F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

WIKDF80 · 01-16-2019, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

It's water cooled, cold water/coolant is being recirculated and it's about 50 degrees. Drive your car hard and feel the charge air cooler you will be surprised, that's why the F8x platform can do back to back pulls because heatsoak is near to non existent until you push the car beyond stock power

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmciver

It is thermodynamics (specifically heat transfer) at work and why a water/air intercooler system (also called a charge cooler system) is the method of choice over air/air intercooler systems - water is more efficeint at removing heat. The supercharger on my E46 M3 track car uses a water/air system and is also cool to the touch as well even when driving hard on the track in 90+ deg F heat. The only down side to air/water systems compared to air/air systems is that air/water systems are more complex and therfore have more components that can break - which is what we are apparently seeing some of right now with this charge cooler leakage issue. If an air/air heat exchanger had a leak in the core, it probably wouldn't even be noticed.

It does seem weird that anything under the hood would be "cool to the touch" after driving hard - but it is just physics doing its thing to help us go faster (and keep the engine from blowing up)

.

Ok understood. When I went out last night to take a picture of the fluid level I did put my hand on top of the charge cooler (which was still warm after several hours of sitting with the engine off). I'm assuming while the car was sitting, there was some heat soak. I'm assuming based on what you have both said that if I were to run the car and get that fluid moving, then immediately pop the hood and touch the charge cooler, that it would in fact (or at least should) be cool to the touch.

avex8 · 01-16-2019, 06:06 PM

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

WeekendWarriorz · 01-16-2019, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

avex8 · 01-16-2019, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

Lol I was going to buy pure turbo next but now I have to spend another 2k on a factory shit part

WeekendWarriorz · 01-16-2019, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

Lol I was going to buy pure turbo next but now I have to spend another 2k on a factory shit part

In my opinion the charge air cooler should be upgraded before going to hybrids. The CSF cooler gives you better IAT and consistency when doing back to back pulls.

avex8 · 01-16-2019, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

Lol I was going to buy pure turbo next but now I have to spend another 2k on a factory shit part

In my opinion the charge air cooler should be upgraded before going to hybrids. The CSF cooler gives you better IAT and consistency when doing back to back pulls.

Do you know if I can still drive the car for around 30 mile with empty coolant in the charge air cooler? I need to drop it off at another shop

WeekendWarriorz · 01-16-2019, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

Lol I was going to buy pure turbo next but now I have to spend another 2k on a factory shit part

In my opinion the charge air cooler should be upgraded before going to hybrids. The CSF cooler gives you better IAT and consistency when doing back to back pulls.

Do you know if I can still drive the car for around 30 mile with empty coolant in the charge air cooler? I need to drop it off at another shop

Yes you can, just don't go WOT doing back to back pulls. People usually drive like this for weeks/months before they realize the fluid has drained

avex8 · 01-16-2019, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Quote:

Originally Posted by avex8

Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML

Buy the CSF cooler, why waste time/money going back to stock to put another shitty charge air cooler on the car that's prone to leaking again? You're already heavily modded so add a CSF cooler to that list..

Lol I was going to buy pure turbo next but now I have to spend another 2k on a factory shit part

In my opinion the charge air cooler should be upgraded before going to hybrids. The CSF cooler gives you better IAT and consistency when doing back to back pulls.

Do you know if I can still drive the car for around 30 mile with empty coolant in the charge air cooler? I need to drop it off at another shop

Yes you can, just don't go WOT doing back to back pulls. People usually drive like this for weeks/months before they realize the fluid has drained

Okay thanks. I think I'll go with EOS cooler, they have testing data. Don't see any testing from CSF.

hellokitty · 01-16-2019, 10:37 PM

Checked today. Still full from the last time I topped it off. 2017 CP 17k miles.

r0wr · 01-17-2019, 12:21 AM

I think mine is fine?

WeekendWarriorz · 01-17-2019, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0wr

I think mine is fine?

Looks good

parabmw · 01-17-2019, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Checked today. Still full from the last time I topped it off. 2017 CP 17k miles.

How many miles since top off?

hellokitty · 01-17-2019, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parabmw

How many miles since top off?

A couple of thousand. Keep in mind it wasn't a full refill. The fluid just got down to the lower level of the yellow floater so I added maybe 1/2 a cup of 50/50 coolant and distilled water to get it up to the top level.

Machtavian · 01-17-2019, 10:47 AM

I had a code for this in October. Took it to the dealer and they said it was low on coolant. They said they did a pressure test and no leak was detected. (I wonder if the leak only happens under boost) I just checked the tank after reading this post and it's completely dry. My warranty expired in December. Is there anything I can do to try to get it replaced under warranty since there was a problem before warranty expired? Obviously there was a leak but they didn't detect it for what ever reason.

damageprone · 01-17-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machtavian

I had a code for this in October. Took it to the dealer and they said it was low on coolant. They said they did a pressure test and no leak was detected. (I wonder if the leak only happens under boost) I just checked the tank after reading this post and it's completely dry. My warranty expired in December. Is there anything I can do to try to get it replaced under warranty since there was a problem before warranty expired? Obviously there was a leak but they didn't detect it for what ever reason.

You can ask them for a good will warranty repair as it was just last month it expired. The worst they can say is no.

This seems like a pretty bad design flaw, you could also send a message to BMW NA as well and see if that goes somewhere if that doesn't work. Not sure if that does anything, but I did that as well.

Machtavian · 01-17-2019, 11:22 AM

I found the old invoice. Will this be enough to get it covered under warranty? I don't really want to go to my SA and cause a scene if I don't have a case.

WeekendWarriorz · 01-17-2019, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machtavian

I found the old invoice.

They'll replace the part you just need to insist, since you documented it with them while you where in warranty you should still be covered

avex8 · 01-17-2019, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machtavian

I found the old invoice.

It's a internal leak, if they remove the charge pipe / intake manifold you will see white residual.

SflBimmer8484 · 01-17-2019, 11:25 AM

This happened to me as well. 2017 filled a few times before Figuring out there was a leak. Iats in the 160+ and limp mode.

Bmw tech said its very common.

damageprone · 01-17-2019, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machtavian

I found the old invoice. Will this be enough to get it covered under warranty? I don't really want to go to my SA and cause a scene if I don't have a case.

Just ask, the worst they can say is no. Otherwise just buy a new aftermarket charge cooler.

shay2nak · 01-17-2019, 11:59 AM

great...

avex8 · 01-17-2019, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shay2nak

great...

good thing we are sharing good info on the forum, early check and get it fix before too late.

01-16-2019, 06:06 PM	#112
avex8 Major 324 Rep 1,337 Posts Drives: 11 E92 m3, 15 F80 M3, GLC 63 Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (3)	Dammit my is leaking too. I just found out from the shop my charge air cooler leaking to the engine. Not sure how long its been leaking but it's dry. I have so much aftermarket on my car, not sure if the dealer will fix it or flag it.... option 2 buy the csf cooler but cost almost 2k with install. FML Attached Images
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01-16-2019, 10:37 PM	#119
hellokitty Brigadier General 2896 Rep 3,726 Posts Drives: '17 M3 ZCP DCT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (2)	Checked today. Still full from the last time I topped it off. 2017 CP 17k miles. Attached Images __________________ 2017 F80 M3 ZCP / AA GESI DPs / Akrapovic Evo / BBS FI-R 19" / Bend Calibration ECUTEK Flex Fuel \| Bilstein B16 DDC + CS EDC / BMC Filters / BMS OCC / CSF HE / ESS CP / Nitto NT555R2 / PD Crank Hub / SPL Suspension / Uniden R7 / Wagner Top Mount IC 2021 Mini GP3 / BMC Filters / BM3 / Cary Jordan E30 / Wagner IC / Remus Race
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01-17-2019, 12:21 AM	#120
r0wr Lieutenant 589 Rep 527 Posts Drives: Beater Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I think mine is fine? Attached Images
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01-17-2019, 10:47 AM	#124
Machtavian Private 61 Rep 56 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: May 2017 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I had a code for this in October. Took it to the dealer and they said it was low on coolant. They said they did a pressure test and no leak was detected. (I wonder if the leak only happens under boost) I just checked the tank after reading this post and it's completely dry. My warranty expired in December. Is there anything I can do to try to get it replaced under warranty since there was a problem before warranty expired? Obviously there was a leak but they didn't detect it for what ever reason.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2019, 11:22 AM	#126
Machtavian Private 61 Rep 56 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: May 2017 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I found the old invoice. Will this be enough to get it covered under warranty? I don't really want to go to my SA and cause a scene if I don't have a case. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2019, 11:25 AM	#129
SflBimmer8484 Brigadier General 1469 Rep 3,157 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (5)	This happened to me as well. 2017 filled a few times before Figuring out there was a leak. Iats in the 160+ and limp mode. Bmw tech said its very common.
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01-17-2019, 11:59 AM	#131
shay2nak smoke if ya got 'em 1070 Rep 2,179 Posts Drives: F80 M3/Lotus Exige/500 Abarth Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calipornia iTrader: (0)	great...
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