[Kenneykickin]

Well driving home from work tonight pull into a gas station to fill up and notice steam/smoke coming from under hood at the pump. Popped hood and coolant was being sprayed all over the place from under the snorkel ( the fan was shooting coolant everywhere )

I figured my water pump was on it’s way out a low coolant light about 5 minutes before. But mike was replaced about 10k miles ago.

Anyone else experience this? I’m gonna take snorkel and stuff off and see if I can find the culprit. I really can’t afford to have this vehicle down for long as my wife and I need our own vehicles.

Broke down about 4 miles from home. Called s buddy and had him tow me home. Hell does this car not let you have power steering unless it’s running? Lol.

Any insight would be much apprieciated

[hassmaschine]

Which car is it? the N52 and N54 have similar, but different cooling systems and different parts of them can fail.

[IllSic_Design]

Most likely the cork/plastic section of hose that runs from the expansion tank over the top of the radiator to the upper rad hose connection on the drivers side. This is a common failure point and people usually cut out/remove the cork center piece of the rubber hose and insert barb fittings and an equal length piece of rubber coolant hose.

[Kenneykickin]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Which car is it? the N52 and N54 have similar, but different cooling systems and different parts of them can fail.

Whoops my bad. This is the 2009 335i n54 not my N52 my apologies

[Kenneykickin]

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

Most likely the cork/plastic section of hose that runs from the expansion tank over the top of the radiator to the upper rad hose connection on the drivers side. This is a common failure point and people usually cut out/remove the cork center piece of the rubber hose and insert barb fittings and an equal length piece of rubber coolant hose.

I heard of someone using brake line? Is there a part number or parts numbers for these parts?

[msjt]

Originally Posted by Kenneykickin

I heard of someone using brake line? Is there a part number or parts numbers for these parts?

You can use brake line as well. Just go to pep boys/autozone/etc and find barbs, line, and some small hose clamps.

[CTinline-six]

+1 on it being the small overflow tank hose that runs over the radiator, it is a common failure point. Also check where that hose connects to the upper radiator hose, as the plastic barb it goes onto cracks also.

Your steering is hydraulic so without the engine running you have no power steering since the belt-driven pump won't be turning.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Of course power steering won't work if the car isn't running It's belt driven.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

Most likely the cork/plastic section of hose that runs from the expansion tank over the top of the radiator to the upper rad hose connection on the drivers side. This is a common failure point and people usually cut out/remove the cork center piece of the rubber hose and insert barb fittings and an equal length piece of rubber coolant hose.

This guy.

Mine fucking DISINTEGRATED. It cracked and leaked and when I went to touch it to inspect it that shit went like the end of the Avengers, like dust in the wind.

I didnt do anything special to replace it, just bought another. It was cheap enough I just put a reminder in my phone to replace it again in a few years. Its obvious that piece wasnt built right to deal with the constant head cycling, became brittle.

Does anyone know if that material is used anywhere else or is it all traditional braided hoses?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by ryan stewart

This guy.

Mine fucking DISINTEGRATED. It cracked and leaked and when I went to touch it to inspect it that shit went like the end of the Avengers, like dust in the wind.

I didnt do anything special to replace it, just bought another. It was cheap enough I just put a reminder in my phone to replace it again in a few years. Its obvious that piece wasnt built right to deal with the constant head cycling, became brittle.

Does anyone know if that material is used anywhere else or is it all traditional braided hoses?

How many mileage did it break? I'm at 74k and still feels solid. Might order one to keep as spare.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

How many mileage did it break? I'm at 74k and still feels solid. Might order one to keep as spare.

~110. Cracked first, not catastrophic since there wasnt fluid coming through it but when I touched it everything I touched just fell apart.

Honestly if youre concerned it might not be a bad idea to look into the hacks others had done. The replacement hose I got from BMW is now plastic the whole way, instead of just above the radiator. So now you run the risk of it bring brittle in areas where you could touch it, instead of just above the rad under the snorkel where its at least somewhat protected.

Being said, it is just like $30.

[Kenneykickin]

LOL to everyone laughing at me about the power steering lol it was not fun. Haha.

Yes it’s the venting hose that runs from tank to upper radiator hose. Thankfully not an expensive part and easy to swap

[Kenneykickin]

Mine broke at 102320 miles

[Kenneykickin]

Dealer ships are crap. $76 bucks for the hose that’s $24 on ecs tuning. I mean over night would be about 25 in shipping but still 25 more at stealer ship guess it’s the luxury of being al to pick it up “today” tho. To bad auto part stores don’t carry it

[ryan stewart]

Honestly like said Id just go get the hard brake line and clamp it into the rubber hoses on each end like people had suggested.

The new hose is ALL that brittle ass plastic. Its like BMW saw where those old ones are failing and said, "F it, lets plastic ALL the things!"

So now you could bump it refilling your wiper bottle and have it crack.

[falconey]

This happened to me when I was trying to catch a flight. Got a tow and an UBER and thankfully made it just before the doors closed. You should replace with an aftermarket metal part. Not too expensive and much more peace of mind.

[mecheng77]

What kind of steel line did you guys use?