E46 316i big coolant leak

[LeviM]

Wondering if anyone can help locate a massive leak that’s just happened around the gearbox area

I jacked the car today to fit some drop links, left the engine running as it’s a quick job and the battery was almost dead. As I’m under there coolant just flooded out from around from the middle and was hitting the gearbox it was leaking constantly for a good five minutes.

Does anyone know of any common leaks on this engine? I’ve heard something about a inlet pipe but I’m unsure. Any help would be appreciated

[SomeLankyGuy]

I've not had a 316 but I do own a 330d, on mine the coolant pipe goes into the block under the inlet manifold, on the right. Thats about as far back as the coolant system goes so all I can imagine is that its leaking from there and running backwards towards the gearbox.

Also potentially heater matrix pipes where they go into bulkhead maybe?

Sorry I cant be more help

[Elliot2000]

It’s normally this, plastic cover with three 10mm bolts

[Touring442]

Could be an early one (98-2002) with the M43TU 1.9 engine. They had that superb* plastic coolant elbow on the back of the head. They go brittle with age and can just go pop. They're fun to change as well, getting the old cruddy remains out being a job best performed by a dentist. Also the plastic pipe on the side of the block from No.1 core plug hole under the inlet manifold, feeding the heater pipe.

[LeviM]

Thanks for the replies, just had a look today and found its dropping from under the blower motor and hitting on the gearbox.

Couldn’t get a proper look as didn’t have enough time but cant see any pipes or anything like that around there, any ideas?

[Touring442]

What year is it?

[Charlie Croker mk2]

Are you sure its coolant or is it the Air con just doing is "own thing" as its supposed to .

[LeviM]

Touring442 said:

What year is it?

It’s a 1999

[LeviM]

Charlie Croker mk2 said:

Are you sure its coolant or is it the Air con just doing is "own thing" as its supposed to .

That’s what I initially thought but hard to tell since I’ve just been using distilled water since it started leaking. It was about a litres worth of water that came from that area