captain 390 Rep 901 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Get a coolant system pressure tester kit and pressurize the system, that’ll tell you for sure
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05-11-2022, 07:22 PM	#9
E90Graphite07 Lieutenant 104 Rep 596 Posts Drives: 07 E90 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Definitely the radiator; might as well replace that hose while you're at it. CSF aluminum was my choice as well... well worth it and a plus on the peace of mind. __________________ 2007 BMW 335i, 2014 Audi A4, 2016 Acura MDX Join us on Facebook: E90Post - Houston Houston BMW DIY Services
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05-24-2022, 06:32 PM	#10
yonversace Private First Class 32 Rep 169 Posts Drives: 2007 328i sedan (dior) Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: mississippi iTrader: (0)	I replaced the upper rad hose lower rad hose and expansion tank line hose and it’s still leaking.
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05-24-2022, 07:02 PM	#11
mainbearing Lieutenant Colonel 1085 Rep 1,682 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Others suggested it was the radiator plastic that cracked. In addition to the two rad hoses and the reservoir vent line, you now have also replaced the radiator as in your post below? https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1925436
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