BMW EGR cooler leak repair

BMW four- and six-cylinder diesels — the N47, N57, B47 and B57 engines found in the 1, 3, 4, 5 Series and X models — use an EGR cooler to bring exhaust gas temperature down before it is fed back into the intake. Inside, exhaust gas and engine coolant pass each other through thin walls. Over time those walls can crack, and coolant then leaks into the exhaust gas path and is burned or carried into the intake.

The first sign is usually a coolant level that keeps dropping with nothing visible underneath. Some owners notice a sweet smell, white smoke, or EGR and misfire fault codes. BMW ran a safety recall on a large number of diesels because coolant residue building up in the intake could, in rare cases, overheat and cause a fire. That is why an unexplained coolant loss on one of these cars deserves a proper look rather than another top-up.

We start by pressure-testing the cooling system and inspecting the EGR cooler and intake for the tell-tale white or brown residue. We also look up whether your car was part of the recall and whether the work was done. If it was covered and not yet completed, we tell you so you can take it to a dealer at no cost — we would rather point you to a free fix than charge you for one.

If the car is outside the recall or the replacement cooler has since failed, we replace the EGR cooler, clean out any residue from the intake, refill and bleed the cooling system with the correct BMW coolant, and clear and recheck the fault memory. Call 07498 392333 or book online and we will fit you in at our West Bromwich workshop.