F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by icebiker

In reading this thread and the other one about a blown motor, I can't tell whether this condition, when it happens, is an automatic motor killer or not. Seems that most who have experienced it have been able to rectify the problem with a new charge cooler but not necessarily suffer a catastrophic failure of the engine (assuming it's caught in time).

So is the guidance to check the IC reservoir periodically and, if it is unexpectedly empty, limp your way to dealer? Or flatbed it to avoid complicating the matter further until the charge cooler can be replaced ?

This won't blow your motor. Most people won't even realize that this has happened until they read this thread and check, which they could've been driving like this for months. And everyone here has driven to take the car in from what it seems.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by icebiker

In reading this thread and the other one about a blown motor, I can't tell whether this condition, when it happens, is an automatic motor killer or not. Seems that most who have experienced it have been able to rectify the problem with a new charge cooler but not necessarily suffer a catastrophic failure of the engine (assuming it's caught in time).

So is the guidance to check the IC reservoir periodically and, if it is unexpectedly empty, limp your way to dealer? Or flatbed it to avoid complicating the matter further until the charge cooler can be replaced ?

There should be no reason to limp your way. If it's empty, take a picture/video of the empty tank, find your nearest gas station and fill it up with coolant. Then just keep it off boost to the dealer and show the picture/video and timestamp.

Or tow it, whichever is easier for you.

[Txipi84]

Originally Posted by G4BR13L

It is a very good engine nevertheless. People usually complain online about issues, but it is a marginal number of cars that have issues.

Of course.

In my case I'm worried about the problem of cranck hub, my M3 es Jun'15

[f83woody]

This happened to my 15 f83 around last August. There were no mods directly correlated to it but I found out bc I kept throwing codes and drivetrain errors. Just like OP pointed out, the aux reservoir dripped until empty internally

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by .2pdk

Less efficient and safer apparently...

My N55 was very prone to heat soaking, it was quite annoying to deal with. For me the air to water is worth it's weight in gold. I'm on my second S55 powered car with zero issues. With all the S55 owners I have met from my local BMWCCA chapter and all the HPDE I have been to, I have never met someone firsthand with a spun crank hub or intercooler issue. Only what I have seen on the forum. On the other hand my good mate shot a rod through his N55 block. Also seen two S65 let go during one track weekend.

[.2pdk]

Originally Posted by hellrotm

My N55 was very prone to heat soaking, it was quite annoying to deal with.

Due to track duty and not everyday street driving I assume?

[M-Pilot]

Originally Posted by hellrotm

My N55 was very prone to heat soaking, it was quite annoying to deal with. For me the air to water is worth it's weight in gold. I'm on my second S55 powered car with zero issues. With all the S55 owners I have met from my local BMWCCA chapter and all the HPDE I have been to, I have never met someone firsthand with a spun crank hub or intercooler issue. Only what I have seen on the forum. On the other hand my good mate shot a rod through his N55 block. Also seen two S65 let go during one track weekend.

Same here. Had 20K miles and ~10 track days on my M4 Comp with zero issues. Currently have 4200miles and 2 track days on the M2C with no issues as well. I check both coolant reservoirs almost weekly for the past couple months and coolant level is the same as day 1.

[satinghostrider]

Just curious, one of the signs of your charge cooler leaking or missing coolant would be an increase in IAT's right?

Why I am asking is because I have an AWRON gauge and I can monitor my IAT's via that interface.

Thanks in advance.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by satinghostrider

Just curious, one of the signs of your charge cooler leaking or missing coolant would be an increase in IAT's right?

Why I am asking is because I have an AWRON gauge and I can monitor my IAT's via that interface.

Thanks in advance.

Yes if your IAT is way above ambient temperature there's probably a leak. It's a water cooler system it should be around/slightly above the outside temperature when cruising.

[icebiker]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

There should be no reason to limp your way. If it's empty, take a picture/video of the empty tank, find your nearest gas station and fill it up with coolant. Then just keep it off boost to the dealer and show the picture/video and timestamp.

Or tow it, whichever is easier for you.

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

There should be no reason to limp your way. If it's empty, take a picture/video of the empty tank, find your nearest gas station and fill it up with coolant. Then just keep it off boost to the dealer and show the picture/video and timestamp.

Or tow it, whichever is easier for you.

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

This won't blow your motor. Most people won't even realize that this has happened until they read this thread and check, which they could've been driving like this for months. And everyone here has driven to take the car in from what it seems.

Thanks folks. Right now I'm @ 14k miles (2016 F83) and level is holding steady. Next question though is, for those coolers that do spring a leak and are replaced, what is then done to cleanse the engine internals of the coolant that shouldn't be in there to begin with? Pics early in the thread show a pretty nasty residue.

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Yes if your IAT is way above ambient temperature there's probably a leak. It's a water cooler system it should be around/slightly above the outside temperature when cruising.

Last time I was monitoring with OBD was 68* with it being 58* outside. Full coolant level.

On the dyno, it was 123* before starting and as we did the pull it immediately dropped to 100*. It was maybe 65* outside, but the car was sitting hot.

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Ok so, I got the car back from the dealer on 1/23 and they said that they did the leak down test and my cooler was not leaking and it was good to go. Fast forward to last night as I was driving home, I got a drive train malfunction error. I pulled the code and also felt my cooler and it wasn't cold. Checked the coolant level and it was empty. Ugh. See my photos that document the issue.

I am scheduled to go into service for this issue again next Tuesday. Till then the SA said to fill it up with distilled water. Bah! So annoying!

Just got my car back from the dealer!!

Man it took two weeks! I guess the part took a long time to get in.

Anyways, they replaced the IC and called it a day.

[BzsBimmer]

What’s the PN on your invoice? Maybe it was an updated PN?

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

What’s the PN on your invoice? Maybe it was an updated PN?

I’ll take a pic of the invoice when I get home. No idea.

[jpy1980]

Here is what they wrote on my repair invoice

[jpy1980]

Here you go

[KevM2]

Why are the attachments not working :

[jpy1980]

Let's try this one more time

[KevM2]

Thanks! Indeed it's the same intercooler as before

[TrauCon]

This threat is making me really paranoid so I went to check on mine. Mine was in the same level as the picture below, in the middle of the 2 plates. I mixed 50/50 BMW coolant and distilled water and filled it up a little bit above the top plate to feel good.

After a week of normal city driving (around 100 miles), I checked it again and it went back to same level as before. I was like FML. I started the car, drove around for 30 mins to make sure things would get hot. I went home, open the hood and put my hand on top of the cooler and it felt cold like how alluminum should feel. Things are normal. I went back to check on the coolant level about 15 mins later after the drive and the coolant level was at the very top. It was not enough to cover the top floater but it was at the top edge. I then waited 24 hours until the next day and checked it again (cold engine) and it went down from at the edge of the plate to the middle as in the picture below.

I refilled and the same sequence happend.

So mine is leaking, but why not leaking all the way to empty and just to above the middle of the tank then stop? Any ideas? Does anyone know that is that hole in the top floater (intercooler coolant reservoir) for? I have a therory of where that hole can suck away extra coolant (where is it dump to? ).

Mine main coolant reservoir is fine, no issue.

I still have the warranty, but I am trying to avoid the dealership since they can mess the car up more than fixing it.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by TrauCon

This threat is making me really paranoid so I went to check on mine. Mine was in the same level as the picture below, in the middle of the 2 plates. I mixed 50/50 BMW coolant and distilled water and filled it up a little bit above the top plate to feel good.

After a week of normal city driving (around 100 miles), I checked it again and it went back to same level as before. I was like FML. I started the car, drove around for 30 mins to make sure things would get hot. I went home, open the hood and put my hand on top of the cooler and it felt cold like how alluminum should feel. Things are normal. I went back to check on the coolant level about 15 mins later after the drive and the coolant level was at the very top. It was not enough to cover the top floater but it was at the top edge. I then waited 24 hours until the next day and checked it again (cold engine) and it went down from at the edge of the plate to the middle as in the picture below.

I refilled and the same sequence happend.

So mine is leaking, but why not leaking all the way to empty and just to above the middle of the tank then stop? Any ideas? Does anyone know that is that hole in the top floater (intercooler coolant reservoir) for? I have a therory of where that hole can suck away extra coolant (where is it dump to? ).

Mine main coolant reservoir is fine, no issue.

I still have the warranty, but I am trying to avoid the dealership since they can mess the car up more than fixing it.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jK...k=w797-h449-no[/IMG]

I don't think yours is leaking if it goes down to that level and stays there. Might be that after the car is driven for a bit and the system is pressurized the level fluctuates. Most people here after they drive the car the level goes to empty and the charge air cooler is hot to touch if it's actually leaking. But again, if you're under warranty use it while you can.

[TrauCon]

Thanks WeekendWarriorz.

But does anyone know the function of that hole (insert joke here if you want)? The main reservoir doesn't have it. It is just on the intercooler one.

Also does anyone have their intercooler level above the top plate? I am curious to know if it stays there for you after a week of driving.