Hi everyone,

I have had a small coolant leak for a while. No obvious drops on the driveway but enough that gradual top ups have lead to the coolant level / mixture message to appearing every journey.

Just had a complete coolant change and message now gone but with the fresh coolant I've been smelling the leak and have now located a small drip and dry coolant on the side of the engine. The drip is located where point 6 on this diagram meets the engine.

Click image to enlarge

Not sure, if you look up that section on lrparts.ru you should be able to find it and if you click on it you will get a part number to google . ReaolOEM sute will give you the BMW part number if you search for X5 same year with M57 engine
Might help

From RAVE

The radiator top hose is connected to a coolant outlet pipe which is bolted to the centre of the cylinder head. The elbow
also has a connection for the feed to the heater matrix via a flexible hose.


 .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Thanks both,

Again, please excuse my ignorance but in you opinion is that likely to be something sinister, or just something like a failed seal?

Many thanks,

Tom

Unlikely sinister. More likely to be failed / degraded seals given the age, the rubber perishes over time, not helped by the cycling of heat from the engine.

Is the coolant definitely coming from the join between the engine block and that short outlet pipe (labelled B in Joe's pic), or is between the short pipe and where the hose ( labelled 5 in joe's pic ) connects on it. V8 or else ...

Hi and thanks,

I'm pretty sure its coming from between 'B' and the main engine block. Can't seem to find a definitive name or part no for 'part B'.

Regards,

Tom.

In RAVE, "B" is identified as the coolant elbow which connects to the hose - coolant outlet elbow to changeover valve

If the item bolted to the cylinder block is made of plastic, this could have developed a crack, or the connections to it are weeping .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Many thanks.

Just rubbed the joint with my finger and it's definitely weeping.

Looks like a trip to the garage... pain is, I've just had a coolant change!!!

I dread to think how many holidays I could have had with the money I've spent on this thing!!!!!!!!

tominator1982 - If you just had a coolant change, connect a hose to the radiator drain tap and put other end of hose in a collection bucket or such and save your expensive coolant to reuse it again.