I have an issue...Anyone help. LOOK.

[TurboMeTroy]

So...
I my car overheated the other day, went into the red. Steaming from the front end of the car...Coasted home...
Check a few things, noticed coolant was low and refilled.

Didn't get hot for a few days, went into the red again...checked coolant. Coolant was low, and I had steam coming from the front end.
While it was still hot, I pulled over, tried to track it down - and noticed it dripping heavily from the passenger side of the rad....

I haven't taken the covers off and inspected anything thoroughly, but...does anyone have any leads or any common places for cracks/seperation of the radiator?

Maybe it's just a loose hose or something, but it appears to be coming from the top/pass. side of the radiator.

Any suggestions or ideas?

And I think some of the leakage is evaporting from the heat of the rad, before it hits the ground...because both it got hot (super low on coolant) , I had to add at least a gallon of water. . and it doesn't appear to be leaking that much, but when the car is hot...i can see a steady drip, almost stream running from that noted location. (pass side).

Thanks again for any input...and sorry if it's a little confusing to read, Im at work!

Troy in Minneapolis !

[Panzer_M]

the plastic on the rads give out. prob has a hair crack + pressure is your loss of coolant.

[Panzer_M]

mine give out on the driver side top near the neck to where the hose or between the hose and bleeder.

[Panzer_M]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-B...spagenameZWDVW

Behr replacement rad, 128.00 shipped.

[TurboMeTroy]

cool, thanks for the reply and link.
I was thinking of just replacing it...are the aftermarket ones built any better?

Any simple upgrades when replacing, like for another model??

Thanks again!

[Panzer_M]

Behr is what BMW uses.

[elchicano]

did u bleed the radiator screw cuz wen i first got my Ti i didnt i jst added radiator fluid air got in and messed up all my radiator had to get a new one i felt lik a dumba$$ wen i found out wat had happened lol

[TurboMeTroy]

I did not

What, exactly, does bleeding the radiator do...pertaining to loss of fluid under high temps?

Would that yield the same symptoms as a cracked radiator? ?

[weezer]

Originally Posted by TurboMeTroy

I did not

What, exactly, does bleeding the radiator do...pertaining to loss of fluid under high temps?

Would that yield the same symptoms as a cracked radiator? ?

The radiator has to be bled anyway, whether flushing, refill, replacing, etc.
There's a screw next to the cap.....when I refill my radiator with BMW spec coolant, I loosened the screw first and refill/top until there are no bubbles coming out of the bleeder screw.
In your case replace the radiator, it is very easy since it is fully electric.....no belts to mess with.
But, the 2 times it went to the red with steam coming out from the front end will add complications later on. You may have a blown head gasket at this point........hopefully not. But, I always pull over if the temp gauge starts to go higher than normal.
Hopefully, after the radiator replacement everything will be okay, but to be on the safe side, replace thermostat ($40-50), water pump ($50-60) and while you're at it replace the belts. These are "VERY" easy things to do by yourself if you're handy.
Good Luck and keep us updated.

[elchicano]

yea i didnt kno about the radiator screw i had to bleed so i didnt but when my Ti overheated i never let it hit red in the end i jst replaced the thermostat and raidiator and now its good as new. Jst hope urs aint sumthin big and sumthin as easy as replacin the radiator

[TurboMeTroy]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

The water pump and all the belts are new.
Hopefully the rad. replacements works...and I'll change the thermostat too...
I will keep you updated.

I did pull over when it got hot..I coasted home , when I shut the car off, for a couple of blocks.

I do not want to change the head gasket....I haven't been driving it.