**Gulp** the wife has tried to kill the B5S

dodgyken · Post by **dodgyken** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:12 am

This weekend we had our first weekend in our new ski bolt hole - nothing particularly flash but direct access to the ski-lift rather works.

Anyway I was using the X3 and a trailer to move stuff - and the wife (and baby) were using the B5S. On Saturday when I went to move the Alpina it was saying coolant too low (it was). So when I was out on Sunday I picked some up thinking after 18mths it had just gone through a litre or so.

3l later I was thinking things aren't great - but there are plenty of places along the route home to stop - and after all we were driving in convoy.

About 90mins after filling - and 30mins/25km of driving the light came back on and we pulled into the open BP garage. With the Alpina leaving a trail of coolant behind it.

Spoke to the garage - parked the car up and I'll collect it later with a trailer and the X3 - I'm sure the X3 will tow 2600kg total load without problems!!!

Any thoughts on what might have gone wrong?? It was impossible to see anything from on top!

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:02 am

Yikes!

With a trail of coolant visible most likely something like a split coolant reservoir/radiator/hose?

Best of luck sorting it.

dodgyken · Post by **dodgyken** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:05 am

Metrics wrote:Yikes!

With a trail of coolant visible most likely something like a split coolant reservoir/radiator/hose?

Best of luck sorting it.

That's my guess. Although I have breakdown cover - with a dog that doesn't travel well, a 6mth baby and a desire to see at least the 2nd half the rugby I wasn't going to wait for them yesterday.

Recovering the car myself to my mechanic will mean a cheap repair if it is one - OR an easy warranty job if it is something more seriously. And I kind of trust someone with a B10 Bi-Turbo

Bebs · Post by **Bebs** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 11:44 am

I had to replace the coolant expansion tank on my B5 last year. I believe it's well known that they have a tendency to crack. I also had a small thermostat replaced recently during an oil service as it was leaking slightly. If yours is gushing out coolant it must be a failure of some part rather than just a small leak. Get it up on a ramp, undertrays off and have a look.

WINNE1 · Post by **WINNE1** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 11:22 pm

You may be ok my leak was coming from the temp sensor on the hose and that was a BMW part number that they had in stock so must be a common thing.

dodgyken · Post by **dodgyken** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:08 am

Trailer wasn't available so I headed over to the car - filled with water and drove it a mile to a friends compound.

I will try to blag the trailer for Thursday/Friday and drop the car back at his workshop.

Bebs · Post by **Bebs** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:19 am

Yes Winne - that's the part that failed on mine recently.

WINNE1 · Post by **WINNE1** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:35 pm

Bebs wrote:Yes Winne - that's the part that failed on mine recently.

It is a common thing then so that could be his problem.

And at least its a cheap fix for a V8 BMW Alpina..

dodgyken · Post by **dodgyken** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:08 am

What miles/kms are you guys on? 117k km here (give or take) and 8.5 years old - so I'm putting it down to age/kms at the moment

PhillV8S · Post by **PhillV8S** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:42 am

My B6 has had a new expansion tank recently due to a pin hole leak in the seam.

Bebs · Post by **Bebs** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:23 pm

165,000 km here

WINNE1 · Post by **WINNE1** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:03 pm

The B5 96,000miles 10.5 years old recently replaced it for about Â£20.

Bebs · Post by **Bebs** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 2:16 pm

Correction: 170,000 today

Post by **Charles** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 2:31 pm

Bebs wrote:Correction: 170,000 today

Getting there - only 300k km behind me then

Bebs · Post by **Bebs** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:17 am

I'm doing my best Charles - I've put 165,000 km on the 360 Modena so technically I'm snapping at your heels..

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Gulp the wife has tried to kill the B5S

Gulp the wife has tried to kill the B5S