I have received numerous questions regarding this type of repair and although it sounds like a great cheap alternative to install the “All German Auto” coolant pipe, you may want to think twice. You normally get what you pay for and without proper technical knowledge of this repair you may think this repair is a great inexpensive alternative but in my opinion you’d be wrong and I’ll explain why.
The repair procedure according to BMW NA is to completely remove the engine from the vehicle, remove the cylinder heads and basically tear this bad boy down to the block and pistons to get to this pipe. Now I’m not going to explain in complete detail how I get this job done because although it is in use by many dealership technicians, BMW would lower the time in their system and dealer technicians feed their children on the tricks they learn and I’m not about to hurt a dealership technicians ability to feed their family, especially on warranty work. That being said this job can be completed with the correct parts and no engine removal in about 8-10 hours. You won’t even have to remove the intake manifold.
Now the reason for this particular blog is to explain why the German Auto “fix” isn’t a good idea. It basically boils down to the particular design of the original pipe. The original pipe has a gasket glued on the front that requires that the lower timing cover be removed in order to properly install the pipe. The pipe MUST slide in from the front. If you use the “All German Auto” fix you are unable to access this gasket and also since you have to cut the pipe to get it out, you’ll be leaving all of the metal shavings of the pipe in the block (of course you’ll try to get most of it out) and you definitely will be leaving ALL of the gasket material stuck in the lower timing cover since you’ll be ripping it off of the pipe. This means in all the time you spent doing the job quick and easy way, you eventually run the risk of the leak occurring again and it’s just not quality repair work.
Here at Baltimore Bimmer it’s our motto that: ”Quality is NON NEGOTIABLE”. This means we would rather send you down the road then do a poor job of fixing your car. This also means that although we’re not the cheapest guy in town, it is our goal to be less then the dealer, usually around 25-35% less. That’s because we’re Dealership trained and have all the latest technical knowledge and equipment to work on late model BMW’s and the older ones.
If you have any questions about this repair you can call us at the shop. We’d be happy to explain in more detail how this procedure is done. Thanks for reading and God Bless.
Josh
hi,you said you can do the the proper job and the proper install on the 745′s without removing the manifold?????? how is that possible????? i am a private owner of a bmw 745 with 150,000 miles that has a engine coolant leak,and really the repair is costing more than what the car is worth, if you can please find it in your heart to let me know that “trick” you say that could be done in under 10 hours please let me know.because if i cannot fix my problem for under $900 that i have i will just sell it, and i do have a pending offer for $8,000 that i might be willing to take,so please let me know sir i would really thank you from the bottom of my heart in a very sensitive matter ,thank you and god bless you brother, 832-526-7820
Josh has done this repair to my 2002 745I. It was completed for less the 1/2 of what the dealer was going to charge me and was completed in only a few days. I’m about to hit 200,000 mi on my car and this can only be credited to the work that Josh and his team have completed on my car. I have been useing them now for the last two (2) years and I live over 90 mi away from the shop and I have to pass three BMW dealers to get to them. I will continue to use this shop and drive by each dealer with my hand out the window telling them how I really feel!!!
Josh your shop has been great and I’ll always be customer and friend…..
I need help fixing this problem may I have Josh number and where he is located. Thomas 4109790070
Are you basing your “opinion” on any experience with the pipe itself? Or are you just simply saying its not a good idea because it wasn’t made by BMW & I should continue to support a brand (that I love) but would rather charge me excessively than fix their engineering over site? I have used the All German Auto fix & it has been over 86k with no re-occurring leakage, so far it has definitely done its job & if i had to do it all over again I probably would have given them more praise in the beginning. In my “Opinion” you may be doing your customers a dis-service by not offering all viable options, based on your lack of experience with the product…
I have set this shop up to adhere to BMW’s strict repair standards. When you cut the pipe, you leave metal shavings in the cooling system. Personally I don’t think this is a good idea. In addition, using the pipe access under the intake, leaves free floating gasket material from the original pipe at the lower timing cover. You may seal out the coolant but you leave trash and its not a complete job. Like I said, It’s my opinion. My professional opinion. I’m not knocking the engineers for engineering a solution to a difficult problem. Who doesn’t want to save money? But my position remains. I don’t use any methods of repair not used at the dealership unless specifically requested by the customer. It’s my position that the engineers at BMW knew what they were doing. My BMW 540i has 287000 miles. Ive kept it in shape using BMW parts and BMW repair procedures.
I’m not the only BMW shop in town. If customers want their BMW’s repaired with non BMW approved parts that’s their decision, I can’t force anyone to fix their cars right. But I can tell you I’ve had well over 200+ customers that have had their cars at other shops that have used methods of repair that DON’T adhere to BMW’s standards, and have cried on my shoulder because they’ve taken their BMW to some clown who poses himself as a “European” automotive specialist.
Fact is; we do it right, no matter what. Our repair standards would make a BMW engineer proud. I attended BMW STEP so yea, maybe I’m a little brainwashed. But I’m happy with my BMW. I own 3. I won’t drive another car, ever. Everyone that works here drives a BMW. We all are here to do what we love.
So call me brainwashed, call me opinionated, but remember, when those cheap parts fail, you’ll be calling me to fix it right.