[M Pete]

I am in need of some help folks. Starting in March we had a low coolant warning on our 2014 F31. This was the first time we ever had it and when I checked the tank, sure enough it was way low. We have had to fill it twice since then, today being the second time. I see no visible leaks from the coolant tank to the radiator, to the thermostat, and all the hoses at the front of the engine. I checked the crank case oil cap and all looks normal there. I'm due for an oil change soon and will double check the oil when I take it out. If it were leaking inside the engine I would think that there would be some white smoke coming out the exhaust?

I have looked all over the internet and in my Bently manual and can't find a diagram of the entire coolant system/flow. This would help me out greatly in checking for additional leaks. Next step after that is to take it to an indee shop to get a pressure test and see if the leak appears.

It hasn't been over heating at all either but assume that this level of coolant loss is not normal. Any ideas of where to check for leaks or a good diagram would be helpful. TIA!

[Enabled]

I believe there are also 2 coolant lines that go to the diesel exhaust fluid sprayer to cool it down. Worth checking.

[M Pete]

Thanks for the response!

It turns out the coolant loss is from my EGR cooler, I had a compression test done and that really made it obvious. I was also having EGR valve codes (too open and too closed). not at the same time always though. I tried to pull the EGR valve to clean it but could not get it out of the cooler, I even took the cooler off to get a better grip and it would not come out. Maybe because it is stuck in one place. Sure enough when I looked in the cooler it was black and sludgy. New parts are inbound to replace!

[Enabled]

Ok, good repair. I cannot yet picture how/where the egr cooler is black and sludgy; haven't looked into it too much. I closed my EGR, good and done.

[M Pete]

Do you get a constant engine light and NOx codes with the EGR delete?

[M Pete]

I just saw you have an Estoril Clown Shoe, nice. Back in the day I had a S52 Z3M Roady supercharged. Fun car.

[Enabled]

Originally Posted by M Pete

Do you get a constant engine light and NOx codes with the EGR delete?

No I do not have errors.
I did a function delete, so all the hardware is still on.
Funny though, back when I had un-updated ecu software (factory original version), the only sporadic error I got was for particle matter sensor not identifying enough particles, so it thought sensor was clogged. I ordered a PM sensor, and pulled the current one to look at it: it was shiny and sparkling clean...
EGR closure reduced particles enough to trigger that error. A software update fixed that. Then I retuned the new software.

Originally Posted by M Pete

I just saw you have an Estoril Clown Shoe, nice. Back in the day I had a S52 Z3M Roady supercharged. Fun car.

I love Z3s. To me they're cars to keep for as long as possible. The Z3s are also the 2 that spend the most time stored in the garage though. Long distances and Houston traffic/poor driving discourage daily use.
I managed to get the coupe before they skyrocketed. It's not a garage queen, but I certainly take gentle care of it now.

[M Pete]

When was the last system update for these cars? I have been doing my maintenance and it hasn't been to a dealer since like Nov. I had not even thought of ensuring that I keep up with system updates.

I hear you on the Z3. I had two, S52 and S54, then came the kids and we went with the M3 to fit said kids. I wished I had held on to my last one.

[Enabled]

They release updates bi annually. That doesn't mean that the DDE gets updated every time, but mine was factory original from late 2013. I put the 11/2017 updates onto the whole car. There were many updates in between. In case anyone asks, updates do not bring new features, they fix issues or change component behavior slightly, to customer complaints. Example: they turned off DEF spraying and DEF transfer pump at idle, so customer doesn't hear the noise.

Dealers generally don't update unless as part of a warranty claim, so they can get paid for the hours.
My dad just bought a low mile X3 xDrive28d and it's factory original software as well. It has seen the dealer twice for oil changes.

[Gold1member]

Originally Posted by M Pete

Thanks for the response!

It turns out the coolant loss is from my EGR cooler, I had a compression test done and that really made it obvious. I was also having EGR valve codes (too open and too closed). not at the same time always though. I tried to pull the EGR valve to clean it but could not get it out of the cooler, I even took the cooler off to get a better grip and it would not come out. Maybe because it is stuck in one place. Sure enough when I looked in the cooler it was black and sludgy. New parts are inbound to replace!

Was this triggering a check engine light?
I have a 2014 328d and can’t find a similar leak. The only light I get is low coolant. Where is the EGR cooler located?

[M Pete]

The cooler is right on the front top of the engine as you take the air box off. To get a real good look at it you have to take the insulation piece off the front of the engine behind the air box as it prevents you from looking behind the cooler. The cooler is the rectangle part within the #1 box here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_4582

The leak itself was not causing an engine light. I would also get the low coolant warning once enough leaked out. I am getting codes for a malfunctioning EGR valve (#3 in the diagram) and NOx sensor efficiency.

When I pulled the cooler it almost looked like it was oily inside there as the coolant has loosened up the carbon which naturally collects in the valve and the cooler.

[CleanKM]

Originally Posted by Enabled

They release updates bi annually. That doesn't mean that the DDE gets updated every time, but mine was factory original from late 2013. I put the 11/2017 updates onto the whole car. There were many updates in between. In case anyone asks, updates do not bring new features, they fix issues or change component behavior slightly, to customer complaints. Example: they turned off DEF spraying and DEF transfer pump at idle, so customer doesn't hear the noise.

Dealers generally don't update unless as part of a warranty claim, so they can get paid for the hours.
My dad just bought a low mile X3 xDrive28d and it's factory original software as well. It has seen the dealer twice for oil changes.

How did you update the DDE?

[Enabled]

Originally Posted by CleanKM

How did you update the DDE?

I did an update to the whole car (DDE and all other modules) using Esys and a genuine ICOM interface.

(If I had an ENET cable I would have used that.)

[n00bkiller944]

Originally Posted by Enabled

I did an update to the whole car (DDE and all other modules) using Esys and a genuine ICOM interface.

(If I had an ENET cable I would have used that.)

Excuse my ignorance but talk to me about Esys and ICOM? Are those the genuine BMW tools used for diagnostics? On my volvo I had their software on a laptop and it was the #1 tool I had for the car. How did you get that all set up.

[Enabled]

Originally Posted by n00bkiller944

Excuse my ignorance but talk to me about Esys and ICOM? Are those the genuine BMW tools used for diagnostics? On my volvo I had their software on a laptop and it was the #1 tool I had for the car. How did you get that all set up.

ICOM is the BMW dealer diagnostic interface tool. There are Chinese clones out there, ranging from horrible to workable despite components missing often.

Mine is a genuine one from a dealer that was going to throw out a box of multiple broken ones. I was able to mix and match and make a couple good ICOMs.

For F-Chassis, however, an ENET cable is enough.

ICOM can communicate with all the BMW protocols since the very beginning of BMW diagnostic systems.



E-Sys is the Windows program that BMW engineering used for flashing (module firmwares) and coding. It is easily available online, nearly everywhere because so many people leaked it. It does not do diagnostics. INPA and other programs do that job.

[n00bkiller944]

Originally Posted by Enabled

ICOM is the BMW dealer diagnostic interface tool. There are Chinese clones out there, ranging from horrible to workable despite components missing often.

Mine is a genuine one from a dealer that was going to throw out a box of multiple broken ones. I was able to mix and match and make a couple good ICOMs.

For F-Chassis, however, an ENET cable is enough.

ICOM can communicate with all the BMW protocols since the very beginning of BMW diagnostic systems.



E-Sys is the Windows program that BMW engineering used for flashing (module firmwares) and coding. It is easily available online, nearly everywhere because so many people leaked it. It does not do diagnostics. INPA and other programs do that job.

Thank you for the information. What software do you run while using the ENET?

[Enabled]

Same software. ENET cable is just another way to connect your laptop to the car.

[M Pete]

This morning i switched out EGR coolers. Sure enough, I had to pour coolant out of the old cooler as it was leaking inside. I only drove about 20 miles but no fault codes or lights so far. I'll report back tomorrow after I get some more miles on it

On a side note, there really is no way of draining the coolant on these cars without getting it all over is there? Just pull the hose and hope that you catch most of it. I think next time I'll try to rig up a large tube to the end of a funnel so that when I pull the hose I can keep it off everything in the engine bay.

[M Pete]

Now what to do with the old EGR cooler. Trash I guess.

[Cualainach]

hi.

my 2013 bmw F31 320d (163hp) has a problem with the inlet manifold as far as I can see.

As I was driving, a long journey on Monday, I had to stop the car due to an awful smell coming into the cabin initially followed by smoke. Then as soon as I stopped I noticed lots of smoke coming from under the bonnet.

I switched off the car, and immediately opened the bonnet and removet the plastic engine cover. Here is when I noticed the plastic inlet manifold was so hot it was melted and also scorched the insulation on the underside of the engine cover.

I also noticed that the coolant level was well below min at this point.

No warning lights came up on the dashboad at any point, and the engine seem to operate like normal with no loss in power or bad smoke coming from the exhaust.

After an hour I restarted the car an moved slightly out of the middle of the road. Again, no warning lights or loss in power.

Any assistance or advice at this point will be greatly received.
Is it true that the this model does not have swirl flaps? or have I misunderstood?

[M Pete]

Wow, that is very concerning. My low coolant light doesn't come on until the level is well below the "Min" line in the overflow tank. I would assume that the white smoke is coolant burning off when it hits the engine block. There are coolant lines on the driver side which goes to the oil cooler, engine block, and trans cooler I believe. You do have to take a bit of stuff of to look, but that is where I would start. Kind of sounds like one of your hoses cracked.

I realized that I had not come back with a final result. It has been over a week of commuting and no coolant loss or EGR valve codes, however I do still have the NOx codes. I'll have to investigate that later.

[M Pete]

I don't know what a swirl flap is. what is that?