[AlisoBob]

I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about BMW "engineering excellence". My daughters 2008 328i just split the coolant tank ,right down the middle. A quick internet search shows it happens all the time.

WTF

I've owned Chevy's for 35 years, and hundreds of thousands of miles..... without this kind of failure.

I guess it's the price you pay to drive a Beemer....

[bluewater328]

Care to share a pic of this? Because I'm not sure I've heard of that kind of split...or maybe I'm just picturing it wrong.

[AlisoBob]

Its a two piece tank.... a upper and a lower section thats either fused or glued together.

Well, not any more.

[Vulcan50]

Not that it's excusable but my guess is that is likely outsourced to the lowest bidder. And likely Chinese engineering.

[Vulcan50]

Side note I have one I'll sell you for $10 plus shipping

[AlisoBob]

Thanks.... Pelican will have one here tomorrow, and I went with FEBI....not OEM.

[Phyrexia]

An excellent engineer would know to replace that crucial part of the car's cooling system before it was 12 years old. I imagine it's been leaking slowly for some time?

Well designed and engineered != Invincible parts

[AlisoBob]

That's such a lame response....

Should I also change the fuel tank and windshield wiper, power steering, and brake fluid reservoir's while I'm at it?

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by AlisoBob

I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about BMW "engineering excellence". My daughters 2008 328i just split the coolant tank ,right down the middle. A quick internet search shows it happens all the time.

WTF

I've owned Chevy's for 35 years, and hundreds of thousands of miles..... without this kind of failure.

I guess it's the price you pay to drive a Beemer....

and how many of those chevy's had closed cooling systems, because this shit is common on everything with clsed cooling systems that age.

I have a 1988 Jeep Comanche outside with a closed cooling system, and they're known to fail.
I replaced the closed cooling system bottle on my mothers 2014 ford, because it failed.
and guess what cars now also have closed cooling systems? Chevys.

If you want to blame someone, blame the legislators that mandate stuff that leads to closed/pressurized coolant bottles, not the manufacturers.

edit:
What's this? Chevys with failing coolant bottles?
https://www.fixmyoldride.com/Chevrol...urge-tank.html

https://chevysparkforum.com/topic/33...w-tank-issues/
and sparks that aren't even 5 years old?

so I guess 12 years in your BMW was actually a pretty damned good part.

[CTinline-six]

Stuff breaks, especially plastic stuff. Wait until some of the newer Chevy stuff breaks. I've had the pleasure of working on a few newer Chevys and it certainly was not fun or cheap. All newer vehicles are using a lot more plastic and electronics. Neither of those things hold up well to heat.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

Stuff breaks, especially plastic stuff. Wait until some of the newer Chevy stuff breaks. I've had the pleasure of working on a few newer Chevys and it certainly was not fun or cheap. All newer vehicles are using a lot more plastic and electronics. Neither of those things hold up well to heat.

that spark thread illustrates it perfectly.

even chevy's have electronic thermostats and such now. BMW was just ahead of the curve on this stuff, and now it's commonplace in cheap econo shit boxes.

have you seen the new GM turbo 4 truck motor?

Sweet baby jesus that things gonna be a nightmare the instant it's out of warranty.
Spool valves and shit redirecting coolant all over in a bunch of tubes mounted to the engine block. It's an engineer's dream, and a maintainer's nightmare.

[hassmaschine]

Probably that car had been overheated at some point. I don't think coolant tank ruptures are actually very common on the N52.

[AlisoBob]

Pelican delivered 2nd day. 15 minute install. Turn on key and heater with engine off and hold gas pedal down to turn on water pump.

System self bleeds in 5 minutes. Balance coolant level and put on cap..... done.

Back on the road.

Thanks Pelican.....

[X3818]

Glad it was an easy fix

I had a coolant hose break on me while driving less than a year ago, wasn't fun