F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Has anybody who has seen a failed charge cooler looked a bit deeper to possibly determine where the leak/failure is occurring inside the charge cooler? Does it have to do with the plastic end tanks (I would think not)? Something with the internal fin design? Where is the weak link in the OEM design and how did the aftermarket options (CSF or Forge) address this weak link?

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Had the same issue with the shop's M4, not sure what caused the leak (car was completely stock).
We have not had any issues since upgrading to the CSF cooler

Originally Posted by jmciver

Has anybody who has seen a failed charge cooler looked a bit deeper to possibly determine where the leak/failure is occurring inside the charge cooler? Does it have to do with the plastic end tanks (I would think not)? Something with the internal fin design? Where is the weak link in the OEM design and how did the aftermarket options (CSF or Forge) address this weak link?

Probably internal fin design flaw. Coolant got into the intake manifold. The only way I see that happening is fluid is getting mixed after the air enter the radiator core and spilling into the cool side before flooding the intake manifold.

If the coolant leaks out of the expansion tank, then I'm not sure how that would make its way into the intake tract so I am thinking the actual stock heat exchanger is the issue here.

[jmciver]

Well this thread officially has me paranoid.... Well not really, but it had me curious enough to at least go check my expansion tank . Fortunately my level is fine and has not changed.

One thing I find interesting is the number of people in this thread that responded who have had this issue, in most cases being fixed under warranty. While the enthusiast community on the forums is only a small subset of all S55 owners, the responses still seemed rather high even for such a small sample size. It makes me wonder how often this has occurred and if there are any trends (like a bad production batch possibly, etc).

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Well this thread officially has me paranoid.... Well not really, but it had me curious enough to at least go check my expansion tank . Fortunately my level is fine and has not changed.

One thing I find interesting is the number of people in this thread that responded who have had this issue, in most cases being fixed under warranty. While the enthusiast community on the forums is only a small subset of all S55 owners, the responses still seemed rather high even for such a small sample size. It makes me wonder how often this has occurred and if there are any trends (like a bad production batch possibly, etc).

I was surprised, I could not find anything related to this issue and when i made the thread seems like this is common but unspoken of. Kind of hard to believe cause this can hydrolock the engine and the water could potentially cause rod bearing/engine failure as the oil will be derived of its lubrication purpose.

[damageprone]

This makes me paranoid now since one time I got a low coolant warning a year ago. BMW topped off the fluid (very little) and it never came back.

I would check it as my warranty ends the end of this month but it's currently in for a leaking turbo!

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by damageprone

This makes me paranoid now since one time I got a low coolant warning a year ago. BMW topped off the fluid (very little) and it never came back.

I would check it as my warranty ends the end of this month but it's currently in for a leaking turbo!

Coolant is different from this, if this goes low you will not get a warning or anything.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

I was surprised, I could not find anything related to this issue and when i made the thread seems like this is common but unspoken of. Kind of hard to believe cause this can hydrolock the engine and the water could potentially cause rod bearing/engine failure as the oil will be derived of its lubrication purpose.

I'm surprised as well. I've been around here pretty much since the beginning of the F80,82,83 deliveries and am on my third one. This is the first I've heard of this problem. FWIW of course, it makes me wonder if it was just a bad batch of parts as well.

[Proctor750]

Can anyone who this happened to (or even just loss of the coolant) please post year/mileage?

It looks like the forge piece is about 200 bucks cheaper but why is it solid welded at both ends where the CSF looks to be bolted with gasket? Does that mean the CSF "core" is serviceable?

[M3anPower]

Originally Posted by Proctor750

Can anyone who this happened to (or even just loss of the coolant) please post year/mileage?

It looks like the forge piece is about 200 bucks cheaper but why is it solid welded at both ends where the CSF looks to be bolted with gasket? Does that mean the CSF "core" is serviceable?

No. It means CSF are lazy to do their product in one piece.

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Coolant is different from this, if this goes low you will not get a warning or anything.

If the intercooler reservoir goes dry and it tries to pump you will get a drivetrain malfunction and it'll throw a code.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by FAKE__NEWS

If the intercooler reservoir goes dry and it tries to pump you will get a drivetrain malfunction and it'll throw a code.

It didn't throw codes and it was running dry for weeks

[Proctor750]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

It didn't throw codes and it was running dry for weeks

year/mileage?

[milk242]

Just looked at my charge air cooler reservoir and it looks pretty empty to me. I have a Sept 2015 build with 25k miles.

Will need to schedule an appointment with the dealer sigh.

[mfurse]

This thread made me paranoid enough to go check the coolant in both expansion tanks.

The difference between Min and Max isn't much. The little disk measuring device in each tank is maybe 6-10mm between the Min and Max levels:

Min _____/| Max

Both mine were showing in between the levels. I will just check each regularly.

(2015 Oct Build, LCI M3 with 22,000KM).

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by Proctor750

year/mileage?

2018, 15k

[jpy1980]

Hmmm I just checked mine as well and it was empty. No codes or anything. Car seemed to run fine too. I just added some distilled water to the right level and made a call to my service dept. will keep you guys updated.

2015 M3 with 41k miles

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Hmmm I just checked mine as well and it was empty. No codes or anything. Car seemed to run fine too. I just added some distilled water to the right level and made a call to my service dept. will keep you guys updated.

2015 M3 with 41k miles

Start the car to operating ticket and feel the charge air cooler, it should be cold unless there's no fluid in there

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Start the car to operating ticket and feel the charge air cooler, it should be cold unless there's no fluid in there

Got it. I already had filled it up but the next time I see it empty I’ll try it. Now when I say empty, I wasn’t completely sure it was empty empty but the bottom yellow fluid level indicator seemed dry. Maybe there was fluid below that. Probably took about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water? Not too sure as I have a distilled water jug in my garage I keep for occasions like this.

[milk242]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Got it. I already had filled it up but the next time I see it empty I'll try it. Now when I say empty, I wasn't completely sure it was empty empty but the bottom yellow fluid level indicator seemed dry. Maybe there was fluid below that. Probably took about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water? Not too sure as I have a distilled water jug in my garage I keep for occasions like this.

Mine was visually like that too. After I drove a bit and parked the charge air cooler was hot.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by milk242

Mine was visually like that too. After I drove a bit and parked the charge air cooler was hot.

Yep then yours is leaking into the intake manifold like this car! Service center ASAP!

[///M///]

Checked mine. See picture. The fluid is level with the top of that yellow contraption in there. It’s hard to see in there so someone please clarify where do you measure level? Is it that black round dot on top (circled in red) or is the measurement on that yellow contraption?

Thanks.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by ///M///

Checked mine. See picture. The fluid is level with the top of that yellow contraption in there. It’s hard to see in there so someone please clarify where do you measure level? Is it that black round dot on top (circled in red) or is the measurement on that yellow contraption?

Thanks.

The fluid looks full, if anything you can add a tiny bit then drive for a few days and look for a change in height. But be sure to check the fluid at the same temperature as you filled it

[///M///]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

The fluid looks full, if anything you can add a tiny bit then drive for a few days and look for a change in height. But be sure to check the fluid at the same temperature as you filled it

Thanks. This was checked on a cold car. So that yellow thing is the measure with the bottom flat portion being the low mark and the top being full with the threads inbetween the indicator marks? Does this take regular BMW coolant that you use in the radiator?

Thanks.