big bump, then antifreeze leak?

yoelev · 12-07-2014, 02:30 PM

this happen to anyone? i took my car over the GWB to head to the self wash and hit one of those metal plates that may have been off kilter. was a loud bump. anyway i got to the wash and there was a leak of green fluid on the drivers side right in front of the steering column. in a few spots.

I'm definitely going to get it checked out but heres the interesting bit. there was a leak there for sure, but it basically stopped. no drips or anything.

hows that possible?

yoelev · 12-07-2014, 04:31 PM

thanks for that.

fellow e9xers, anyone have this issue? or a leak of antifreeze in general?

W/// · 12-07-2014, 04:37 PM

The only thing that leaks in my car is that stupid oil cap. And I'm at 82k miles. Literally not a drop of any other fluid.

Good luck

1MOREMOD · 12-07-2014, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W///

The only thing that leaks in my car is that stupid oil cap. And I'm at 82k miles. Literally not a drop of any other fluid.

Good luck

Even on the seats or trunk?

BKarktic3 · 12-07-2014, 06:05 PM

it has happened...likely knocked a clamp loose on hose. important thing is not to drive too far without coolant.

nick3753 · 12-07-2014, 10:26 PM

I had an E70 X5 that the coolant reservoir cracked after driving over some rough construction highway pavement. Apparently a common failure on that vehicle. Those run-flats were terribly harsh. The car was leaking fluid slowly when I got home (with add coolant light on). But when you added coolant it would just piss it right out. How's your coolant level?

yoelev · 12-08-2014, 05:36 AM

i havent checked i raced home to get it parked and will be checking if there is a puddle when i get it to take to my SA. its not a daily, but i would say when it was leaking it wasn't terribly big puddle. hopefully my SA gets back to me soon

incidentally I'm at 24,000 miles. what else should i get done while I'm at the dealer? just changed oil at 15k so going to do that again (don't care if i have to pay)

yoelev · 12-08-2014, 04:39 PM

Bringing the car in tomorrow. see? $100 to your SA on the sly gets you very far.

highly recommended to take care of them. three week wait on the website

yoelev · 12-10-2014, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoelev

Bringing the car in tomorrow. see? $100 to your SA on the sly gets you very far.

highly recommended to take care of them. three week wait on the website

so in and out in one day with nothing wrong at all in the coolant line. very strange. i suppose a big bump just knocked something loose (that then reattached itself??) but anyway got all the fluids topped and an oil change and feels good as new. 23,000 miles and still gives me that thrill. sigh.

jaehshim · 12-10-2014, 05:51 AM

hmm...strange...If I definitely saw green fluid leaking out of my engine bay (beneath) and dealer found it nothing wrong and topped it off, I would probably trust my eyes than the dealer.
I would take it to a local BMW shop (not a dealer) to get it checked out.
That's just my personal conclusion, at least from my experience of local BMW dealers around here...been to 3~4 of them and most of them were sad, they said they changed oil but they didn't change...they took the car back and changed oil, they always missed working on required services. Whose fault? dealer? manager? technician? well there goes another issue, so i'll stop here.
Oh, and I live less than 10 miles from GWB area too.

nick3753 · 12-10-2014, 09:20 AM

Is it possilbe it was not even from your car? You said you were at the carwash. Or maybe some sort of cleaner from carwash, not coolant?

yoelev · 12-12-2014, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick3753

Is it possilbe it was not even from your car? You said you were at the carwash. Or maybe some sort of cleaner from carwash, not coolant?

i suppose that is possible but i don't see how it got under my hood, and keep in mind this is the self car wash, you know with the bays, not an automated one.

as for not trusting the service dept, well I'm just not there w you. think my SA is fantastic and very thorough. think that comes w the extra money. but it's worth it because there is no way i think they didn't do their diligence.

FLOSS M · 12-12-2014, 12:14 PM

BMW coolant is blue.

tony093 · 12-12-2014, 06:23 PM

as for not trusting the service dept, well I'm just not there w you. think my SA is fantastic and very thorough.]

SA's do not work on cars...

yoelev · 12-13-2014, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony093

as for not trusting the service dept, well I'm just not there w you. think my SA is fantastic and very thorough.]

SA's do not work on cars...

Are they not in charge of those who do?

12-07-2014, 02:30 PM	#1
yoelev First Lieutenant 19 Rep 366 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	big bump, then antifreeze leak? this happen to anyone? i took my car over the GWB to head to the self wash and hit one of those metal plates that may have been off kilter. was a loud bump. anyway i got to the wash and there was a leak of green fluid on the drivers side right in front of the steering column. in a few spots. I'm definitely going to get it checked out but heres the interesting bit. there was a leak there for sure, but it basically stopped. no drips or anything. hows that possible? __________________
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12-07-2014, 04:31 PM	#2
yoelev First Lieutenant 19 Rep 366 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	thanks for that. fellow e9xers, anyone have this issue? or a leak of antifreeze in general? __________________
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12-07-2014, 04:37 PM	#3
W/// Lieutenant General 7494 Rep 12,310 Posts Drives: F82GTS, E36/E92M3, Z4M Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SC iTrader: (13)	The only thing that leaks in my car is that stupid oil cap. And I'm at 82k miles. Literally not a drop of any other fluid. Good luck __________________ Current: 16 F82 M4 GTS, Black Sapphire/Black, DCT 08 E92 M3, Sparkling Graphite/Bamboo Beige, 6MT 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, Alpine White/Red, 6MT 99 E36 M3, Techno Violet/Dove Grey, 6MT
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12-07-2014, 06:05 PM	#5
BKarktic3 Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 201 Posts Drives: e92 M3 DCT Space Gray/Fox Red Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Alpharetta, GA iTrader: (2)	it has happened...likely knocked a clamp loose on hose. important thing is not to drive too far without coolant. __________________ -Bryan e92 M3 Coupe DCT \| Space Gray/Fox Red \| VF620 \| Forgestar \| RD Sport \| B&B
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12-07-2014, 10:26 PM	#6
nick3753 Major 1020 Rep 1,486 Posts Drives: 2012 e92 M3 DCT ZCP Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Audi S6 [0.00] 1997 BMW 328i Touring [0.00] 2012 BMW M3 [0.00]	I had an E70 X5 that the coolant reservoir cracked after driving over some rough construction highway pavement. Apparently a common failure on that vehicle. Those run-flats were terribly harsh. The car was leaking fluid slowly when I got home (with add coolant light on). But when you added coolant it would just piss it right out. How's your coolant level?
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12-08-2014, 05:36 AM	#7
yoelev First Lieutenant 19 Rep 366 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	i havent checked i raced home to get it parked and will be checking if there is a puddle when i get it to take to my SA. its not a daily, but i would say when it was leaking it wasn't terribly big puddle. hopefully my SA gets back to me soon incidentally I'm at 24,000 miles. what else should i get done while I'm at the dealer? just changed oil at 15k so going to do that again (don't care if i have to pay) __________________
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12-08-2014, 04:39 PM	#8
yoelev First Lieutenant 19 Rep 366 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Bringing the car in tomorrow. see? $100 to your SA on the sly gets you very far. highly recommended to take care of them. three week wait on the website __________________
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12-10-2014, 05:51 AM	#10
jaehshim Major 492 Rep 1,374 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NE iTrader: (3)	hmm...strange...If I definitely saw green fluid leaking out of my engine bay (beneath) and dealer found it nothing wrong and topped it off, I would probably trust my eyes than the dealer. I would take it to a local BMW shop (not a dealer) to get it checked out. That's just my personal conclusion, at least from my experience of local BMW dealers around here...been to 3~4 of them and most of them were sad, they said they changed oil but they didn't change...they took the car back and changed oil, they always missed working on required services. Whose fault? dealer? manager? technician? well there goes another issue, so i'll stop here. Oh, and I live less than 10 miles from GWB area too. __________________
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12-10-2014, 09:20 AM	#11
nick3753 Major 1020 Rep 1,486 Posts Drives: 2012 e92 M3 DCT ZCP Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Audi S6 [0.00] 1997 BMW 328i Touring [0.00] 2012 BMW M3 [0.00]	Is it possilbe it was not even from your car? You said you were at the carwash. Or maybe some sort of cleaner from carwash, not coolant?
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12-12-2014, 12:14 PM	#13
FLOSS M ///M3 386 Rep 1,123 Posts Drives: 22 M3 X-Drive Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	BMW coolant is blue.
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12-12-2014, 06:23 PM	#14
tony093 Captain 111 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E92 AW M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodbridge, NJ iTrader: (2)	as for not trusting the service dept, well I'm just not there w you. think my SA is fantastic and very thorough.] SA's do not work on cars...
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