[tjs100]

I recently went to a Garage in Croydon (London) called raws. They put a new/used engine in the car. They did a really bad Job as parts of my screws where missing some some parts. For the past week after fixing the engine (which isn’t that great), I had a coolant leak which only would drain my whole coolant fluid after pressure: after some pressure tests we saw no leaks. I took it to another Garage and they ran the pressure test and let the car run for abit to see where all the 5L of water/coolant was going. Neways we saw a flood of liquid coming out from a part near the radiator/fan. Now it seems like a missing stopper from the radiator, but then again it also looks like somewhere a hose would connect? Does anyone know what this part is and what’s meant to be on the end of it. If it is a hose where does the other end connect?. or the name of the part. It’s been 1 month of me fixing car problems from engine, to water pump(which I still believe was misdiagnosed) to now the coolant leaks.

[The Nightman]

Looks like what BMW calls the "aftercooler" port on the radiator? If that is an aftermarket radiator, there are different sized "plugs" that either open or block that port depending on whether it is used on the vehicle:



I'm guessing it would be very obvious if you have a loose hose that wasn't connected to that port, so I'm going to assume that the wrong size "plug" is installed in the radiator.

[tjs100]

When I got the car back nothing was connected to that part as they could have even forgot to put a hose back on, just like they did with some screws on certain parts of the engine bay so not aware what belongs there but the way the water flooded out from there was crazy. so your saying it’s like a plug that goes in there?.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by tjs100

When I got the car back nothing was connected to that part as they could have even forgot to put a hose back on, just like they did with some screws on certain parts of the engine bay so not aware what belongs there but the way the water flooded out from there was crazy. so your saying it’s like a plug that goes in there?.

The plug in question goes into the radiator from the bottom. Aftermarket "universal" radiators include two different length plugs and the length used in the radiator depends on the options of the vehicle. My guess is that your vehicle does not utilize the "aftercooler" port so the radiator is supposed to have the shorter plug. If the longer plug is installed, then coolant would leak from the port. If your vehicle does use the aftercooler port, then there should be a loose coolant hose with a quick connector in the vicinity.

What is your VIN and engine?

[tjs100]

Oh right makes sense. So ideally I’d have to buy the plug. Just wanted to make sure as I don’t trust those guys and won’t go back there. Wasn’t sure if it was a hose just in case something that needed a coolant but wasn’t getting it.

[The Nightman]

Here is a photo of the lower radiator hose and the "aftercooler" hose connection under it for reference

[tjs100]

Ah yeah this is the bit where the liquid was flooding out from. I’ll get a plug for a automatic. I got a n43 engine but not so clued up on cars as much, so not sure what a after cooler was or if I had one. Still messy on the garages part to take out a plug from the Rad and not put it back in. To think they claim to be BMW specialists.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by tjs100

Ah yeah this is the bit where the liquid was flooding out from. I’ll get a plug for a automatic. I got a n43 engine but not so clued up on cars as much, so not sure what a after cooler was or if I had one. Still messy on the garages part to take out a plug from the Rad and not put it back in. To think they claim to be BMW specialists.

The plug in question is on the right hand side (passenger side if LHD) of the radiator and is different from the plugs on the left side that are used for AT or MT. Most likely the shop installed the radiator as shipped instead of verifying which plugs were needed.

I'd figure out which brand your radiator is first (should be a label on the top or bottom of the core) and contact the manufacturer for a set of replacement plugs.

[tjs100]

They didn’t install the radiator just did engine work, but I’m sure they had to take off the Front bumper and Rad to get the engine in hence why I’m shocked as to where that part went as I’ve never had any coolant issues ever since owning the car

[tjs100]

also mines right hand drive. The part where it was leaking is on the right hand side aswell.

[tjs100]

Added some more images just for refrence.

[The Nightman]

Are you sure there isn't a loose coolant hose somewhere? The port on the radiator is cleaner than the surrounding area, which leads me to believe that there was a hose connected to it.

If the radiator wasn't replaced then either it's an OE Modine unit with no plugs on the right hand side, or if aftermarket then the installed plugs are correct if the leak didn't occur until now.

Or the replacement engine doesn't have the after cooler while your original engine did. Then you'd need the correct radiator plug to block off the after cooler port.

[tjs100]

I don’t see any loose hose’s near the car. But I believe there may be a hose they didn’t fit back In. I’m trying to find where that hose leads to or even the name so I can order the part.