F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

[F80Moe]

Warm car..

Is it supposed to be foamy like this?

16' 27K miles

[Yessir]

Originally Posted by F80Moe

Warm car..

Is it supposed to be foamy like this?

16' 27K miles

Mine is not foamy at all, cold or after a drive. If I had to take an educated guess. You have a leak somewhere and air is being introduced in the system, hence the bubbles. Not trying to scare you but just giving you my observations.

[F80Moe]

Originally Posted by Yessir

Mine is not foamy at all, cold or after a drive. If I had to take an educated guess. You have a leak somewhere and air is being introduced in the system, hence the bubbles. Not trying to scare you but just giving you my observations.

Makes sense

Will have it checked soon

[M-Pilot]

After seeing this thread, I checked mine this morning. This is from 2019 M2 Competition delivered in November. I don't know if I should be worried since the fluid isn't all the way to the top. I'll probably check again after a few days.

[R3dliner]

Checked mines today and its on the low level. 18 with 10k miles.
Do I use the blue bmw coolant w/ distilled water to top it off?

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

Checked mines today and its on the low level. 18 with 10k miles.
Do I use the blue bmw coolant w/ distilled water to top it off?

Yeah that's correct

[avex8]

Got my new CSF intercooler in!! My coolant reservoir was dry and saw white residual in the charge pipe. Not sure how long it was leaking, I didn't get any malfunction message. I found out the leak from code reader 20A201

[Machtavian]

Thanks for all the input I got on the forum. BMW covered the complete replacement of the intercooler even though it was out of warranty.

[FAKE__NEWS]

Replacing mine tomorrow. Has anybody sent their oil out for analysis to see if yes indeed it was leaking past the head?

[ruley74]

Checked my level today, 90,000kms and it's still full. About 9000kms since last service.

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by damageprone

If you do, please do a DIY as it seems a few of us are going to be doing the same.

I completely forgot to do a DIY. Replace it today, it was SUPER easy. Take the charge pipes off, clamp off then disconnect the tubing, and she pops right up and out.

I think the Venturi effect is in place on a lot of these leaks. When you’re on boost it just drains. You can see the damage to the fins, but I’m glad that I replaced it. Car pulls harder according to the butt dyno.

The pic won’t embed but it’s:

View post on imgur.com

[milk242]

Already a pretty good DIY.

Mine gets delivered on Monday.

Did you put a lot of shop rags around to catch fluid or was yours already drained empty from the leak?

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by milk242

Did you put a lot of shop rags around to catch fluid or was yours already drained empty from the leak?

I clamped the hoses with little steel spring clamps and the charge air cooler itself was pretty much drained after sitting all night.

[jmciver]

What did you use to re-fill the system? The factory procedure has you use a vacuum fill unit....

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by jmciver

What did you use to re-fill the system? The factory procedure has you use a vacuum fill unit....

And I did. Followed the "venting and filling cooling system with vacuum filling unit" and "Bleed cooling circuit for low temperatures (low-temperature cooling system)" I found on a group of F80 webTIS documents on here to refill the system and pressure test. I used a Mityvac kit I already had.

EDIT: 02/02/2019

After thinking about this more and more. I've been driving it for three months since we initially had the drivetrain malfunction and found the IC reservoir empty. Upon removing the coldside pipe back in November we found no evidence of a leak. Fast forward to now, ample evidence in the charge pipe of a leak.

In my opinion, once it goes, it goes quick.

[milk242]

Originally Posted by FAKE__NEWS

And I did. Followed the "venting and filling cooling system with vacuum filling unit" and "Bleed cooling circuit for low temperatures (low-temperature cooling system)" I found on a group of F80 webTIS documents on here to refill the system and pressure test. I used a Mityvac kit I already had.

EDIT: 02/02/2019

After thinking about this more and more. I've been driving it for three months since we initially had the drivetrain malfunction and found the IC reservoir empty. Upon removing the coldside pipe back in November we found no evidence of a leak. Fast forward to now, ample evidence in the charge pipe of a leak.

In my opinion, once it goes, it goes quick.

Could you recommend a coolant vacuum kit? I'm assuming the reservoir cap is pretty universal?

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by milk242

Could you recommend a coolant vacuum kit? I'm assuming the reservoir cap is pretty universal?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../024948sch01a/

I just ordered this one. I had an ECS gift card but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

[NickyC]

Checked my '15 M4 today with 30k miles on it, fluid level was fine. I'm planning on keeping the car for many years, so this is something I'll be checking at every gas fillup now going forward as it just takes a moment.

Thank you as always to this wonderful forum for bringing this issue to attention!!

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by FAKE__NEWS

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-parts/schwaben-coolant-vacuum-fill-tool/024948sch01a/

I just ordered this one. I had an ECS gift card but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

I have this one too. I have not used it on the F80 yet though.

[Wolverine M3 CS]

2016 M4 28300 miles, I just read this yesterday and checked it today it's bone dry, I track the car 5 times a year, and I have Chuckawalla on the 16-17 NASA TT. Do you guys think if I fill up I will be fine or should I take to the dealer before the track.

[Proctor750]

Looks like EOS may have a larger surface area than the CSF.

I asked CSF why they have end plates with bolts and gaskets vs welding everything like EOS and the response was:


"The reason for the design is that it looks better this way. It gives it a more advanced / cleaner looks than welding the top of the cooler.
-If you've seeing competing designs, the tops welds are not very good. it's very hard to make a nice straight line on such a short distance."

[Wolverine M3 CS]

I am at the end of the lease on my M4 and I was contemplating the M2 Competition, it has the same engine so does anyone knows if they are having the same problems?