Smoke coming out of kidney grills

Gray_Panther · 11-05-2014, 09:19 AM

Hi all,
I have a 128i with almost 17k miles and I have parked my car after about fifteen minutes of driving in the rain and when I begin to walk away I see smoke coming out from my kidney grills. When I open the hood and try to find the source I cannot find it.

This has happened twice so far. Both times it was raining outside and it was at night.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I know a lot about headlights but very little when it comes to the engine so I don't want to jump to any conclusions.

andrey_gta · 11-05-2014, 09:23 AM

hot vapour?

Gray_Panther · 11-05-2014, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

hot vapour?

Could be. Is that expected? It's just that my GTI never does that....but entirely different engine.

RoundelM3 · 11-05-2014, 10:21 AM

Most likely just water vapor coming from cold rain hitting hot radiator when driving. Nothing to worry about.

bmw1racer · 11-05-2014, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

Most likely just water vapor coming from cold rain hitting hot radiator when driving.

That's what I think.

And there's a difference between smoke and steam. The next time you see it, maybe you should take a whiff... Steam should be relatively odorless.

MightyMouseTech · 11-05-2014, 04:23 PM

Just water steaming off the rad. Normal.

Gray_Panther · 11-05-2014, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

Most likely just water vapor coming from cold rain hitting hot radiator when driving.

That's what I think.

And there's a difference between smoke and steam. The next time you see it, maybe you should take a whiff... Steam should be relatively odorless.

Makes sense! I did take a wiff and it was odorless. I think it was just steam.

Thanks gents!

Pothole · 11-06-2014, 11:09 AM

Had this on my E90 as well as my E88. Only in rain. Don't worry about it

11-05-2014, 09:19 AM	#1
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1555 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Smoke coming out of kidney grills Hi all, I have a 128i with almost 17k miles and I have parked my car after about fifteen minutes of driving in the rain and when I begin to walk away I see smoke coming out from my kidney grills. When I open the hood and try to find the source I cannot find it. This has happened twice so far. Both times it was raining outside and it was at night. Has this happened to anyone else? I know a lot about headlights but very little when it comes to the engine so I don't want to jump to any conclusions. __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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11-05-2014, 09:23 AM	#2
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	hot vapour? __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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11-05-2014, 10:21 AM	#4
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Most likely just water vapor coming from cold rain hitting hot radiator when driving. Nothing to worry about. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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11-05-2014, 04:23 PM	#6
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Just water steaming off the rad. Normal.
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11-06-2014, 11:09 AM	#8
Pothole Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 250 Posts Drives: E88 125i, RR sport 3.0tdv6 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Had this on my E90 as well as my E88. Only in rain. Don't worry about it __________________ BMW E88 125i - Tunex Tuned@ 228whp - Cyba Scoops - Performance Kidneys - Performance Exhaust - Performance Intake - BMW Strutbar - 3d Design Carbon Diffuser - Blacklines - Golf Tee - FK Coilovers - Klutch SL14
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