Blown head gasket? N55

[rezilient]

Yesterday I had my car at the track and everything went fine. Temps were normal, didn't push her too hard and got home without any issues. The drive home is about 1 hour so the car had plenty of time to cool off.

When I got home I parked in the garage. Took the car out this afternoon, no fluids on the garage floor as usual, and yes i did was some more spirited driving but nothing nuts.

Parked the car outside this time and about 1-2 hours later I came back outside again and there was a huge pool of coolant on the driveway.

I filled the coolant reservoir up (probably too much) and headed out to the ball game, got back to the parking garage there was a pool of coolant again, although a lot smaller.

The fluid is definitely coming from the bottom (or top) of the coolant reservoir. It has a bit if a slick feeling to it so I'm worried there is oil in it (ie. head gasket).

I ran the car without the reservoir cap for a while to see if there was any bubbling since that is how I was taught to check for head gasket issues on my old Toyota Supra, but no bubbles.

Any ideas what i can check or do myself (aside from taking her in to a shop asap).

[YearOneOne]

The reservoirs are known to blow at least it did on my 128i and I believe it goes across the board

[rezilient]

Originally Posted by YearOneOne

The reservoirs are known to blow at least it did on my 128i and I believe it goes across the board

So just a hole in the reservoir (expansion tank). Man i hope so.

[The Wind Breezes]

If you had a blown head gasket....you would know it. lol

[Matticus91]

Yeah most likely just the tank, they're pretty fragile.

[asiflicious]

3 things:

1. Why on earth would you keep driving your car after walking out to a pool of coolant on the floor?

2. Coolant has a slick texture and you'd be able to tell if there was oil in it by the color

3. Sounds like a cracked reservoir or leaking water pump. You'd definitely know if you blew a head gasket lol

[rezilient]

Originally Posted by asiflicious

3 things:

1. Why on earth would you keep driving your car after walking out to a pool of coolant on the floor?

2. Coolant has a slick texture and you'd be able to tell if there was oil in it by the color

3. Sounds like a cracked reservoir or leaking water pump. You'd definitely know if you blew a head gasket lol

The engine temps never got any higher than normal so figured the best was to figure out what's going on is to drive it. I haven't driven it since but I really think its the reservoir issue, as other have stated. Either the expansion tank or the expansion tank cap.