[rdeluna72397]

High pitch sound started coming out of my AC area and passenger side heater isn't as strong. Brought it into my dealership for them to look into. Turns out my heater core was clogged. They tested my coolant and claimed that sediment from my coolant went into my heater core. Thus my warranty denied coverage for the heater core due to failure to flush my coolant. Is this an accurate evaluation? I've seen other people claim that N55 coolant is lifetime. My car is 2014 with 35k miles. BMW wants $3100 for the repair and local mechanics want $1500-$1700 for it. Anybody else experience this and want to share their solution?

[khoa@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by rdeluna72397

They tested my coolant and claimed that sediment from my coolant went into my heater core. Thus my warranty denied coverage for the heater core due to failure to flush my coolant.

Did the dealership recommend coolant flush service and you denied it in the past?
What kind of extended warranty do you have?

[EvenKeel]

Originally Posted by rdeluna72397

High pitch sound started coming out of my AC area and passenger side heater isn't as strong. Brought it into my dealership for them to look into. Turns out my heater core was clogged. They tested my coolant and claimed that sediment from my coolant went into my heater core. Thus my warranty denied coverage for the heater core due to failure to flush my coolant. Is this an accurate evaluation? I've seen other people claim that N55 coolant is lifetime. My car is 2014 with 35k miles. BMW wants $3100 for the repair and local mechanics want $1500-$1700 for it. Anybody else experience this and want to share their solution?

Call BMW customer service and ask for assistance. The car has only 35K miles, so the argument that the coolant is contaminated is rubbish.

[rdeluna72397]

Originally Posted by khoa@x-ph.com

Did the dealership recommend coolant flush service and you denied it in the past?
What kind of extended warranty do you have?

No they've never told me I needed a coolant flush. I have Veritas extended warranty

[rdeluna72397]

Originally Posted by EvenKeel

Call BMW customer service and ask for assistance. The car has only 35K miles, so the argument that the coolant is contaminated is rubbish.

Will do. And for the record, I've only used BMW branded coolant to top off my car.

[khoa@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by rdeluna72397

No they've never told me I needed a coolant flush. I have Veritas extended warranty

I don't know much about Veritas but I think you should contact them about the issue. Especially with only 35k miles on your car. Who knows flushing coolant is mandatory?

[Gen13 F36]

I guess another 3rd party warranty: Veritas...I won't be getting if I ever want one

[Billfitz]

There is no BMW specified schedule for changing the coolant. They're handing you a line of BS. Tell them your lawyer wants a copy of the BMW document that states the coolant replacement interval.

[eluded]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

There is no BMW specified schedule for changing the coolant.

[dmaxdmax]

First, clogged heater cores 'can' be unclogged. Second, unlikely it was clogged after only 35k.

You're not getting as much heat on the passenger side? You mention both AC and heating, so want to confirm. Other things like stuck vent doors might account for a whistle...not sure you've checked your cabin air filter, but I wonder if maybe a leaf is stuck in there 'playing a tune'?

Anyway, if they haven't tried unclogging the core, they or you should...if you accept their diagnosis. I wonder if it might be more than one thing?

Also, fyi, I believe bmw says to change coolant every few years on their bottles of coolant...never heard of it being lifetime as suggested by someone above.

[AlmondJayRoM3]

A heater core clogged on the coolant side won’t cause a high pitched wine and uneven heat distribution. Probably a blender door malfunction. Modern BMWs don’t have a coolant flushing interval. Both service books for my 2016 M3 and 2018 X3 state “the engine coolant has a long term rating and does not need to be changed except for system repairs”. I would recommended on flushing at the 5 yr point but doubt in six years that you have enough corrosion products floating around to clog a heater core.

[eugene89us]

My 2014 Passat is notorious for heater core clogging. It had warranty extended to 10 years / 120K miles. Had it first replaced at 35K, second replacement at 95K. Something about excess Flux in the heater core reacting with their environmental coolant causing heavy deposits. The reason I say this is the Cardinal symptom of this was uneven heating. AC functionality remained the same for passenger and driver, but come winter, the driver would get warm air while passenger blew cold air. I don't normally have passengers, so once I noticed was when the core got even more clogged, resulting in driver blowing lukewarm only while passenger was getting ice cold. However, it is internal heater core coolant restriction, it is in no way restriction to air flow. So the air will flow the same, just the coolant won't penetrate the entire core, leading to warmer and colder sides. Therefore, there is no whistling whatsoever besides heat difference.

With all of this said, BMWs do not seem to suffer from this issue. There aren't even forum posts with people changing heater cores. Search VW Passat heater core clogged, you will find 20 guides and thousands of posts. Your issue is unique and not as widespread.

[ggrcrash]

Audis and Volkswagen with the 1.8 engines were notorious for heater core clogs, usually a coolant flush from the core inlet pipe took care of them, also a broken J plug under the thermostat would allow air to enter the system and cause the heat not to function on those cars adding to the problem...BMW's, not sure of the exact core flushing procedure...probably similar though...I agree with the previous reply, blend doors are most likely the problem...

[ggrcrash]

On my previous E60, heater motor would occasionally make noises, got rid of the car before it was ever fixed, just lived with it for a couple of years, sound would only happen in the winter anyway. Heat always worked...sound was annoying and would vanish when I stopped and restarted heater.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

Also, fyi, I believe bmw says to change coolant every few years on their bottles of coolant...never heard of it being lifetime as suggested by someone above.

It’s not so much that it’s lifetime, but that there’s no fixed or minimum schedule. You can test the coolant to see if it’s degraded, but if it tests fine then you can leave it alone.

I had mine tested at the 5 year mark, around 40k miles and my indy said it looked great and no need to flush.

OP can have the same dealer test his coolant and if it tests ok then use that as supporting evidence.

[GOLDENDUSt86]

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7#post24702727

Originally Posted by rdeluna72397

Will do. And for the record, I've only used BMW branded coolant to top off my car.

Speaking of using diff kinds of waters the stupid dealership engineer advised me to top it up with tap water, I've topped it up twice with tap water , and rust started to emerge, then I switched to distilled water and oem water mix, had my water return line replaced a year ago,
👉🏻 https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7#post24702727
and still, I occasionally have top up coolant message, and I'm out of warranty now and don't know what to do,
Does any one used this THEROCURE by Evapo-Rust to remove rust ? Is it safe on the rubber hoses ? Or shall I leave the rust in ?

[Billfitz]

Tap water doesn't cause rust. It can cause mineral deposits. Using too much water and not enough coolant can cause rust. Thermocure is a good product, be sure to follow the directions.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Tap water doesn't cause rust. It can cause mineral deposits. Using too much water and not enough coolant can cause rust. Thermocure is a good product, be sure to follow the directions.

Agree - technically coolant is what provides protection for the system components (corrosion resistance, freeze resistance, etc), water provides higher cooling capacity than straight coolant. It’s a balance between getting enough cooling capacity vs enough protection.

Never use tap water, and always “top up” with a proper 50/50 mix or whatever the instructions on the coolant bottle recommends (some might be pre-mixed).

[GOLDENDUSt86]

THATS MIGHT BE THE CASE, I've always used ONLY water (not a 50 - 50 mix) when topping up,
I'll try to search for thermocure here is EGYPT , and I'll be investigating the coolant leak I have and will follow it up with a 50 50 mix for sure.
I was thinking about taking it a step further and checking the distilled water we have here with a with a TDS meter, and if its not 100% pure I'll buy a home distiller and make my own mix, fill a tank, and leave it in the trunk

[GOLDENDUSt86]

Originally Posted by GOLDENDUSt86

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7#post24702727

Speaking of using diff kinds of waters the stupid dealership engineer advised me to top it up with tap water, I've topped it up twice with tap water , and rust started to emerge, then I switched to distilled water and oem water mix, had my water return line replaced a year ago,
👉🏻 https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...7#post24702727
and still, I occasionally have top up coolant message, and I'm out of warranty now and don't know what to do,
Does any one used this THEROCURE by Evapo-Rust to remove rust ? Is it safe on the rubber hoses ? Or shall I leave the rust in ?

I quick update,
My coolant was leaking, was the actuator in the water pump, replaced part number 11517644809 both pump 11518638026 and support (which is not sold separately and that's why I bought both to exclude any doubts about both) and added fresh BMW water mixed with distilled water, no issues uptill now,
And as for the rust, my mechanic told me the block didn't leak any rusty water, so the rust I saw inside the expansion tank was due to old water, and since we're adding new distilled BMW coolant mix , I shouldn't worry about it
I'll attach picture where the leak was found,
And since most of the engine was uncovered, I did a valve clean, which increased the engines' responsiveness ALottt