08' BMW 328i Severe Coolant Leak

helpmybaby · 12-09-2021, 10:29 PM

Hey all,
I own a 2008 328i, and has served me pretty well in my time of ownership (97k-122k miles).
I had a casual day of driving with no apparant issues, however for the past 1-2 months I've had the yellow "service engine soon" light on my dash, and it pops up off and on. Today while I was heading home (stopped at a stop sign), the coolant light popped up on my dash. Within 2-3 seconds of me seeing the light, smoke (coolant vapor) started billowing from my engine bay. I pulled over immediately and stopped the vehicle to check out what was going on, and there was coolant all over the engine. Being 2 minutes from home, I restarted the vehicle and made it back okay, with more smoke coming from the engine and luckily no signs on the dash of anything overheating.
Anybody know the potential cause of such a sudden and abrupt issue? I ran my BT OBD2 reader and the only important codes thrown were;
2EF5
A559
CF17
2F71
93D0
9408
Thank you for any help. I'll be taking her to a mechanic this week to diagnose any issues and will update with what the shop finds.

I have linked a video from right after I turned the vehicle off while it was billowing smoke, listen to audio [here](

View post on imgur.com

) . The video and audio may be helpful.

TGTIW · 12-10-2021, 10:40 AM

The video and audio is not helpful.

Seriously though, with the number of possibilities, and the video that might induce seizures, it's nearly impossible to guess. However I'm still going to.
I think I can see coolant on the front of the engine, and also on the air intake ducting, so I suspect your coolant expansion tank hose, the small one running along the top of the radiator and over to the reservoir, burst.

charlie_m · 12-10-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpmybaby

Within 2-3 seconds of me seeing the light, smoke (coolant vapor) started billowing from my engine bay.

Being 2 minutes from home, I restarted the vehicle and made it back okay,

I'll be taking her to a mechanic this week to diagnose any issues.

Hope you have it towed to your shop ..........

Temp gauge may not show overheating if the coolant level drops below the temp sensor.

e91Owner · 12-10-2021, 04:06 PM

+1 for the return line to the expansion tank. Didn't look up the codes, but those aren't going to tell you where a ruptured hose is.

12-09-2021, 10:29 PM	#1
helpmybaby New Member 2 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 08' 328i (N52) Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	08' BMW 328i Severe Coolant Leak Hey all, I own a 2008 328i, and has served me pretty well in my time of ownership (97k-122k miles). I had a casual day of driving with no apparant issues, however for the past 1-2 months I've had the yellow "service engine soon" light on my dash, and it pops up off and on. Today while I was heading home (stopped at a stop sign), the coolant light popped up on my dash. Within 2-3 seconds of me seeing the light, smoke (coolant vapor) started billowing from my engine bay. I pulled over immediately and stopped the vehicle to check out what was going on, and there was coolant all over the engine. Being 2 minutes from home, I restarted the vehicle and made it back okay, with more smoke coming from the engine and luckily no signs on the dash of anything overheating. Anybody know the potential cause of such a sudden and abrupt issue? I ran my BT OBD2 reader and the only important codes thrown were; 2EF5 A559 CF17 2F71 93D0 9408 Thank you for any help. I'll be taking her to a mechanic this week to diagnose any issues and will update with what the shop finds. I have linked a video from right after I turned the vehicle off while it was billowing smoke, listen to audio [here]( View post on imgur.com ) . The video and audio may be helpful. Last edited by helpmybaby; 12-09-2021 at 10:44 PM..
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12-10-2021, 10:40 AM	#2
TGTIW Second Lieutenant 143 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2010 328i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Knoxville iTrader: (2)	The video and audio is not helpful. Seriously though, with the number of possibilities, and the video that might induce seizures, it's nearly impossible to guess. However I'm still going to. I think I can see coolant on the front of the engine, and also on the air intake ducting, so I suspect your coolant expansion tank hose, the small one running along the top of the radiator and over to the reservoir, burst.
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12-10-2021, 04:06 PM	#4
e91Owner e91Owner 433 Rep 1,140 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	+1 for the return line to the expansion tank. Didn't look up the codes, but those aren't going to tell you where a ruptured hose is.
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