E46 radiator popped

Over Clocker

Over Clocker

Over Clocker

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Joined
17 Oct 2002
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Hi guys,

On Friday, my heater was only blowing cold air, then the engine temp rose sky high and steam came out of the bonnet, and the radiator dumped all it's coolant out.

Car is booked into the garage this thursday, and it only 2 miles from my office where the car is. Is it safe to drive it the 2 miles without causing any damage?

Thanks,

Mal
 
I certainly wouldn't. Don't want a warped head, as that will be £££.

The fact that the needle shot all the way up could already mean problems, although admittedly that's more of an M52 problem than an M54 problem, the M54 is slightly more resilient (nowhere near as resilient as the M50 though).
 
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It was..... inevitable.
 
If it is the rad, use radweld or something.

If it isn't, bodge the leak until its in the garage.

Even if you can't get it completely 100% watertight, keep pulling over and make sure you have several 5ltr containers of water to keep running through it.

If you can get it so it holds, and is only losing minimal amount of fluid you will be fine.
 
Biohazard said:
If it is the rad, use radweld or something.

If it isn't, bodge the leak until its in the garage.
Click to expand...

Really don't on a modern BMW. The channels are that small in the radiator that it will block it, which will in turn mean that no water flow = just as bad as having no coolant.
 
It says they will recover to a garage within 10 miles IF they cannot fix it by the roadside.

Ok, i've just filled the radiator with water, it took just under 1 litre to bring it to the FULL indication.

I started the car and nothing dripped out at all. I let the engine warm up and all was fine. I kept it warm for a while and after about 10-15 minutes it started dripping coolant onto the ground. Not a massive amount, just a drip every 3-5 seconds or so. So that was after about 20 minutes of running in total. The garage is 5-7 minutes away, tops.

Cheers,

Mal
 
Just make sure you know the risks and watch the gauge like a hawk. I drove mine home 20 miles.

First sign of ANY movement and you stop, don't wait for it to get towards max.
 
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