Having a coolant leak in your vehicle is not something you ever want to experience. If you have noticed or are worried about a coolant leak in your BMW, you may be wondering how much it will cost to fix it.
Typically, it will cost somewhere between $750-$1,000 for a mechanic to diagnose and repair a coolant leak in your BMW. While the parts needed will not cost much, this is a very labor-intensive repair. Because of this, the mechanic’s labor costs will likely be high.
Below, we’ll discuss more the cost of fixing a BMW coolant leak, as well as ways to cut this cost down, possible causes, and symptoms of a coolant leak.
The exact cost of a BMW coolant leak repair depends on your car’s model, where you live, and the severity of the leak. However, it will typically cost somewhere around $750-$1,000 if you have a mechanic repair it for you.
Diagnosing and finding the source of a coolant leak is the biggest part of the job. This can be very tricky and labor-intensive, depending on where the leak is, so mechanics will often charge a lot for their labor.
The parts, on the other hand, usually are not very expensive. If you have some experience working on cars and can find the source of the leak yourself, you may be able to save some money.
Can You Repair a BMW Coolant Leak Yourself?
If you can find the source of the coolant leak, and if you have the necessary skills, you can probably fix the leak on your own.
To find the source of a leak, the mechanic will typically use a UV light. If you have a UV flashlight of your own, try shining it underneath your car and seeing what it picks up.
In most cases, your coolant will be leaking through one of the hoses that connect the engine to the radiator.
As soon as you’re able to determine where the leak is coming from, drain the coolant out of the vehicle so you can replace the part safely.
While some people believe that sealant will repair a leak, this is usually just a temporary fix.
If the sealant wears off over time, you’ll be right back where you started! For this reason, it’s always better to replace the damaged part entirely.
If you choose to repair your coolant leak without the help of a mechanic, make sure to be careful and take your time.
If you rush the job, or if you don’t have the experience and skills necessary, you could damage other parts of the engine. Only attempt to fix the problem yourself if you know what you’re doing.
Why Might Your Coolant be Leaking?
Your BMW’s cooling system is made up of many parts that all circulate coolant throughout the engine. If only one part of this extensive system cracks or breaks for any reason, you will have a coolant leak.
The cooling system’s main job is to prevent your vehicle from overheating as you drive. Because of this, it’s constantly working as long as your car is running.
This leads to a lot of wear and tear over time, making coolant leaks quite common in all vehicles.
While a coolant leak may be due to any number of factors, including certain driving conditions, your vehicle’s age, or poor maintenance, it’s most often due to one of three things:
- A weak radiator cap
- A damaged radiator
- A bad head gasket
Below, we’ll discuss how each of these problems can cause a coolant leak.
A Weak Radiator Cap
Your radiator is a pressurized system, and a strong cap is a key to maintaining this pressure inside. If you have a weak cap on your radiator, coolant may come out through the radiator tube as it’s heated.
Not only can this cause a coolant leak, but it can also cause serious problems with your engine. Your engine depends on this pressurized water and coolant mixture to function properly, so a lack of pressure is never a good thing.
A Damaged Radiator
Your radiator sits at the front of your car under the hood, making it very vulnerable to damage. It may become corroded over time, or it could get hit with something, like a rock or stick, as you drive.
No matter what causes the damage, any holes or cracks in your radiator will affect your coolant.
Coolant and water flow into your radiator after cycling through your engine’s hot components in order to cool down. If there is a crack in the radiator, however, the coolant will be unable to cycle.
Because the coolant cannot cycle, it will leak out through the hole instead. This is important to get checked out as soon as possible because a damaged radiator could lead your engine to overheat quickly.
A Bad Head Gasket
Your head gasket is supposed to prevent any coolant from getting on or in parts that it shouldn’t. Therefore, any problems with your head gasket can cause an internal coolant leak.
While an internal coolant leak is not as obvious as an external leak, it’s arguably even more serious.
If your head gasket is not working as it should, coolant may get into your crankcase or cylinders. Coolant should never mix with oil, as this can cause serious damage to your engine.
What are the Symptoms of a Coolant Leak?
There are several symptoms that may indicate a coolant leak somewhere in your BMW. If you notice any of the signs listed below, a coolant leak may be the culprit:
- Red fluid under your car
- Your engine running hotter than usual
- Your check engine light illuminating
- A sweet smell inside your car
Below, we’ll discuss these symptoms more in-depth.
Red Fluid Under Your Car
A clear puddle underneath your car is usually from the air conditioning system. An oily puddle underneath your car signifies an oil leak. If you have a puddle of red fluid underneath your car, however, you have a coolant leak.
This is one of the most obvious signs that something is wrong. Thankfully, this takes all of the guesswork out of the equation. You know that your BMW is leaking coolant, and you can see exactly where it’s coming from.
If you notice a puddle of red fluid underneath your car, call the mechanic immediately. You may even want to get towed to the auto shop to prevent any engine damage!
Your Engine Is Running Hotter than Usual
In most cases, the temperature gauge on your dashboard will sit somewhere in the middle while you’re driving. If you notice that the gauge is higher than usual, something may be wrong with your cooling system.
While a coolant leak is not always the culprit here, it signifies a problem regardless. If you wait too long to get this diagnosed, your engine may overheat.
Overheating can cause serious, sometimes irreparable, damage to your engine, so you need to get this looked at as soon as possible.
Your Check Engine Light is Illuminated
Having your check engine light turn on is never fun. Thankfully, however, this makes it very easy to diagnose a problem.
Some mechanics will offer to read your OBD2 sensor for free, and they will then be able to tell you what’s wrong.
If the problem is something involving the radiator or another part of the cooling system, a coolant leak may be to blame.
The mechanic will be able to diagnose the problem. If there is a leak, they will find the source and replace the part.
There is a Sweet Smell in Your Car
Coolant has a sweet smell to it. If you smell something like this and cannot attribute it to anything else, you may have a coolant leak.
You may be smelling coolant because it has leaked into other parts of your vehicle, or because it’s pooling underneath your parked car.
Whatever the case may be, contact a mechanic to find out exactly where this smell is coming from.
Can You Drive with a Coolant Leak?
It’s never a good idea to drive when your vehicle is leaking coolant. The coolant may travel to and damage other parts of your engine, or it may cause the engine to overheat. The longer you put repairs off, the worse the damage will be.
As soon as you notice a coolant leak in your BMW, contact a reputable mechanic. Spending the money now could save you thousands of dollars in the future.
The Bottom Line
If your BMW has a coolant leak, it will not be a very cheap fix. If you have an experienced mechanic repair a coolant leak for you, it will likely cost somewhere between $750-$1,000.
If you want to save some money on this repair, you can try to find the source of the leak yourself. However, make sure you have the knowledge and skills to do this properly.
If you aren’t careful, you could end up spending more money in the long run.