35iS Antifreeze smell

SO8 · 07-05-2014, 03:00 AM

I picked up my 35iS 2 days ago and it goes really, really well - but I have one concern in that when I get out or am sitting at traffic lights I sometimes am getting a waft of coolant smell.

This is with the roof down and definitely from my car as it has happened maybe 6 times. It is strong enough that a friend mentioned it.

There is no smell in the car when I first get in it and the floor is not damp, nor the car smelly. I can get the smell through the air vents a bit when the air con is first turned on but not after that via the vents - as it has been on with the weather so hot but the general smell is from outside with the roof down.

I open the bonnet and can't smell or see anything. The level seems ok but the cap was half a turn off tight and it doesn't click like the manual says to confirm shut (but clearly won't go tighter more than I have now turned it + the arrows line up now between reservoir and cap).

Any ideas ? I may ring the dealer (though they are miles away) or take it to a local BMW dealer just to check for peace of mind. There are no puddles of coolant .... just the smell.

The car is a 2011 with 28K on it.

Any comments appreciated.

SO8 · 07-05-2014, 05:11 AM

I rang BMW who came out and checked it - 20 minutes after ringing them ! Most impressed. No fault found but expansion tank cap not on tight (about half a turn loose) so he thinks that was the cause

I am now going out for a drive

jparnes1 · 07-05-2014, 07:12 AM

BMW does house calls? WTF?

2011CrazE89 · 07-05-2014, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparnes1

BMW does house calls? WTF?

Lol, must be a UK thing

SO8 · 07-05-2014, 11:51 AM

I rang the dealer and they told me to ring the BMW Assistance line and they came out. The dealer said don't drive it in case it had lost coolant. I said it hadn't but he said they would come out anyway !

The expansion tank cap was not on properly - no other fault found but now the cap is tight no smell of coolant.

The car has a leak from the roof by the drivers side A post so will be going back anyway - not the greatest start to ownership of what is (faults aside) a great car !

The dealer is now quoting 2 weeks wait for booking in :-(

07-05-2014, 03:00 AM	#1
SO8 Major 241 Rep 1,204 Posts Drives: BMW G42 M240i xdrive Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	35iS Antifreeze smell I picked up my 35iS 2 days ago and it goes really, really well - but I have one concern in that when I get out or am sitting at traffic lights I sometimes am getting a waft of coolant smell. This is with the roof down and definitely from my car as it has happened maybe 6 times. It is strong enough that a friend mentioned it. There is no smell in the car when I first get in it and the floor is not damp, nor the car smelly. I can get the smell through the air vents a bit when the air con is first turned on but not after that via the vents - as it has been on with the weather so hot but the general smell is from outside with the roof down. I open the bonnet and can't smell or see anything. The level seems ok but the cap was half a turn off tight and it doesn't click like the manual says to confirm shut (but clearly won't go tighter more than I have now turned it + the arrows line up now between reservoir and cap). Any ideas ? I may ring the dealer (though they are miles away) or take it to a local BMW dealer just to check for peace of mind. There are no puddles of coolant .... just the smell. The car is a 2011 with 28K on it. Any comments appreciated.
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07-05-2014, 05:11 AM	#2
SO8 Major 241 Rep 1,204 Posts Drives: BMW G42 M240i xdrive Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I rang BMW who came out and checked it - 20 minutes after ringing them ! Most impressed. No fault found but expansion tank cap not on tight (about half a turn loose) so he thinks that was the cause I am now going out for a drive
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07-05-2014, 07:12 AM	#3
jparnes1 Colonel 241 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: 2016 340i, 2012 Z4 35i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY iTrader: (1)	BMW does house calls? WTF? __________________ 2016 340i XDrive, EBII/black, 6 MT, M Sport, Track Handling, Cold Weather, Tech, Lighting, Driver Assistance Plus. 2012 Z4 35i, ED 2/24/2012, Melbourne Red Metallic, Black Leather, Carbon Trim, 6MT, M Sport, CW, PP, PS, NAV, CA.
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07-05-2014, 11:51 AM	#5
SO8 Major 241 Rep 1,204 Posts Drives: BMW G42 M240i xdrive Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I rang the dealer and they told me to ring the BMW Assistance line and they came out. The dealer said don't drive it in case it had lost coolant. I said it hadn't but he said they would come out anyway ! The expansion tank cap was not on properly - no other fault found but now the cap is tight no smell of coolant. The car has a leak from the roof by the drivers side A post so will be going back anyway - not the greatest start to ownership of what is (faults aside) a great car ! The dealer is now quoting 2 weeks wait for booking in :-(
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