Think I found the issues - Car gurus in here please

Dave85

Dave85

Dave85

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Joined
18 Jan 2004
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Okay some of you may remember the cooling issue I was having where its loosing coolant and getting air in the system, well out of total luck I squeezed a pipe today while filling up with more coolant and it bubbled and spat a tiny bit out next to where the plastic joins the engine?

Can some of you car gurus take a look at the point of the leak in relation to where it is in the engine and let me know if its a serious place and what its joining on to. appreciate the help as should stop me getting bumped by a garage.

First pic = location

05122006031ug9.jpg


This is a close up of the point where it leaks, it bubbles and makes a sucking air noise when any part of the cooling tubes are squeezed.

05122006030im5.jpg
 
ok, its re-installing now. I forgot i had formatted, but need to get it installed for my own use anyway :p

its installing the million rtf files atm.

Reporting back when i have more info :D
 
thanks m8, am off to work just now, takin my old car :(

if you find out about that for me it will be a lifesaver :) thanks.
 
That looks like a thermostat housing to me (although I am completely inexperienced when it comes to BMW engines)

Either the thermostat has seized and it forcing water through the gasket, or the gasket itself has perished. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to confirm :D
 
Hard to say without a slightly wider view of the engine bay (or some BMW expertise) but I was thinking along the lines of thermostat housing as well. Probably just the gasket is knackered and needs resealing.
 
kaiowas said:
Hard to say without a slightly wider view of the engine bay (or some BMW expertise) but I was thinking along the lines of thermostat housing as well. Probably just the gasket is knackered and needs resealing.
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Ditto.
 
Could be, the thermostat housing on the M52 is sorta this shape

*Oh - here is the actual item BMW tis system.

pipe1.jpg


Im stuggling to find a part description or number, but im working on it.

I had similar issues in my e34 when the thermostat housing busted. Was peeing coolant everywhere :p It seems BMW insists on using plastic housings on important bits of the coolant system :(

Part was about 50quid and 20 quid fitting, as i was at work and needed it done that day. So hopefully not a biggy.
 
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Ahaha, it would seem its not the thermostat housing?!

The thermostat housing it like so.. (Notice lack of vent screw)

pipe2.jpg


Still working on what it might be!! Im starting to think its nothing more than a tube interconnector with a vent in it!

Might explain why i can find no particular repair document. I reckon its probably a cheap enough fix, and just a matter of draining, replacing, refilling coolant :)
 
well it overheated into the red today on way to work and nearly went on fire :eek:

Rac guy came out tried bleeding system checked it all over and its not moving the water at all so hes said its either a stuck thermostat or the waterpump has gone.

any ideas what the heck it is, plus he broke one of the bleed screws :(
 
DAvE18 said:
well it overheated into the red today on way to work and nearly went on fire :eek:

Rac guy came out tried bleeding system checked it all over and its not moving the water at all so hes said its either a stuck thermostat or the waterpump has gone.

any ideas what the heck it is, plus he broke one of the bleed screws :(
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Why did you drive it you plank? KEep it up and you will have a warped head!
 
yes I posted about that a while back, took it to garage in the end they bled it and said it was fine.

I driven it today as it has been fine for 2 weeks except when topping up today I noticed the pipe done that little bubble hence why I posted it :p

I know I should have taken the other car again but thought I would risk it. ahh got to love hindsight. rac guy said its nothing major basicly just overheated a little steam then he broke the plastic bit bleeding it, cheap beemer part lol.

Dont worry I fully accept the stick ;)
 
then that would be a major problem but coverd by my warranty ;) trust me its been a crap day 3 hours standing in the cold after arguing about my renewal with rac and then it getting towed home.

I stopped instantly within 10 secs of it overheating, the steam was when he tried to bleed the engine he was revving it to see if it was a stuck thermostat or waterpump, seemed to know what he was doing.
 
What colour was the smoke?

Don't bother driving it again until it is FIXED. Take it to your local BMW garage and ask them for a quote to find out the exact problem, pointing them towards the part you have shown in the pictures. Sorry i can't tell you what the part is.

If you do drive it, be careful, nothing above 3,000RPM and don't go far. Sitting in traffic is BBAAADDD.
 
dont worry m8 it wont be going anywhere until its fixed, wasnt smoke was steam so was pure white with no smell, was coming out of radiator cap when he was trying to bleed it.

if it gets to bad al drive it into a wall lol j/k
 
Hi mate,

I have a spare Thermostat and housing if you want it,

Basically they changed the whole design on the 99 model, and I aquired a 98 one and it wouldn't fit because mine is a different design.

So it's in my Garage somewhere,.

If you do want it email me and I'll give you it for the cost of postage.

If you do buy a new one they are about £45 and will take you about an hour to replace as the cooling fan has to come off and you need to do a coolant change.

Dead easy, I bought mine from BMW with 10% trade discount :D and I replaced it on my drive took about an hour.
 
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