E46 leak (N/F/S)
Discussion
Evening all
Noticed a leak behind the front passenger wheel, taking it to the garage tomorrow but thinking ahead as to what it could be..
Didn't smell and it isn't oil and it has a slight whiteness to it when it dried
Google suggests the hoses can go with these and the expansion tank, but it's dripping from quite far back, towards the back of the engine (of course, could just be running back and then dripping)
Cheers
Noticed a leak behind the front passenger wheel, taking it to the garage tomorrow but thinking ahead as to what it could be..
Didn't smell and it isn't oil and it has a slight whiteness to it when it dried
Google suggests the hoses can go with these and the expansion tank, but it's dripping from quite far back, towards the back of the engine (of course, could just be running back and then dripping)
Cheers
Back from the garage
They believe it's the screen-wash as there's a pump located on the N/S/F and the leak increases whilst I'm spraying the windscreen, it would explain the lack of smell (brake fluid being pretty potent, coolant being sugary).
I'm taking it back on the weekend as it requires the arch to be removed for full diagnosis, in the meantime, I'll make a note of fluid levels.
Good news is, coolant hadn't dropped at all and neither had the brake fluid.
They believe it's the screen-wash as there's a pump located on the N/S/F and the leak increases whilst I'm spraying the windscreen, it would explain the lack of smell (brake fluid being pretty potent, coolant being sugary).
I'm taking it back on the weekend as it requires the arch to be removed for full diagnosis, in the meantime, I'll make a note of fluid levels.
Good news is, coolant hadn't dropped at all and neither had the brake fluid.
No, I was advised they were fairly common faults (thanks for the heads up though!)
I'll be emptying the screen wash tonight on the journey home in the expectancy that empty screen wash = no more drips, which if the case, isn't such a pressing matter and I'll have it resolved over the weekend.
I'll be emptying the screen wash tonight on the journey home in the expectancy that empty screen wash = no more drips, which if the case, isn't such a pressing matter and I'll have it resolved over the weekend.
The reason why it increases while you are spraying your screen is because the water that hits you screen drains down on the 'scuttle' which then goes down drain tubes that exit behind your front wheel arch liner, the water then drops out from behind the plastic wheels arch.
Aim a hope pipe at your screen and you will get water dripping from this area.
Aim a hope pipe at your screen and you will get water dripping from this area.
Well I left the car parked Saturday and moved it to the next-door space on Sunday, both of which were parked at the same angle with the same gradient, both of which resulted in a leak.
Upon inspection on Sunday, where it was still dripping (visibly I could see this), I noticed that where I had parked on Saturday there was a stain with a white/crystallisation effect. The car had been there for 3-4 hours before I had a look.
So, Sat and Sun = leaking, probably continuously, although not by much if the marks/puddles were anything to go by
Monday, I emptied the screenwash, parked in the usual place, put kitchen towels and plastic containers under the spot where it dripped last time
Checked Tuesday morning, no drips, no wet patches on the kitchen towels, no water in the plastic containers..
Just seems odd for it to co-inside with me emptying the screenwash!
The liquid on Sunday had no smell, I didn't go as far as to taste the stuff, there wasn't really a colour to it either. I can't see from the engine bay anything which is leaking, the underside of the car was completely dry when I checked again last night!
From your picture, what's the tank to the right hand side in the scuttle? I only noticed this tank last night but not sure what it's supposed to contain. It was dry, but it's located above where the drips were coming from Sunday
It's amazing how quickly you can go from thinking "ahh, no biggie" to "ahh s
t" (again)
P.S. Thanks for your feedback so far, I was only going off what the chap at the garage said, had no idea the pump/motor was on the O/S/F
Upon inspection on Sunday, where it was still dripping (visibly I could see this), I noticed that where I had parked on Saturday there was a stain with a white/crystallisation effect. The car had been there for 3-4 hours before I had a look.
So, Sat and Sun = leaking, probably continuously, although not by much if the marks/puddles were anything to go by
Monday, I emptied the screenwash, parked in the usual place, put kitchen towels and plastic containers under the spot where it dripped last time
Checked Tuesday morning, no drips, no wet patches on the kitchen towels, no water in the plastic containers..
Just seems odd for it to co-inside with me emptying the screenwash!
The liquid on Sunday had no smell, I didn't go as far as to taste the stuff, there wasn't really a colour to it either. I can't see from the engine bay anything which is leaking, the underside of the car was completely dry when I checked again last night!
From your picture, what's the tank to the right hand side in the scuttle? I only noticed this tank last night but not sure what it's supposed to contain. It was dry, but it's located above where the drips were coming from Sunday
It's amazing how quickly you can go from thinking "ahh, no biggie" to "ahh s
t" (again)P.S. Thanks for your feedback so far, I was only going off what the chap at the garage said, had no idea the pump/motor was on the O/S/F
Edited by Teddye4687 on Wednesday 15th February 14:38
Teddye4687 said:
From your picture, what's the tank to the right hand side in the scuttle? I only noticed this tank last night but not sure what it's supposed to contain. It was dry, but it's located above where the drips were coming from Sunday
It's amazing how quickly you can go from thinking "ahh, no biggie" to "ahh st" (again)
If by RHS you mean the left of the picture just underneath 'Speed mater',(as I don't see a tank on the RHS of the scuttle) that is be brake fluid reservoir, and that is on the offside of the car.It's amazing how quickly you can go from thinking "ahh, no biggie" to "ahh s
t" (again)Edited by Teddye4687 on Wednesday 15th February 14:32
Maybe that is where there confusion is arising, Near side is the side nearest the kerb (i.e. passenger side of a RHD car).
E30M3SE said:
If by RHS you mean the left of the picture just underneath 'Speed mater',(as I don't see a tank on the RHS of the scuttle) that is be brake fluid reservoir, and that is on the offside of the car.
Maybe that is where there confusion is arising, Near side is the side nearest the kerb (i.e. passenger side of a RHD car).
Nope, I meant looking at it from the photographers perspective, the right hand side of the picture (N/S/F) Maybe that is where there confusion is arising, Near side is the side nearest the kerb (i.e. passenger side of a RHD car).
I noticed in mine last night that I have a tank there, not sure if anything's in it, it's a big white plastic box! Might be something completely unrelated to the issue, just had no idea what it is, it's pretty large.
Here's the pic I took with reference to its location from your picture! (Sorry if it's completely unrelated, but it's white and plastic and looks like a container of some sort
)
E30M3SE said:
It's not a tank of any sort. It's the housing box for a control unit iirc.
Have you tried pouring a cup of water over the windscreen to see it the 'leak' returns?
Yes, when that happens it comes from the same place. Well, it's hard to be sure, as it sort of dribbles from the underside, there's no obvious place where exactly it's coming from.Have you tried pouring a cup of water over the windscreen to see it the 'leak' returns?
However, the two days where puddles formed were a) dry and b) still very much dry when I looked under the car and it was still dripping!
No, haven't used it for a while!
What would that look or smell like?
Took the covers and airbox off this evening to have a poke around, pretty much everything looked dry, two areas of concern
1) The dipstick had a resemblance of mayo on it. Only a minute amount, enough to cause a concern as it'd only just finished a 30 mile drive. The mayo was on the very top of the dipstick (would it float in the tank?)
I checked the underside of the oil cap, perfectly clean.
Also checked the coolant for oil/mayo but it was perfectly clear and the indicator hasn't moved a millimetre to what it was on Sunday..
2) In the engine bay I could only see one area which MAY have been damp, surrounding a connection to the block but it was too far away to touch or reach with anything. I've taken a picture if anyone can advise as to what part of the block it is. Sorry for the crap quality, if anyone has a better diagram of the engine/block, please share and I can point it out!
Checked the floor after an hour, no water/drips at all...
Also had another look around, pretty sure you're right on the pump etc being on the offside, judging by the pipes from the bonnet, pffft
Can't post the pic as I'm on the iPad, I'll figure out another way
What would that look or smell like?
Took the covers and airbox off this evening to have a poke around, pretty much everything looked dry, two areas of concern
1) The dipstick had a resemblance of mayo on it. Only a minute amount, enough to cause a concern as it'd only just finished a 30 mile drive. The mayo was on the very top of the dipstick (would it float in the tank?)
I checked the underside of the oil cap, perfectly clean.
Also checked the coolant for oil/mayo but it was perfectly clear and the indicator hasn't moved a millimetre to what it was on Sunday..
2) In the engine bay I could only see one area which MAY have been damp, surrounding a connection to the block but it was too far away to touch or reach with anything. I've taken a picture if anyone can advise as to what part of the block it is. Sorry for the crap quality, if anyone has a better diagram of the engine/block, please share and I can point it out!
Checked the floor after an hour, no water/drips at all...
Also had another look around, pretty sure you're right on the pump etc being on the offside, judging by the pipes from the bonnet, pffft
Can't post the pic as I'm on the iPad, I'll figure out another way
Worst case scenario, let's say the head's in trouble and needs a rebuild,, what cost am I looking at?
Sorry if that's a rather open ended questions, but let's say the works
No problems at the minute (no smoke, no rattles, no flat spots)
Bear in mind, the cars done 142,000 now and everything else is mechanically sound (no advisorieson MOT, clutch and gearbox feel fine) but if it does require a rebuild, I guess I'll need to make the decision whether to cut my losses and chuck it in, which sucks because I love the car (even though I was starting to consider a new one, z4 maybe).
Sorry if that's a rather open ended questions, but let's say the works
No problems at the minute (no smoke, no rattles, no flat spots)
Bear in mind, the cars done 142,000 now and everything else is mechanically sound (no advisorieson MOT, clutch and gearbox feel fine) but if it does require a rebuild, I guess I'll need to make the decision whether to cut my losses and chuck it in, which sucks because I love the car (even though I was starting to consider a new one, z4 maybe).
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