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  4. '08 535xi Coolant light on and running very rough & NOT DRIVEABLE

'08 535xi Coolant light on and running very rough & NOT DRIVEABLE

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Members BMWs
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  • Bobdudeman1988B
    Bobdudeman1988B
    Bobdudeman1988
    wrote on last edited by
    #11

    I have yet to see a stock n54 blow one lolz

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    • e92boostE
      e92boostE
      e92boost
      wrote on last edited by
      #12

      It's your water pump. And it's not an easy job to do.

      But it's a common thing you'll be okay lol

      Ben H.

      2919325F-7F4F-4B89-9565-1CB5C2D9D025-190

      E92 ///M3... aka slowmobile aka 7mpg aka motorsport woooooo

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • jockhater2J
        jockhater2J
        jockhater2
        wrote on last edited by
        #13

        patsbimmer1 said:

        I think he meams on the n54

        That makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification.

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        • FullThrottle e46F
          FullThrottle e46F
          FullThrottle e46
          wrote on last edited by
          #14

          Well...we don't have the diagnosis yet : (

          It was towed to the shop yesterday and the mechanic said he'd let my Mom know by then end of the day today. I take it a water pump job will be less costly than a head gasket? Are replacement water pumps usually refurbished and not new due to cost? Please educate. Thanks everyone!

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • FullThrottle e46F
            FullThrottle e46F
            FullThrottle e46
            wrote on last edited by
            #15

            jc43089 said:

            Have the intake valves ever been blasted?

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            • FullThrottle e46F
              FullThrottle e46F
              FullThrottle e46
              wrote on last edited by
              #16

              No they haven't. I take it that it's recommended? How much $$?

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              • B
                B
                B C
                wrote on last edited by
                #17

                FullThrottle e46 said:

                Well...we don't have the diagnosis yet : (

                It was towed to the shop yesterday and the mechanic said he'd let my Mom know by then end of the day today. I take it a water pump job will be less costly than a head gasket? Are replacement water pumps usually refurbished and not new due to cost? Please educate. Thanks everyone!

                if its the head gasket then you all owe me a muffin.

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • FullThrottle e46F
                  FullThrottle e46F
                  FullThrottle e46
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #18

                  How 'bout a dozen.

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                  • FullThrottle e46F
                    FullThrottle e46F
                    FullThrottle e46
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #19

                    Update: Head gasket is fine. The cooling system is fine too.

                    Diagnosis is: fuel injectors and repair estimate is

                    $1400 from this mechanic and that's with a labor rate of only $75/hr. He said that's what has been causing the shuddering, which is mainly felt when the engine is cold.

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                    • B
                      B
                      B C
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #20

                      What about the coolant loss?

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                      • T
                        T
                        tsweers89
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #21

                        Were are you located? I get employee pricing on parts and have oem isid scanner to initialize the new injectors if that in fact is the issue

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                        • FullThrottle e46F
                          FullThrottle e46F
                          FullThrottle e46
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #22

                          I still am confused about why the coolant light was on (no overheat). There wasn't any coolant on the ground or a leak. The level in the expansion tank was at the lower ball which is the minimum. Besides running very rough out of nowhere it would barely idle and was stalling. The mechanic said it started for him (naturally!) and it ran so he drove it around for about 8mi. So what does the coolant light have to do with the fuel injector problem, or doesn't it?

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                          • Bobdudeman1988B
                            Bobdudeman1988B
                            Bobdudeman1988
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #23

                            what light came on?

                            post-3533-0-06479700-1417703468thumb.jp

                            this one?^ means low coolant

                            or

                            post-3533-0-46459700-1417703496thumb.jp

                            this one?^ means overheating

                            post-3533-0-85641400-1417703915thumb.jp

                            ^(red color of this light means way overheated)

                            that could be a water pump on its way out.(all to common on the n5x motors..)

                            it is normal to top of a car every year or two...but it shouldn't need frequent fill ups on coolant.

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                            • FullThrottle e46F
                              FullThrottle e46F
                              FullThrottle e46
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #24

                              The coolant light and after it first came on I checked the level in the expansion tank (engine was cold-car had been in garage 24hrs prior). The bobber's top ball was not quite level with the top of the opening of the expansion tank (indicating that it was not quite at the minimum level that it should be). So I added 50/50 up to the max indicator (where the lower ball on the bobber is level with the top of the opening of the expansion tank opening). Then I started it and it was a rough cold start and everything was fine for a few days. I went to start it after it had been in the garage for 24hrs and was even more rough and no sooner than I was 40ft away from the garage the coolant light came on and it was barely idling and stalled. So I got it back to the driveway, which was difficult and it was barely idling. Since the engine was cold I checked the coolant level in the expansion tank and it was at the max. The coolant was still on. There was no visible leak on the garage floor or anywhere under the hood all around the expansion tank and hoses..etc.

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                              • FullThrottle e46F
                                FullThrottle e46F
                                FullThrottle e46
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #25

                                FullThrottle e46 said:

                                The coolant light and after it first came on I checked the level in the expansion tank (engine was cold-car had been in garage 24hrs prior). The bobber's top ball was not quite level with the top of the opening of the expansion tank (indicating that it was not quite at the minimum level that it should be). So I added 50/50 up to the max indicator (where the lower ball on the bobber is level with the top of the opening of the expansion tank opening). Then I started it and it was a rough cold start and everything was fine for a few days. I went to start it after it had been in the garage for 24hrs and was even more rough and no sooner than I was 40ft away from the garage the coolant light came on and it was barely idling and stalled. So I got it back to the driveway, which was difficult and it was barely idling. Since the engine was cold I checked the coolant level in the expansion tank and it was at the max. The coolant was still on. There was no visible leak on the garage floor or anywhere under the hood all around the expansion tank and hoses..etc.

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • FullThrottle e46F
                                  FullThrottle e46F
                                  FullThrottle e46
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #26

                                  My apologies, somehow the beginning of my last post is missing. To clear up any confusion I started with this:

                                  "I started the car and it was a bit rough and 1/4 mi away from home the coolant light came on so I turned around and came right back home. I parked it in the garage where it is level."

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                                  • Bobdudeman1988B
                                    Bobdudeman1988B
                                    Bobdudeman1988
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #27

                                    The top light in my post was on? If its full could be a bad coolant level sender, as long as ita full and no overheat id bet its alright. Let me know about the recall and if you need me to install injectors for you,

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                                    • T
                                      T
                                      tsweers89
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #28

                                      Bobdudeman1988 said:

                                      The top light in my post was on? If its full could be a bad coolant level sender, as long as ita full and no overheat id bet its alright. Let me know about the recall and if you need me to install injectors for you,

                                      Do you have the software to run codes and diagnose the issue? As it could be a HDP that is causing the misfires also. What about initializing the new injectors? DO you have oem bmw sftware to do this?

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                                      • FullThrottle e46F
                                        FullThrottle e46F
                                        FullThrottle e46
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #29

                                        Yep top light. Is it easy to check that sender? Would it have come up as a fault and show on the BMW OBD reader/tool/apparatus/thingy? The guy did a scan I'm pretty sure. We're picking up the car in a few hrs so I'll hear it all straight from the horses mouth. Talk soon.

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                                        • M
                                          M
                                          michael1972
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #30

                                          Hit up Bobdudeman. He can do this at probably a better price. Check out his threads in services. He does great work. And is a n54 owner himself. He can also blast your intake.

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