Coolant leak @ rear of motor

[Whorse]

I moved my car last night from my inclined driveway and saw a puddle of coolant on the ground where the motor meets the gearbox. I assumed it was the valley pan leaking, well i took a look with a mirror at the back of the intake and the valley pan is dry. I can see the gear box was a little wet. Where else can i be leaking?
Does the water pump have to come out along with the intake to do the valley pan job? sux cause my water pump and stat are only 1 year old and i dont believe in reusing water pumps once they come out.

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life)
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[beecee]

[JimLev]

better hope it's not coming from #9 or 10 behind the flywheel
Also check where the rear cross over pipe connects to the back side of both heads.

[mlane]

[JimLev]

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[rwthomas1]

FWIW, when I did my valley pan I left the WP alone and removed the water crossover at the rear of the engine. Seemed easier at the time.... Bavauto's kit had those gaskets included. RT

[beecee]

[mlane]

[Whorse]

&%$*&*& this sux, its never ending leaks with this car. I'm gonna get it on a lift this week and locate this leak. If it is the valley pan what other parts will need replacing? Are the accumulators on the backside know to leak? In this write up the guy replaces them too.
http://www.magnum1.com/BMW-740/740_P...y-Pan-740.html
I'm gonna go the way he did without taking the water pump out.
I'm going to add the CCV valve on the list even though it looks like its been replaced. What else will break or need replacing while I'm at this job?

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life)
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[Whorse]

got a link to the bav auto kit?

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life)
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[Whorse]

disregard the accumulator question, i misunderstood the write up

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life)
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[JimLev]

broke one of those bolts that go into the back of the head it would be a bummer of a job to get it out.
Whorse, when you do the CCV get yourself M6 x 1.0 x 25 mm bolts to replace those torx bolts.

[beecee]

The endless leaks on the 540 was a primary factor for me when deciding to get rid of it. Even after a leak was repaired, I constantly worried and looked under the car in anticipation of the next one. Shouldn't have to worry so much about a car.

Interesting that William also mentioned leaks on his car as deciding factor to move on. IMO, the 540 is fun but life is too short to fret over it.

Good luck with yours.

[bmwm3coupe]

In fact this post by Whorse was almost identical to what I started seeing in the last month and a 1/2 or so. My valley pan also looked dry, and the heater hoses appeared to be dry as well, so it all pointed to the back of the engine and/or an internal leak in the AC's Evaporator/Expansion Valve. The coolant leak was not huge, but it was not consistent either - it did not happen every single time I drove the car. But as I mentioned in my Good-Bye note, I simply could not find enough time with all of my recent/frequent travel to properly diagnose and repair the problem(s). I still had a few oil and ATF leaks in the PS reservoir that I was trying to get fix (more of an annoyance), but this coolant leak was the main thing that had me worried about possibly being stranded, so that was the final factor to let the 540i go. I really miss my 540i but now I don't have to worry about being left stranded.
William
Richardson, Texas
2011 Honda Civic Si, 4-door (my car)
2010 Honda Accord EX, 4-cyl, auto-tranny (her car)

Retired/sold:
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2006 Dodge Charger Daytona - Top Banana
2005 BMW 330i Auto, Premium Package
2002 M3 Coupe with SMG
1995 525i auto
1991 535i 5-speed manual

[Whorse]

I love the car when its running right but I'm always scared to drive it like it supposed to be driven. Everytime I have a little spirited drive there's a new coolant leak or coolant explosion. I cant understand how my 25 year old 325 is driven at REDLINE almost ALL the time and never has leaks or problems and a 2000 v8 BMW has soo many weak points.
I want to throw in the towel but ive gone through almost every e39 problem on this car and fixed it. i feel like i will just be starting from the beginning again with another BMW if i sell this one.
I dont mind the work but I'm disabled and being stranded is even harder when u cant walk to far.

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 300k (project for life)
00 540is 6spd 180k (daily driver)

[Philly98540i6]

I had the typical minor slow leak from the valley pan maybe two years ago. I put about 1/4 of the pellets from a Barrs Stop Leak container into the lower chamber of the radiator expansion tank. I have been leak free since. My car has been very reliable overall.

Ghetto fix, but it working very well. Not sure if it will help your cause, or if you dare put strange crap in your car, but thought I would mention it as possible option on the cheap.

[rwthomas1]

You know, I didn't really consider that at the time. I don't know why but my experience with German cars is that the bolts don't seemt to seize up and break near as often as Jap and Domestic stuff. RT

[rwthomas1]

Just search "valley pan kit" at bavauto.
RT

[Marty505]

I had a leak back there on the wife's 99 540 and that's what it was. Not much fun to replace but better than the valley pan gasket.

[beecee]