[Dan_G_303]

Hi all, I'm after some repair advice.

I've got a 2017 F32 420i (B48) with a coolant leak in the pipe going from the coolant tank to cylinder head. I've got extended warranty but coolant and fuel hoses are in the exclusions so not covered.

Main dealer near me (Bishops Stortford) wants to charge £1500 to replace the pipe. Anyone have any idea if I'd be getting ripped off here? I'm assuming this is majority labour costs.

I've heard main dealers charge ~£250 per hour for labour (meaning this job would equate to ~6 hrs work?) but this just word of mouth. My only other comparison so far is an independent german car specialist who won't quote for the job without first having a look, but they charge for labour £75 per hour (but could potentially take longer).

Any advice welcome. Thanks

[martin10chk]

Do you have the BMW extended warranty? If so a fixed pipe (as distinct from a flexible ‘hose’ ) I think should be covered. I certainly had something coolant related done on mine a few years back and it was covered. I remember asking the service guy how much it would have cost without warranty and it was scary. Around £1k iirc.

[Dan_G_303]

Yes it is a BMW extended warranty with "Comprehensive Component Cover"... not that comprehensive clearly. I could try going back to them again, but I'm not hopeful... some searching online brought me to this: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/17128677244/

Seems to give the part name as "Hose, cylinder head-expansion tank 8677244
17128677244"

[martin10chk]

Yes - if it is described as a 'hose' those are specifically excluded. I was hoping it might be a metal pipe on which the O-ring had failed. You might have got them to cover that. I would still go back to them. If it is not the actual hose that has failed (split) then there is a leak and the hose replacement is necessary to cure that - well then it should be covered. Can't hurt to ask. The price they are quoting just seems outrageous - unless this is an 'engine out' sort of job for some bizarre reason. Normally hoses are service items and therefore at least plausibly accessible.

[Hawko]

This is a fairly common problem, as I found when it happened on the sons 320i.

I replaced the pipe myself, took less than an hour. Following the procedure on ISTA (which is what BMW will do) it would have probaly taken a day.

I contacted user kierownik who had a similar problem and he replied as below on how to do it, so thanks to him. Cost of new pipe £28 from Autodoc.

"You don't need to remove any of the parts you mentioned. Remove engine's top cover and accessing from the front top of the engine try to follow that hose with your hand all the way behind the alternator. You'll find where it goes into the head.
To remove the old one you'll need to partly remove intake pipe (see my photos) and a little bracket that's behind that pipe. Once that little bracket is removed you see the connector. Using small pliers you'll be able to undo the locking clip and just remove the connector. Then just route the new pipe behind the alternator and plug it back in place. It's literally a 25-30min job without rushing"

[Allworth]

£1500 sounds like a rip off, not having done it on BMW, however, but on the other brands.
Id imagine a price of new hose and a coolant. Replace leaking pipe, top up coolant, bleed air out, done.
I would be surprised if they charge so much due to very unlikely event of having head warped due to overheating

[ojmck22]

I know I am late replying to this, but yes that is absolutely extortionate. I know the pipe you're talking about, and it also broke on my uncles 430i GC, and a friend and I bought the pipe from BMW themselves for roughly £50 and replaced it. It was an awkward job, but it was finished in 1-2hrs.

[Dan_G_303]

Hi there, yes after a few replies I started looking elsewhere. I found a independent BMW specialist near me who did it for £180.

[surajm]

Hello , I have 2019 420i , local garage told me that issue of coolant loss/leak . They did initial diagnosis and mentioned coolant leak from hose/seal below inlet manifold (believed to run from expansion tank area to cylinder head). Given the location of leak we are not able to be specific as to the complete parts required. They told me it is time consuming work and will take lot of time.

They told me to contact BMW dealer as this is known issue but there is no recall in UK.

Hence i towed my car to BMW garage . I am worried about the quotation cost if it takes so much time.

[surajm]

Originally Posted by Dan_G_303

Hi there, yes after a few replies I started looking elsewhere. I found a independent BMW specialist near me who did it for £180.

Mate , may i know how garage name for independent BMW specialist