Coolant in footwell

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Scotty200
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Post Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:24 pm

Hi all I'm just about to start swapping my interior over and dying my touring carpets I've just noticed coolant in my passenger footwell am I right in thinking my heater control valve is to blame?
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BenHar
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Post Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:16 pm

Almost certainly.

Ben
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Brianmoooore
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Post Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:27 pm

Could be a loose hose clip on a heater pipe on the bulkhead under the bonnet, a failed O ring in one of the flange joints associated with the heater, or a failed heater matrix, but the odds are that it's the electric valve.
It will be obvious if it is, with coolant stains running from the horizontal join in the valve's body.
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Scotty200
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Post Sun Feb 26, 2017 2:08 pm

Thanks everyone for your advice, where is the best place to get one from?
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BenHar
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Post Sun Feb 26, 2017 2:35 pm

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Brianmoooore
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Post Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:17 pm

Have you confirmed that it is the valve yet?
There's also still plenty of good second hand ones around.
Check that the coolant pressure cap has been changed under the 1997 recall. Duff ones destroy the valve.
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Scotty200
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Post Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:50 am

Thanks for all the advice, I had a bit of look yesterday as I was pottering round the house I cleaned up all the coolant outta the passenger footwell, I can see where the coolant has dripped down the lower dash covering, I can see a small bit of leakage from a white plastic block which seals horizontal the heater valve I'm guessin? I've checked the lower hose in the bulk head was tight, I ran the car for 5 mins in the garage for 5 mins and I could not see and leaks or weaps of coolant? I will check to night to see if any more coolant has leaked? Which coolant cap should I have so I can check tonight
Thanks scott
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Brianmoooore
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Post Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:54 am

All the replacement pressure caps I've seen have had a bright yellow 20mm diameter disc on the bottom of them, but it's been claimed on here that some replacements were black, like the original. Note that the recall only applies to 1.4 bar caps, which yours, being a touring, will have.
Giving your VIN to a BMW dealer will confirm if the cap has been replaced, although there's no guarantees that a replacement is still on the ca,r of course.
Five minutes running in a garage won't get the cooling system up to full temp. and pressure. Needs a decent run to do that, but it looks like the valve is the probable culprit.