slow coolant leak???check your "coolant level sensor" at coolant reservoir

couple days ago got through with changing the alternator bracket gasket...engine was clean/dry and all is ok
but for some reason i was loosing coolant sloooooowly..checked the pump...weep hole...all ok...
decided to look at the coolant reservoir it self since its plastic and found a very slow leak at the "coolant level sensor" also at reservoir itself....white dry residue....
dealer had one for 98pllus change,new one comes with sensor already installed....
also belt was squeeling a little on cold start...previour owner""crook""" put a cheap one on from autozone...bought new one from dealer 44plus change and its quiet...like day and night..
few pix included...takes 2 torx screws to remove the reservoir...look around the sensor it self and thats were leak mostl occurs....i used my rc fuel pump to suck out the coolant..didn't want to make a mess...replaced the reservoir..connect 3 hoses...top it off and all good

+1

Couldn't the reservoir be repaired with some sealant instead of spending $$?

Good work as usual. How hard was it to change the belt?

Originally Posted by Busarider

+1

Couldn't the reservoir be repaired with some sealant instead of spending $$?

Yes sir it can be fixed but since I just got.the flagship and will keep it until at least 200k + miles so that's why I went with new one...u can use JB weld on it and that would fix it...but also sensor was leaking at the reservoir and didn't have new o ring...

Originally Posted by Rookie2008

Good work as usual. How hard was it to change the belt?

Thanks...the belt is a snap...take a half inch ratchet with small extension right size torx socket and insert it into belt tensioner...go clockwise until releases and that's it...also I used alcohol cleaner to clean all the pullies...before anything I would draw schematic of belt route first

Thanks a million I would like to change my belt as well. Is it only the 1?

U can not fix reservoir with any glue i tried. i had hair like crack on the top of it. Temp and pressure to high for glue to resist it

JB weld is strong stuff.

Originally Posted by Rookie2008

Thanks a million I would like to change my belt as well. Is it only the 1?

no problem your welcome...the serpentine belt is for crankshaft,ps,alt,wp,and 2 pullies...a/c has its own belt,mine looks in good shape for a/c...thats a good design from bmw to have separate belt for a/c...
btw you will need male torx socket size T55 for belt tensioner to release the belt...

Originally Posted by Rookie2008

JB weld is strong stuff.

yes sir i used it on my e30...the thread for bleeder screw was finished/stripped so i used jb weld for that....e30 was running for couple of years after that with no leak

Originally Posted by Khabar

U can not fix reservoir with any glue i tried. i had hair like crack on the top of it. Temp and pressure to high for glue to resist it

did you clean the area to be glued with alcohol?? did you sand the area to be glued together??i used it for my e30 at coolant reservoir and it never leaked...maybe e65/66 have higher pressure cooling system than e30

there was no broken peace just small crack JB was melting under that pressure.

Originally Posted by Khabar

there was no broken peace just small crack JB was melting under that pressure.

what do you mean it was melting??? once the jb weld cures its like steel...you are supposed to wait at least 24hrs to let it completely dry and cure...if you don't and put coolant in there than it leaks of course..or if there was crack like you said than maybe

it was hard but after a few days became soft only on that place The same if your big host in right corner goes bad u have to replace it no other measures would hold it in place. The price of new reservoir is $70

Originally Posted by Khabar

it was hard but after a few days became soft only on that place The same if your big host in right corner goes bad u have to replace it no other measures would hold it in place. The price of new reservoir is $70

i think jb weld would work at the seam where 2 parts meet on the reservoir,but like you had a crack it wouldn't hold since its always expanding under pressure/temperature...but it did work on my e30 reservoir bleeder screw

Originally Posted by Khabar

it was hard but after a few days became soft only on that place The same if your big host in right corner goes bad u have to replace it no other measures would hold it in place. The price of new reservoir is $70

mine was 98+ since it came with sensor already in it...realoem says 78..where did you find it for 70? thx

i bought mine from Auto parts warehouse. maybe it was$ 78, It was 2 years ago. Check Parts . com

Originally Posted by Khabar

i bought mine from Auto parts warehouse. maybe it was$ 78, It was 2 years ago. Check Parts . com

ok thanks

I need to check this out on mine, since I believe I have the same issue with the reservoir.

Originally Posted by TheMilkMan

I need to check this out on mine, since I believe I have the same issue with the reservoir.

would be nice if they made all aluminum reservoir like they do for e36/e46m3...we would never have this problems then....but i guess they were trying to save $$$ OR weight