My First 535i, Found Stop Leak in Radiator.

[rot535i]

I purchased a 1990 BMW 535i for $3,500.00 from Oakland Motors LLC, 367 Oakland St. Manchester CT. 06040. On October 16th 2004. I was told by the salesperson Clive Ramkissoon Jr., and Jamie Pinto Jr. this car was in excellent shape and was a one owner trade in at Balise Auto in Massachusetts. I picked up the car on Wednesday and by Friday the check coolant level appeared on the panel. I checked it and had to add about a half of a gallon of coolant and noticed a wet area under the car. That Saturday I inspected the hoses for leaks and saw wetness around the radiator hose, I ordered new hoses for the car and proceeded to install them. As I took off the upper radiator hose I noticed the neck to clamp the hose was broken off and there was very little to clamp onto then I saw some gooey stuff on the plastic part of the radiator and wiped it off revealing a crack in the top of the plastic part of the radiator. I ordered a new radiator. As I was draining the radiator I noticed some metallic glitter in the coolant and I got a bad feeling some one was hiding something with stop leak, a radiator and engine sealant. As I flushed out the system and installed a new radiator and hoses and new coolant I figured I was all set now. The first time I drove to work (23 miles) I noticed the check coolant light go on after I got to work. This time there were no external leaks. After work when the car cooled down I added some coolant and drove home again noticing white smoke when I started the car and When I got home I noticed the check coolant on again. The car was running rough at idle also so I decided to check the spark plugs. As I removed the number 2 spark plug some water vapor exited the spark plug hole, it fogged up my mirror I was using to inspect the area. I then proceeded to remove the cylinder head to inspect the head gasket. I removed the cylinder head and looked at the engine block I noticed a sludge looking substance in some of the cylinder head boltholes. A closer look revealed the cracks in the block allowing the coolant to leak to the head gasket area and also mix with the oil creating the sludge substance. Expensive lesson learned. From now on I am draining fluid from the radiator on any car I purchase.