So, i found 2 small coolant spots on garage floor this morning!- Water Pump???

[Jonemw]

2011 135, 39k miles. Spots were coolant, one dime sized, one nickel. Right front center area. No dash indicators yet. Do the well known pump fails leak first ?, or are the electric fails just sudden? I thought the pumps were mounted sort of left of center, or is my thinking backwards? Car went off warranty end of January of course. Supposed to go to Arizona on Friday!
Any helpful hints from someone been there before?
jonathan

[Dackelone]

Do you have a way to check for thrown OBDII codes? I would have your car checked for leaks and codes BEFORE you leave on your journey. I would also have BMW roadside assist number on hand. They can also come and look at your car.

[Jonemw]

I have a code reader around here somewhere, have not used it in years, will see if I can find it. Strange coincidence, just had the performance nose repainted,from many rock c hips and it was off the car of course. I will go under ther with a bright light and see if there is any evidence of any sort of leak or seepage, car is running totally normally.

[RoundelM3]

Make sure your coolant overflow tank isn't cracked/leaking too...could just be that instead of a pump. Liquid sometimes runs along surfaces before it drips. Check the coolant hoses and connections too while you're at it.

[Jonemw]

Well, the molded seam on the back side of the expansion tank was slightly split.
At 39k miles . Bmw +plastic+cooling systems=endless problems I guess. Been dealing with this for decades, why stop now? Plus this way I still get to look forward to the water pump fail.

[KNS]

Wow, I thought with the redesigned expansion tank in the 1 series (and no reports of failures that I'd heard of yet), BMW finally got their act somewhat together with the cooling system.

Some things never change....

[RoundelM3]

We're talking the plastic overflow tank, right? Or was it the expansion tank at the top of the radiator? Either way, that crack is pretty rare in later models, although the older E46 and E3x models had some issues with the hose connections to the radiator itself. The materials used these days are much better than the earlier plastics, but my personal choice would be a metal (likely aluminum) for the tank on top of the radiator, if not the entire radiator itself.

I remember when radiators would get so corroded and plugged-up that the tank (usually brass or other stamped metal) would have to be removed so that all the tubes could be "rodded out" using a slender wire brush just for that purpose. The tank then had to be re-soldered back to the top of the radiator. This plastic-part failure is a nit compared to what used to be commonplace when maintenance was left to the owner and not provided by the manufacturer/dealership in order to maintain warranty.

[e36addict]

Originally Posted by roundel335

We're talking the plastic overflow tank, right? Or was it the expansion tank at the top of the radiator? Either way, that crack is pretty rare in later models, although the older E46 and E3x models had some issues with the hose connections to the radiator itself. The materials used these days are much better than the earlier plastics, but my personal choice would be a metal (likely aluminum) for the tank on top of the radiator, if not the entire radiator itself.

I remember when radiators would get so corroded and plugged-up that the tank (usually brass or other stamped metal) would have to be removed so that all the tubes could be "rodded out" using a slender wire brush just for that purpose. The tank then had to be re-soldered back to the top of the radiator. This plastic-part failure is a nit compared to what used to be commonplace when maintenance was left to the owner and not provided by the manufacturer/dealership in order to maintain warranty.

What "overflow" tank on top of the radiator are you talking about? These cars only have expansion tanks..

[RoundelM3]

Semantics - some radiators have a small tank at the top of the radiator, where the hose connects. That used to be where the radiator filler neck and cap were too. The plastic expansion/overflow tank near the radiator now has that filler and cap. Never have seen one out of the car, though, but I have read about plastic connectors failing where the radiator hoses attach to the radiator itself in older models.

[Dackelone]

roundel335

Originally Posted by KNS

Wow, I thought with the redesigned expansion tank in the 1 series (and no reports of failures that I'd heard of yet), BMW finally got their act somewhat together with the cooling system.

Some things never change....

There have been a few(3) postings of cracked expansion tanks on the 135i. The tank is pretty close to the turbos and it does get pretty darn hot under the hood. Expansion tanks, water pumps(& electronic thermostats) coolant hoses are all maintenance items. You can't expect those things to last forever.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

roundel335





There have been a few(3) postings of cracked expansion tanks on the 135i. The tank is pretty close to the turbos and it does get pretty darn hot under the hood. Expansion tanks, water pumps(& electronic thermostats) coolant hoses are all maintenance items. You can't expect those things to last forever.

Oh yeah - I'm on my third expansion tank on my E46 (no failures, just staying ahead). Currently at 191,000 miles on the 325i. I'm on my fourth thermostat but two of them leaked (both Whalers) at very low mileage.

[mr.fabulous]

*Never* buy an expansion tank that is not Genuine Bee-Em-Double-Ewe. I went through several with my E36 before I finally got religion and grabbed one at a dealer. Worth the extra money.

[dtla1]

Dealer has already replaced two of my expansion tanks due to cracking. This may or may not have been due to a failing water pump at the time. Water pump and thermostat was replaced 2 months after 2nd tank replaced.

[TwinTurboXI]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Dealer has already replaced two of my expansion tanks due to cracking. This may or may not have been due to a failing water pump at the time. Water pump and thermostat was replaced 2 months after 2nd tank replaced.

Any idea where the cracks were located?

[e36addict]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboXI

Any idea where the cracks were located?

They usually either split around the seam where the upper/lower halves join together, or get small cracks under the cap in the filler area. When that happens, you don't really see any leaks since there's a little weep hole in there, so the fluid just slowly drains out the bottom.

[edisapimp]

Originally Posted by KNS

Oh yeah - I'm on my third expansion tank on my E46 (no failures, just staying ahead). Currently at 191,000 miles on the 325i. I'm on my fourth thermostat but two of them leaked (both Whalers) at very low mileage.

Greatest. Car. Ever.

[TwinTurboXI]

Originally Posted by e36addict

They usually either split around the seam where the upper/lower halves join together, or get small cracks under the cap in the filler area. When that happens, you don't really see any leaks since there's a little weep hole in there, so the fluid just slowly drains out the bottom.

Thanks for the reply. I have a small coolant leak somewhere and have been unable to locate it. I'll check the areas you mentioned. My car is a 2011 as well.