F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

[papasmurf_m3]

Got my intercooler replaced @ BMW VISTA. They did a great job. One thing I noticed is It doesn't feel cold to the touch like it did before?

Has anyone encountered this before? I read someone mentioned it before too. But, can't find where.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by papasmurf_m3

Got my intercooler replaced @ BMW VISTA. They did a great job. One thing I noticed is It doesn't feel cold to the touch like it did before?

Has anyone encountered this before? I read someone mentioned it before too. But, can't find where.

Either you are not driving it hard enough to feel the difference (can't have the car idle too long as engine bay temps will equalize pretty quickly). Or they did not properly vent the system when they refilled it. Check your charge cooler expansion tank level to see if you need some more coolant. Then you can run the bleed cycle to try to get any more air out of the system.

[rborane]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Either you are not driving it hard enough to feel the difference (can't have the car idle too long as engine bay temps will equalize pretty quickly). Or they did not properly vent the system when they refilled it. Check your charge cooler expansion tank level to see if you need some more coolant. Then you can run the bleed cycle to try to get any more air out of the system.

Stupid question, but If the coolant in the Intercooler tank is at the correct level, (right above the minimum marker), the system was bled correctly right?

Is there an event where the coolant level will be correct, but there could potentially still be air in the system? Or does the level drop if there is air?

[TTGator]

Hey guys,

This thread led me to do my own research and put together a video trying to explain the complex cooling system of our S55 engines. Hope you find it informative and helpful. If so, please do the YouTube thing and like/subscribe/comment. You know the drill.

I'll be changing the coolant soon and make a follow up DIY.

https://youtu.be/t_e1gcqbU1g

[mattdimarsico]

This exact thing happened to me. Wish I would've read this thread a month ago... You live and you learn, I suppose...

[mrahp23]

Originally Posted by TTGator

Hey guys,

This thread led me to do my own research and put together a video trying to explain the complex cooling system of our S55 engines. Hope you find it informative and helpful. If so, please do the YouTube thing and like/subscribe/comment. You know the drill.

I'll be changing the coolant soon and make a follow up DIY.

https://youtu.be/t_e1gcqbU1g

this was great! Thanks for taking the time to make and further explain the system in layman terms. appreciate it!

[TTGator]

Originally Posted by mrahp23

this was great! Thanks for taking the time to make and further explain the system in layman terms. appreciate it!

You bet!

[icebiker]

Originally Posted by TTGator

Hey guys,

This thread led me to do my own research and put together a video trying to explain the complex cooling system of our S55 engines. Hope you find it informative and helpful. If so, please do the YouTube thing and like/subscribe/comment. You know the drill.

I'll be changing the coolant soon and make a follow up DIY.

https://youtu.be/t_e1gcqbU1g

You are the man! Very helpful. Thanks for taking the time!! Sub'd!

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by TTGator

Hey guys,

This thread led me to do my own research and put together a video trying to explain the complex cooling system of our S55 engines. Hope you find it informative and helpful. If so, please do the YouTube thing and like/subscribe/comment. You know the drill.

I'll be changing the coolant soon and make a follow up DIY.

https://youtu.be/t_e1gcqbU1g

Nice video. I see you found that S55 PDF document that has been floating around since shortly after the F8x debuted. A very informative document. As far as the vacuum fill tool, Schwaben makes one that ECS sells for ~$80. Definitely an intermediate level DIY tool, but I have one and it makes the coolant fill job a breeze (I have not used it on my F80 yet, but another BMW I own).

[TTGator]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Nice video. I see you found that S55 PDF document that has been floating around since shortly after the F8x debuted. A very informative document. As far as the vacuum fill tool, Schwaben makes one that ECS sells for ~$80. Definitely an intermediate level DIY tool, but I have one and it makes the coolant fill job a breeze (I have not used it on my F80 yet, but another BMW I own).

Yes, I have a vacuum fill tool as well. The expensive item I was talking about is the one that vacuums the fluid OUT. Getting it in under vacuum isn't nearly as bad

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by TTGator

Yes, I have a vacuum fill tool as well. The expensive item I was talking about is the one that vacuums the fluid OUT. Getting it in under vacuum isn't nearly as bad

Ah yes, ok. The instructions for the Schwaben vacuum fill tool state to not use it to pull fluid out of the system, but I wonder how much would come out if you tried....

[Vader97]

Yep. M4 Owner here and I can confirm this happened within a month of buying the car. Was quoted around $2200 for an OEM replacement (which is ridiculous). Ended up going with VRSFs cooler (which was around $650). Haven't had a problem since. I find it interesting that this issue isn't promoted as heavily as the crankhub stuff because when it happened to me I was definitely annoyed. And it sucks that BMW would use plastic inlet and outlets on a high pressure application. Amazes me when I see builds on here pushing high HP and running stock intercoolers lmao

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by rborane

Stupid question, but If the coolant in the Intercooler tank is at the correct level, (right above the minimum marker), the system was bled correctly right?

Is there an event where the coolant level will be correct, but there could potentially still be air in the system? Or does the level drop if there is air?

Not a stupid question at all. You can still have air trapped within the system, regardless of what the coolant marker says.

I found the bleeding procedure to be very easy. Just follow the sequence of push start once, headlight on heater all the way up fan on low and press the gas pedal for 10 seconds. Pretty sure it's that. But, there is a youtube video of a heat exchanger or charge cooler DIY from keis motorsports that explains step by step. I was led to by topJimmy. Super helpful

I bled mine twice to be sure. You will hear the pump activate and when the bleeding completes you will hear an audible chime.

It's been a few weeks, I'll probably do it once more in a few just for good measure.

[TTGator]

Quick question for you guys maybe somebody can answer me shortly… I am in the middle of doing the coolant change right now. I found out that in the two different systems, there are two different colors of fluid! The engine cooling system has the normal blue fluid I was expecting, but the charge air system had a yellow fluid. Do you guys think that I should flush the charge air system side a couple times just with distilled water to try to get it all out before putting in the blue?
And possibly more importantly, anybody know why there would be a yellow fluid in that side?

[KevM2]

I'm hoping this is like covid lol... No expert knows much about it, it's very rare, but it's blown way out of proportion, and when you do get it, it's not very serious at all

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by TTGator

Quick question for you guys maybe somebody can answer me shortly… I am in the middle of doing the coolant change right now. I found out that in the two different systems, there are two different colors of fluid! The engine cooling system has the normal blue fluid I was expecting, but the charge air system had a yellow fluid. Do you guys think that I should flush the charge air system side a couple times just with distilled water to try to get it all out before putting in the blue?
And possibly more importantly, anybody know why there would be a yellow fluid in that side?

Are you the original owner? My '17 M3 definitely had the blue stuff in the car, in both coolant systems (made the yellow level gauge in the expansion tank look green). IIRC from the TIS procedures, the coolant specs for both systems are the same which would mean the standard BMW blue coolant for both systems.

If you are not the original owner another reason for the yellow-ish color could be the addition of Redline Water Wetter, which is red. I added this to my charge air cooling system and my coolant has a yellow-ish tint to it now.

[TTGator]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Are you the original owner? My '17 M3 definitely had the blue stuff in the car, in both coolant systems (made the yellow level gauge in the expansion tank look green). IIRC from the TIS procedures, the coolant specs for both systems are the same which would mean the standard BMW blue coolant for both systems.

If you are not the original owner another reason for the yellow-ish color could be the addition of Redline Water Wetter, which is red. I added this to my charge air cooling system and my coolant has a yellow-ish tint to it now.

Interesting… No I am the second owner. The original owner had the Dinan heat exchanger added by a local BMW indy shop. I am assuming that they replaced the coolant with something, possibly that water wetter.

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by KevM2

I'm hoping this is like covid lol... No expert knows much about it, it's very rare, but it's blown way out of proportion, and when you do get it, it's not very serious at all

Originally Posted by KevM2

I'm hoping this is like covid lol... No expert knows much about it, it's very rare, but it's blown way out of proportion, and when you do get it, it's not very serious at all

None of what you just said is true lol
-ER doc

[TTGator]

Ok here is the Coolant Change DIY for you guys!

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

None of what you just said is true lol
-ER doc

Beg to differ..but let's not digress in a Bmw forum lol

-vascular surgeon

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by KevM2

Beg to differ..but let's not digress in a Bmw forum lol

-vascular surgeon

I'd say a part of one's impression of covid is also based on where they're practicing. Your profile says Canada. If accurate, the good news is you guys haven't been hit as hard thank goodness. Maybe having competent leaders does make a difference who knew. I agree let's not digress here but you can pm if you want to discuss more about covid

[Ropes]

Well of all the internet hype over various failures (sch) I get the one that is not mentioned anywhere near as much. Happened at ~40k miles and was noticed when I checked fluid levels after a spark plug change.