new car e39

[paradigm]

Whats very skilled about it fox?

If it lasts five minutes it hasn't been repaired has it?

The fact that bleeding them is an absolute nightmare, the fact that if they have so much as stepped over the overheat threshold for more than a few seconds, they warp, the fact that most independants haven't got a clue about the cooling system in general, and treat it like any other car.

I had my cooling system fail 5 times during my e36 ownership (same cooling system).

 

[Westyfield2]

Oh yay, another DannyW thread .

Even if it wasn't DannyW a £1200 E39 is such a bad idea!

 

[Wicksta]

^^^^ Don't let the facts get in the way Paradigm

 

[Biohazard]

The fact that bleeding them is an absolute nightmare, the fact that if they have so much as stepped over the overheat threshold for more than a few seconds, they warp, the fact that most independants haven't got a clue about the cooling system in general, and treat it like any other car.

I had my cooling system fail 5 times during my e36 ownership (same cooling system).

I've had many cars that are a nightmare to bleed... both my currents cars are. This is nothing BMW centric.

Warping heads, right and...? If your mechanic doesn't notice this, don't take the car there.

Whats all this got to do with the car?

Its a 6pot german machine, not the space shuttle.

 

[PeterNem]

Another reason to make sure the pusher fan (aka aux cooling fan) is working...

 

[paradigm]

I've had many cars that are a nightmare to bleed... both my currents cars are. This is nothing BMW centric.

Warping heads, right and...? If your mechanic doesn't notice this, don't take the car there.

Whats all this got to do with the car?

Its a 6pot german machine, not the space shuttle.

Are you out to just be a **** or do you have a point?

My point is that they aren't simple to deal with (the cooling system), and letting one fail could cost more than the car's value. But you seem to be missing this point just so you can defend a moron?

If the head has warped, mechanic noticing or not, it's too late. If it is bled incorrectly this could happen in as little as 10 miles. It's an OLD 6-pot german machine, with a cooling system made of cheese, it matters little about its connections to the space shuttle.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Whats very skilled about it fox?

The M52 doesn't respond well to repairs following head gasket failure and normally the best way of sorting it is to source a second hand engine. The problem relates to the head bolts being a pain to get right, apparently.

If it lasts five minutes it hasn't been repaired has it?

Exactly. Its very easy to get it wrong and you wont notice until it goes again.

That said even if a repair is completed properly its a big bill - even at a reputable indy.

Its a 6pot german machine, not the space shuttle.

True, they actually cost 10p to fix. They are really cheap to run! Not as if anyone else in this thread would know anything about how much it costs to run a 6 cylinder BMW as much as you do eh, given you've... never owned one and we all... do own them?

 

[Biohazard]

Are you out to just be a **** or do you have a point?

My point is that they aren't simple to deal with (the cooling system), and letting one fail could cost more than the car's value. But you seem to be missing this point just so you can defend a moron?

Oh go and **** off.

I was speaking to fox anyway before you interupted with your drivel

 

[Chives]

*Grabs popcorn* You sir fail , epically fail.

 

[paradigm]

Oh go and **** off.

I was speaking to fox anyway before you interupted with your drivel

My drivel being facts based on ownership? Or your post based on nothing other than self-egotistical drivel, hell bent on causing an argument?

 

[PeterNem]

Oh go and **** off.

I was speaking to fox anyway before you interupted with your drivel

I'm not sure that Paradigm is the one speaking drivel!

 

[iaind]

Wasn't Fox saying that repairing a HGF was a skilled job, not repairing the cooling system?

I have no idea about head gasket repairs on these, but I can easily believe that replacing the gasket, skimming the head, fixing the original cooling fault etc etc could cost nearly as much as the car's worth. That's nothing to do with the fact it's a BMW, its because it's only worth £1200 and it's a relatively large 6 pot engine.

 

[Joshy]

What does it being a 'boggo 523i' have to do with it? Fundamentally the important and complicated bits on this are the same as the ones you'd find on a fully loaded £8k worth of lower mile 2003 530i Sport?

If anything goes wrong with the cooling system and you don't immediatly stop the car you'll fry the head gasket and a proper repair on an M52 is a very skilled job - most of the time the engine is scrap and if you DO repair it, it doesnt last 5 minutes.

Mind you thats enough time to get it on Ebay advertised as 'NEVER HAD A FAULT' I suppose.

It being a basic 523i is the point. There is less equipment to fail, and with the engine being shared with the 323i parts are relatively cheap and plentiful on the engine side.

What exactly are these "important and complicated" bits that need to be such a worry, and can they not be had at a considerable discount by buying second-hand parts from a breaker's car like 90% of people do when something moderately big breaks on their 'shed'?

 

[DannyW]

Just been looking through the receipts theres a bill for £650 from 2008 for some kind of cooling system repair

 

[thepharcyde]

\unsubscribes

 

[paradigm]

It being a basic 523i is the point. There is less equipment to fail, and with the engine being shared with the 323i parts are relatively cheap and plentiful on the engine side.

What exactly are these "important and complicated" bits that need to be such a worry, and can they not be had at a considerable discount by buying second-hand parts from a breaker's car like 90% of people do when something moderately big breaks on their 'shed'?

A decent engine will set you back £500-800 regardless of the car's spec. The suspension is 5-series SE wide (bar V8 models), and associated bushes, linkages and arms are all costly (new). A full suspension refresh (probably due) and an engine for when the cooling system fails (not if, they don't do "if", they just fail) will cost more than the car's value. And with it being DannyW, he won't fix it properly.

 

[Wicksta]

Just been looking through the receipts theres a bill for £650 from 2008 for some kind of cooling system repair

What does it say? "Some kind of cooling system repair" ? Surely there are parts listed?

 

[PeterNem]

Wicksta, he couldn't read the model badge, so reading that is probably a bit much to ask!

 

[paradigm]

What does it say? "Some kind of cooling system repair" ? Surely there are parts listed?

Best guess for £650, a full system refresh, including radiator and pump, a flush and a re-bleed.

 

[[TW]Fox]

It being a basic 523i is the point. There is less equipment to fail,

Like what? The additional equipment on a 530i Sport isnt the stuff that goes wrong. A 523i still has an ASC module (£1500), it still has various wheelspeed sensors for ACS, it still has a very similar engine, it still has the same climate control system. The fundamental mechanicals are the same. Within weeks of buying my 530i Sport which had similar mileage but was only 4 years old it had already generated 4 figures worth of repair bills....

and with the engine being shared with the 323i parts are relatively cheap and plentiful on the engine side.

As a proportion of the cars value the parts are not exactly cheap.

What exactly are these "important and complicated" bits that need to be such a worry, and can they not be had at a considerable discount by buying second-hand parts from a breaker's car like 90% of people do when something moderately big breaks on their 'shed'?

You try fitting a second hand ASC unit to a 523i and see if it works. It wont You try sourcing a complete second hand engine for £100, you wont. Camshaft/Crankshaft position sensors are utterly pointless used and are not cheap from a motor factors and can be a bloody pain to fit, etc etc.