I hate this car!!! - Possible HGF

D

Derry

Member
Well looks like i have more bad news.

I have seen my coolant light come on a few times. Topped it up slightly lasted a few days came back on. So this time i brimmed it...not a great idea i know but no light for the lst 2 weeks.

Last night the oil light comes on as i pull up to ASDA. No bother they sell edge in there, picked up a bottle while getting my food.

Come out to top up and I am greeted by a mustardy paste on the oil cap :@ (i had checked this on inspection)

Now that the seed has been planted i notice that even when the car is warm i still have white smoke out of the rear and coupled with the coolant loss, i think i may have bought a lemon :'(

Off to bolton motor works in the morning

Just really frustrated!

Regards
 
oh man, sorry to hear the bad news :-( i often worry when my next run of bad luck is coming..... :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| happens to all of us!
 
Bad news on that Derry it looks like head gasket and a head ache for you. Bright side, it does explain the coolant loss and the mayo together with the white smoke. Are you keeping or getting shot of her?
 
The mustardy paste, is it yellow / orange or white? The orangey colour can just be from condensation as a result of lots of short trips and the engine not getting hot enough to evaporate it, google 'orange gunk in oil gap' or something to that effect. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Could be short trips causing engine condensation & the coolant loss may be a split header tank/hose?
Get a sniff test carried out before they take the head off as it's very rare for head gaskets to go on these engines.
Regards
 
Smartbear said:
Could be short trips causing engine condensation & the coolant loss may be a split header tank/hose?
Get a sniff test carried out before they take the head off as it's very rare for head gaskets to go on these engines.
Regards
Click to expand...


+1
 
Head gasket failures are quite rare on these engines. Could be a coolant leak somewhere coupled with condensation in the oil making it look worse than it is.

I'd be inclined the get a bottle of k-seal in the coolant system. About a tenner for a bottle, just shake it up and pour in.

If there's a small leak in the coolant system it will seal it.

Then top up the coolant to normal level and monitor it for a few days.

Dan
 
Näh.. dont worry. Take picture of dip stick and from expansion tank.
I think it is just normal winter youghurt.
 
I wouldn't get the headgasket changed on the strength of that, get the header tank sniff tested.
What sort of journeys do you use the zed for, average distance?
Regards
 
We have 3 cars in our household and the filler caps all look like that over the winter months, we all only do short journeys.

About 3 weeks back I drove to Scotland, stopping at the Lakes overnight. The Mayo disappeared after the long highish speed trip. A week back on short journeys, mayo back just as show in the above pic.

I've had my Z4 for 5 winters, same story for each of them.
 
Derry said:
Probably 5 miles...but go to Leeds every Saturday
Click to expand...

There's the cause of your Mayo, 5miles isn't long enough to fully heat the engine & get the condensation out-I'd be changing the engine oil a lot more often than bmw recommend to combat the damage this could cause.
Regards
 
Really appreciate the peace of mind, lets get her a new water pump and hoses to make sure the water issue is sorted.

And she is getting detailed tomorrow :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom