[Sammyzuko]

I just got my car back from the bodyshop yesterday. This morning I go to the garage and see coolant on the ground under the car....barely any left in the reservoir. I didn't notice it leaking yesterday, so it must've happened after I shut her down for the night. Could the pressure have built up and caused it to come out? Any suggestions on what I can do? The bodyshop is closed for the weekend, so any help would be appreciated.

edit: the radiator, reservoir and stuff were all replaced by the bodyshop after my front end collision.

[Sammyzuko]

Is it possible they just didn't bleed the coolant properly and if I refill it and bleed it all could be ok?

[Shock(/\)ave]

Originally Posted by Sammyzuko

Is it possible they just didn't bleed the coolant properly and if I refill it and bleed it all could be ok?

Coolant wouldn't leak like crazy if it was an issue of your system not having been bled properly. Jack up the car and pinpoint the source of the leak if you can, then give the garage that did the repair work a call.

Aside from the coolant leak are you happy with the end results?

[badgtho]

it would be pure speculation on my part given the scope of the repair that's just been done.

it could be just about anything, but it's likely a loose hose or fitting.

if it were my car, i'd lay underneath and see what's up... but i would not begin tearing into it because it's really the shop's responsibility, and you won;t want to jeopardize their obligation to rectify the issuse.

bottom line: not bleeding will not cause leaks. this car has a sealed system and will only blow off pressure in the even of a big problem.

[Sammyzuko]

The car was awesome(until I found coolant all over the ground). It looks great, the red is much deeper since the bodyshop repainted the front and I think they buffed the entire car. It drives better than I remember it driving and sounds better than I remember it sounding. I'm in love with it all over again.
This coolant issue really kills my weekend. I have a lot planned for the weekend and now I have to turn into mr mechanic and mess with the car in my frickin 30° garage.

[Sammyzuko]

Originally Posted by Shock(/\)ave

Coolant wouldn't leak like crazy if it was an issue of your system not having been bled properly. Jack up the car and pinpoint the source of the leak if you can, then give the garage that did the repair work a call.

Aside from the coolant leak are you happy with the end results?

Originally Posted by badgtho

it would be pure speculation on my part given the scope of the repair that's just been done.

it could be just about anything, but it's likely a loose hose or fitting.

if it were my car, i'd lay underneath and see what's up... but i would not begin tearing into it because it's really the shop's responsibility, and you won;t want to jeopardize their obligation to rectify the issuse.

bottom line: not bleeding will not cause leaks. this car has a sealed system and will only blow off pressure in the even of a big problem.

Thanks a lot guys. I'm going to try to search for the leak. This is horrible timing since the shop won't be open until Monday....lol.

[phantom3]

Probably check that little hose that goes from top of expansion tank to the driver side part of the radiator , this is the littlest hose , but it can be a pain to get secured on either end . And it makes me think that because it happened later , not while running , so it had to be hot enough to have expansion tank fluids run out of it . But regardless if you paid to have the job done then you should have them correct it .

[Teh_Ginger]

I suggest filling her up with some BMW coolant/distilled water and then going out for a good drive...wind it out. When you get back home, pop the hood (have your flashlight ready) and start looking for leaks. I had a leak for the longest time, and it was right in front of my eyes.

There are two hoses right in this general area and they're held on by metal clamps...give it a little squeeze around where it connects and see if any coolant comes dripping out. In my case, it came shooting out. This is just one place to check...shine your light around in there and look for dried or fresh coolant.

[badgtho]

Originally Posted by Porschefan1013

I suggest filling her up with some BMW coolant/distilled water and then going out for a good drive...wind it out. When you get back home, pop the hood (have your flashlight ready) and start looking for leaks. I had a leak for the longest time, and it was right in front of my eyes.

There are two hoses right in this general area and they're held on by metal clamps...give it a little squeeze around where it connects and see if any coolant comes dripping out. In my case, it came shooting out. This is just one place to check...shine your light around in there and look for dried or fresh coolant.

dude.. those are not going to be the issue.

the issue will be found in the vicinity of the rad.

[Teh_Ginger]

Originally Posted by badgtho

dude.. those are not going to be the issue.

the issue will be found in the vicinity of the rad.

What confines a coolant leak to one particular area? Are you saying I just imagined the coolant spilling out of those hoses on my car? I didn't definitively say that's where it's coming from...just one place to look.