Greetings,

Having been a BMW fanatic for years, we recently decided to get an SUV to supplement our 2 cars. I found a nice 2004 Cayenne S with 160k miles. I've read this forum from cover to cover and it seems like to me that it's unlikely the plastic coolant pipes could still be in the car at these kind of miles.

Sadly the dealer doesn't have the service records so I can't confirm anything other than what the ppi and my naked eye can see.

So that said, am I insane for doing this? The machine probably won't be used but a couple of times a month, not a daily driver by any means.

Thanks folks!

 

Using a Dentist's angled mirror on extending arm can tell you if the coolant pipes were done. From under the hood, aim the mirror with a flashlight to behind the base of the intake manifold plenum at the rear of engine.

What you are looking for is an aluminum crossmember, spanning across the rear, between the lower intake tubes. If it is all black - count on it still being plastic.