Every engine has weak points. That’s more or less a given. With the BMW N62 V8 engine, one such weak point is the coolant transfer pipe that runs between the cylinder heads. Needless to say, a coolant leak in this spot is very difficult to notice, especially if it is a small leak. In this short guide, we’ll talk about what causes this issue, how it manifests, and what you can do to fix it.
Photo credit: ÜRO Parts
The Issue with the Factory Design
The coolant transfer pipe is located inside the intake valley and connects the rear of the engine with the front. The pipe itself is rarely an issue. However, the seal fitted to the pipe, more specifically the one in the front, most definitely is. It all comes down to a flawed design and use of materials that simply aren’t up to par with the conditions that occur within the BMW N62.
This coolant transfer pipe seal is known to fail rather quickly, sometimes before the vehicle has reached 50,000 miles on the clock. A failed seal will cause the coolant to leak inside the valley pan, which may or may not become apparent. The flawed seal design isn’t the only issue here, though.
Replacing the seal is a massive undertaking. The way BMW has designed these engines means that you have to strip the engine down to the short block, which implies dozens of hours of labor just to reach the seal. This is due to the fact that the stock coolant transfer pipe is essentially a single piece of tubing that has to go through the block in order to be installed. All over a set of seals.
Symptoms of a Bad Coolant Transfer Pipe
The most common symptom of the coolant transfer pipe seal leak is coolant coming from a weeping hole located at the front of the engine, right next to the water pump. Contrary to what some may think, the coolant transfer pipe only has one seal, and it’s located in the front of the engine. The rear section of the pipe features an O-ring that acts more like a bushing than a seal. You won’t find a leak there.
If the leak is not apparent, you can always track the amount of coolant in your coolant overflow reservoir. A constant reduction of coolant without a logical cause could indicate the coolant transfer pipe seal failure.
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How to Fix the N62 Coolant Transfer Pipe Seal Leak?
Let’s say that you’ve accurately diagnosed that your coolant transfer pipe seal is leaking. At this point, you have two options. The first one is to replace the failed seal using a genuine part. To do this, you’ll need to strip the engine until you reach the short block.
This is extremely labor-intensive. If you decide to do this yourself, you’ll invest at least a couple of days into this project. On the other hand, if you decide to let your local dealership or a mechanic take care of this, you’ll have to pay a massive bill for labor alone.
The other option is to use the ÜRO Parts 11141439975-PRM kit that allows you to fix the issue without having to go through all that engine stripping. Instead, all you really need to do is uncover the coolant transfer pipe, which means getting rid of the intake and removing the intake valley pan.
How Does the ÜRO Parts Coolant Transfer Pipe 11141439975-PRM Work?
ÜRO Parts is a company that designs effective solutions for various European vehicles that suffer critical engineering flaws. That’s what they’re known for. In the case of the N63 coolant transfer pipe, they’ve come up with something that allows you to swap out the whole pipe without stripping down the engine. Not only that, but their replacement part is fully serviceable.
Photo credit: ÜRO Parts
Here’s how the ÜRO Parts 11141439975-PRM product works. Instead of building a monobloc pipe that requires a nearly full engine teardown to replace, the people at ÜRO developed a telescopic pipe that can be compressed enough to fit the valley pan area. They’ve used quality anodized aluminum tubing, which is highly resistant to corrosion.
The part that extends is fitted with 3 seals of its own, that ensure no leakage on the joint. The pipe is designed with several locking rings that snap into place when the part is fully seated. Once you install the ÜRO Parts coolant transfer pipe, it is fully locked in.
The kit comes with a new seal, a hefty amount of lubricant, and detailed instructions on how to prepare the engine as well as the part itself.
Photo credit ÜRO Parts
The best thing about using a telescopic coolant transfer pipe is the ease of installation. Instead of removing the stock part in one piece, you can just cut it in half, which saves countless hours of engine teardown.
Improve Your Bimmer with ÜRO Parts
If your BMW is suffering a coolant transfer pipe leak, the ÜRO Parts solution is the way to go. It’s the most permanent, easiest fix you can find out there. Plus, you’ll save a considerable amount of money by not going the genuine route. You can find the ÜRO Part coolant transfer pipe in our catalog, along with a wide range of other quality parts.
