Expansion tank leaking

colt9987 · 03-18-2015, 07:41 PM

I was getting my car washed today and noticed smoke coming from under my hood. I popped the hood and found coolant coming out from the edge of the expansion tank. I circled where it was coming out of in the attached picture. Has anyone had this issue? Is there a fix for it? Of course this happens right after my warranty is up.

TwinTurboXI · 03-18-2015, 08:40 PM

I have a small coolant leak as well but I have not found where it's leaking. I'll be keeping an eye on this area.

colt9987 · 03-18-2015, 09:06 PM

If it comes down to needing to change out my expansion tank, is it that hard to do?

colt9987 · 03-19-2015, 07:03 AM

It seems like it is leaking very fast. I bought distilled water and the expansion tank is empty pretty much every time I stop driving and needs to be refilled. Is this something where I can just order a new expansion tank and diy? Or do I need to take it to the dealer?

edisapimp · 03-19-2015, 07:49 AM

If it's cracked in one spot it may be cracked in more than one spot. On E46's we call it the "explosion tank" because they all fail. It isn't a difficult fix, but it requires a new expansion tank. There's a lot of DIYs on this.

colt9987 · 03-19-2015, 08:01 AM

Mind sending a link? I found the DIY for a coolant change, but not for an expansion tank change.

Also, is it recommended to change any other parts of the expansion tank like the grommet or cap, or am I okay just doing the tank itself?

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisapimp

If it's cracked in one spot it may be cracked in more than one spot. On E46's we call it the "explosion tank" because they all fail. It isn't a difficult fix, but it requires a new expansion tank. There's a lot of DIYs on this.

Grinchxvx · 03-19-2015, 09:43 AM

Changing the expansion tank is super easy and you get a OE tank on eBay for like 40 bucks. My car was leaking from around the cap so I got a new one. Just make sure you bleed it tight because if not it will keep leaking, took me a few tries until it stopped

dtla1 · 03-19-2015, 11:31 AM

I've had the tank replaced twice now. Once when it just randomly cracked and a few months later when it cracked again because the Water pump went out.

It doesn't look like it would be too difficult to replace.

edisapimp · 03-19-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colt9987

Mind sending a link? I found the DIY for a coolant change, but not for an expansion tank change.

Also, is it recommended to change any other parts of the expansion tank like the grommet or cap, or am I okay just doing the tank itself?

This is the link to the DIY on e46 fanatics:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=878931

I didn't find one on this forum for n54, but I didn't search that hard.

03-18-2015, 07:41 PM	#1
colt9987 Lieutenant 45 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: dallas iTrader: (2)	Expansion tank leaking I was getting my car washed today and noticed smoke coming from under my hood. I popped the hood and found coolant coming out from the edge of the expansion tank. I circled where it was coming out of in the attached picture. Has anyone had this issue? Is there a fix for it? Of course this happens right after my warranty is up. Attached Images __________________ 2011 135i
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03-18-2015, 08:40 PM	#2
TwinTurboXI Lieutenant Colonel 160 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: . iTrader: (12)	I have a small coolant leak as well but I have not found where it's leaking. I'll be keeping an eye on this area.
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03-18-2015, 09:06 PM	#3
colt9987 Lieutenant 45 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: dallas iTrader: (2)	If it comes down to needing to change out my expansion tank, is it that hard to do? __________________ 2011 135i
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03-19-2015, 07:03 AM	#4
colt9987 Lieutenant 45 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: dallas iTrader: (2)	It seems like it is leaking very fast. I bought distilled water and the expansion tank is empty pretty much every time I stop driving and needs to be refilled. Is this something where I can just order a new expansion tank and diy? Or do I need to take it to the dealer? __________________ 2011 135i
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03-19-2015, 07:49 AM	#5
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	If it's cracked in one spot it may be cracked in more than one spot. On E46's we call it the "explosion tank" because they all fail. It isn't a difficult fix, but it requires a new expansion tank. There's a lot of DIYs on this. __________________ E88 Crimson Red Vert MSport 6MT - Listing your mods in your signature is lame. BMS DCI/MHD E30 Flash!!/AA Sport FMIC/VRSF CP w Tial BOV/VRSF 3" DPs/550i clutch w SPEC SMFW/Apex EC-7s/Whiteline RSFB/E92 M3 FCAs/Bilstein B12 Pro Kit/VRSF inlets
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03-19-2015, 09:43 AM	#7
Grinchxvx Lieutenant 29 Rep 414 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salt Lake City iTrader: (0)	Changing the expansion tank is super easy and you get a OE tank on eBay for like 40 bucks. My car was leaking from around the cap so I got a new one. Just make sure you bleed it tight because if not it will keep leaking, took me a few tries until it stopped __________________ 2008 Aw/Coral Red Manual 135i Coupe- JB4 G5 + BMS race flash, BMS meth kit, VRSF DP, Big tom Ic, BMS chinese tester CP, Custom Muffler Delete, BMS Oil Cooler Valve, Cowl Filters, Clutch Stop, B&M Short Shifter, Spec Stg 2+ Clutch W/ Oem dmfw, Vmr V710, KW v2, M RSFB, 1M Front and rear Bumper, Performance Side Skirts, slek trunk, Lci blacklines.]
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03-19-2015, 11:31 AM	#8
dtla1 Colonel 828 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, Space Grey Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (2)	I've had the tank replaced twice now. Once when it just randomly cracked and a few months later when it cracked again because the Water pump went out. It doesn't look like it would be too difficult to replace.
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