Possible head gasket failure.

[sidewinder69]

Well looks like I could be eating my words about having a non overheating Beamer.

Had the coolant boil out a week ago in the Walmart parking lot. Put new coolant in, barely drove a kilometer. The hud came up with a low coolant warning and then a high coolant temp warning. Threw it in neutral and coasted to a stop and the temp obviously came down, coasted until I could park it.

Towed it to a garage and the damn resevoir cap had cracked threads on it...so here's hoping that's what it is. Too bad the overpressurization cracked the plastic reservoir for the coolant.

I'll have an update tomorrow wether or not the pressure test goes well. Was ready to put $1800 towards a new head gasket (parts and labour), might have to still.

Should have bought another Volkswagen.

[2001jettavr6]

arent repairs on bmws free for like 5 years or something? if so have them fix it for free

[sidewinder69]

Well it took a while but here's the news...

Head gasket is OK.

Turns out it was the reservoir tanks (the place where you add coolant) pressurized cap, the threads were all busted up so instead of the cap redirecting the pressure through itself and back into the tank, it was leaking past those broken threads and out to atmosphere putting so much stress on the reservoir tank that it broke.

So all in all the costs shake out like this:

New cap: $29

New reservoir tank with new fittings: $157

Labour: $200 (4 hours at $75 an hour, got hosed here but I don't mind.)

Knowing that I still have a solid engine: Priceless.

So for those people out there who are having overheating issues look at your threads on your cap for your reservoir tank. Also they did put out a recall on those caps back in 1998, so if you haven't gotten a new one save yourself the headache I went through and get it.