My 540 Wets The Bed

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Sonoma County CA
#1
OK I have a coolant leak that will only drip when the car cools off....its coming from that center drop down drip pan that's on the bottom of the engine....I've had the system tested under pressure and they found the hose that goes to the alternator was leaking that was replaced....During the inspection no other areas / hoses where leaking....What I have found is that I can drive the car all day with not a single leak...then at night when I park in the garage I see a small green puddle in the AM about 3 inches wide and about 2 feet long or something like that....its quite annoying!! ....What ever it is will not show up under pressure its in the cool off area...what ever that means.

Any other 540i drivers had this little problem.....about the only thing that I can see to do is wait for it to start leaking more regularly and see if I can find it that way.....Also is there an overflow valve on these cars?
 
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Plano, Texas
#2
Must be the Water Pump!

It is most likely a small leak in the water pump - You do not see it when the engine is running since the coolant vaporizes before hiting the ground.

I would definitely check the water pump, and if you are to replace it, I would suggest replacing the belt tentioner, both belts, and the thermostat housing at the same time. Make sure to bleed the system "properly" afterwards.

What is with the leak in the Alternator hose?!! - the hose to the Alternator is just a air intake to keep it cool.

Good Luck,

/A
 
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Sonoma County CA
#3
arditarighi said:
It is most likely a small leak in the water pump - You do not see it when the engine is running since the coolant vaporizes before hiting the ground.

I would definitely check the water pump, and if you are to replace it, I would suggest replacing the belt tentioner, both belts, and the thermostat housing at the same time. Make sure to bleed the system "properly" afterwards.

What is with the leak in the Alternator hose?!! - the hose to the Alternator is just a air intake to keep it cool.

Good Luck,

/A
I don't know but that's what the mechanic told me it was so who am I to argue? Anyway its going in today to have the system checked I don't think that they will find it as it will not leak unless it sits over night or cools for quite a while.
 
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#8
Big Daddy said:
Let's hope for the least expensive and easiest fix!
We always do...right?

I put the car in the shop a few weeks ago for this leak...guy said its the hose that goes to the alternator...its water cooled....looking at the diagram I can't see any hose that leads to that, but anyway...that was $13.00 for the hose and labor....got the car back no big problems for about 1 week and the drip is back...same crap...so I called and he said there must be a secondary leak....I'm a patient person for the most part but have little to none for those that can't do the right job the first time...especially on my dime....so I did some research on BMW specialists in my area...and found one threw the local race track here Sears Point...Highly recommended by the local BMW racing team...anyway they are looking at the car right now and I should have the results later today..I'm also going to have them do suspension work on the car once I can settle this down
 
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#10
Big Daddy said:
And yes your car does have a water cooled generator/alternator.
I stand corrected. That thing must be generating some serious electricity haha.

Mine is just air cooled with a duct from the front of the car. I thought that was over kill. Apparently not....
 

Big Daddy

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#11
mjbst111 said:
I stand corrected. That thing must be generating some serious electricity haha.

Mine is just air cooled with a duct from the front of the car. I thought that was over kill. Apparently not....
Don't feel bad, I was surprised as well when I first learned that the Alt was water cooled on some models [ohcrap]
 


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