massive coolant leak, white smoke from under hood

shinne · 03-23-2022, 08:59 PM

New 135i owner here. I had numerous problems with the car after it sat for a month and a half due to registration issues such as wheel speed sensors, fuel pump sensor, etc. After picking up the car and driving it home from the shop, I had some fine mist on the windshield. I didn't take much notice because it was raining so I continued home. Closer to home I got a low coolant light but I kept going because I was pretty close. When I got to my house there was a lot of white smoke coming from the engine bay, with coolant scattered all over the place. There was also coolant dripping under the car.

I will probably get the car towed to the same shop to repair it and maybe see if they caused it. My main question is that could running with low to no coolant have caused damage to the engine (I traveled around 30 minutes from the shop to my house) Oil levels were slightly higher than normal towards the end of the drive (260-270), but I never got any overheating warnings. I am new to N54s so I am not quite sure if the lack of coolant could have damaged the engine even with the normal-ish oil temperatures.

Any help is appreciated.

edycol · 03-26-2022, 07:42 PM

Your oil level raised during driving? Do you have milkshake under oil cap?

You probably had coolant reservoir explosion. IMO after 100k in BMW, all coolant hoses and reservoir should be replaced.

NorthernDancer · 03-27-2022, 11:29 AM

Maybe this: ES#3552811 from ECS Tuning. Also available from FCP Euro with a different part number. FCP also have a video on how to replace.

03-23-2022, 08:59 PM	#1
shinne Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	massive coolant leak, white smoke from under hood New 135i owner here. I had numerous problems with the car after it sat for a month and a half due to registration issues such as wheel speed sensors, fuel pump sensor, etc. After picking up the car and driving it home from the shop, I had some fine mist on the windshield. I didn't take much notice because it was raining so I continued home. Closer to home I got a low coolant light but I kept going because I was pretty close. When I got to my house there was a lot of white smoke coming from the engine bay, with coolant scattered all over the place. There was also coolant dripping under the car. I will probably get the car towed to the same shop to repair it and maybe see if they caused it. My main question is that could running with low to no coolant have caused damage to the engine (I traveled around 30 minutes from the shop to my house) Oil levels were slightly higher than normal towards the end of the drive (260-270), but I never got any overheating warnings. I am new to N54s so I am not quite sure if the lack of coolant could have damaged the engine even with the normal-ish oil temperatures. Any help is appreciated.
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03-26-2022, 07:42 PM	#2
edycol Major 1502 Rep 1,483 Posts Drives: 2011 328i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Colorado Springs iTrader: (0)	Your oil level raised during driving? Do you have milkshake under oil cap? You probably had coolant reservoir explosion. IMO after 100k in BMW, all coolant hoses and reservoir should be replaced.
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03-27-2022, 11:29 AM	#3
NorthernDancer Colonel 848 Rep 2,276 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	Maybe this: ES#3552811 from ECS Tuning. Also available from FCP Euro with a different part number. FCP also have a video on how to replace.
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