Coolant problems

[323CiTX]

My 2015 535d (103,000 miles) had the low coolant light come on a few weeks ago. Yesterday I checked and the coolant was low again. I don't think there's coolant in the oil (not milky white) and there's no coolant on my garage floor.

There is an open recall on the EGR cooler and this may be the problem but Dealers are unable to repair due to lack of parts from BMW.

Any thoughts on where the coolant may be going? Is the vehicle safe to drive until a dealer can check it out? I can't get in into the local Dealer for a check-up for a month!

Thanks!

[MauiM3Mania]

Moved to the model specific sub-forum.

[DRTE30]

The recall is still active as this affects millions of cars made. Expanding North America and European models. Simply because your local dealership doesn't currently have the part in stock is not your problem and you need to press the service manager as to why you were turned away with a lame answer. That's rather unacceptable. I lived in Hawaii for about 20 years so I know the patience game waiting for parts, but they needed to check your vin to see of yours was affected and if the car was already serviced for it. They bill BMW NA for parts and labor anyhow.

In the mean time, monitor the coolant i.e. make yourself a 50/50 mix of a set volume, like 500 mL and mark the mileage on the bottle with a sharpy. When that 500 mL is used up, calculate how many miles you drove over how much coolant you lost. If the difference is small, you have some time. If the car used that 500 mL in say...500 miles, then you need to stop driving the car until you get it sorted out.

I would really get into the engine bay and look for the leak. The oil filter housing also has coolant running through them and in total, comprise 4 different layers of plastic and aluminum and 5 sets of different shaped O-rings. They are prone to leaking and a rather stupid design. Check the coolant fill cap for signs of leaking...just go over the whole engine and look for crusty, dried blue coolant. Turn the car on and let the engine idle to operating temp, perform the same search. Pull the lower plastic fairing/oil pan beauty cover off the car to expose the oil pan and lower engine. Put a fresh piece of cardboard under the car and let the engine run and look for spots. This is all stuff you can do for free! Another area is behind the sound deadening that is mounted to the front of the block between the radiator and the belts. Look there too. Your labor is free. Maui BMW is not!

Worst case scenario, an area of the head gasket has dissolved allowing coolant to enter the combustion chamber and this liquid is burning off during detonation, yet too minuscule to see or smell from the exhaust tips.