DIY: Stewart Water Pump + Expansion Tank + Coolant Change + 2 Tensioner Pullies

Seen this DIY yet: http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...lant-Flush.htm

Pic of coolant drain plug here too

Originally Posted by Stinger9

Seen this DIY yet: http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...lant-Flush.htm

Pic of coolant drain plug here too

hmm bad angle sort of looks like the block drain plug. thankfully i have headers so i can actually remove it from the top

Did it from underneath on my Ci without too much drama. Only thing I can remember is that it required some wrist strength. No room to use arm strength.


How in the world do you have headers in CA and pass inspection?
Would be interested to know if that's legal?

Isn't this DYI just a drain and not really a flush? I would consider a flush running the system under pressure with some type of cleaner or something. I would think we would need some type of special equipment for this. I guess what I'm asking is do I need to backflush it or just drain and filll fine?

Great DIY OP. Thanks!!!

One of the links above mentions" The BMW 3-Series six cylinder engines will hold just shy of 3 gallons (10.5 liters)" yet this write has a parts requirement of just 4L oem 4L distilled water. How much do I need if I'm draining engine block too?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...lant-Flush.htm mentions 10.5

also, is it worth adding this ? Red Line Water Wetter

Do your coolant changes regularly and forget the water wetter.

System holds just over two gallons total

Filling capacities as per manual attached

Thanks.. Going to do it this weekend. Really getting into this fixed my oil housing gasket myself. The Power steering return hose was leaking and I fixed that. Did my brakes. Starting to become a hobby. Still debating to do transmission or not because I keep getting mixed reviews about how changing it could cause problems since my car has 105K miles and it's never been changed. I don't want to open up a can of worms. I called several BMW and they said the texaco ATF last 250K which I believe is not available anymore and if I do change it , it could cause failures and I would going forward have to change every 30K. I don't know who to believe.

I did the first transmission change at 70k miles, with Redline MTL. Ultra smooth shifts for a year or so. Second change was with OEM BMW MTL-LT-02 which I didn't like so much because of the effort required to shift specially when gearbox was cold. So my next change will be again with Redline again

Originally Posted by Stinger9

Did it from underneath on my Ci without too much drama. Only thing I can remember is that it required some wrist strength. No room to use arm strength.


How in the world do you have headers in CA and pass inspection?
Would be interested to know if that's legal?

Yeah it's illegal but no problems yet and I drive about. 80 miles a day mixed city and highway

Originally Posted by fanatic128

Starting to become a hobby. Join the club! That's what most of us here do!
Still debating to do transmission or not because I keep getting mixed reviews about how changing it could cause problems since my car has 105K miles and it's never been changed. I don't want to open up a can of worms. I called several BMW and they said the texaco ATF last 250K which I believe is not available anymore and if I do change it , it could cause failures and I would going forward have to change every 30K. I don't know who to believe.

If you intend to keep this car a while, I'd strongly consider doing your fluid change. It's still young enough so no damage is done, and you'll then be operating with as little incremental wear as possible from now on.
And if you change fluid, you'll certainly not be obligated to change frequently into the future. Use the best quality fluid you can find.

Which Fluid do you recommend? Should I stick with what bavarian auto has to offer?

See below

Originally Posted by Stinger9

If you intend to keep this car a while, I'd strongly consider doing your fluid change. It's still young enough so no damage is done, and you'll then be operating with as little incremental wear as possible from now on.
And if you change fluid, you'll certainly not be obligated to change frequently into the future. Use the best quality fluid you can find.

which fluid to you recommend?

Well , BMW says I have a GM trans yet guy at Bavarian said I can use the ZF lifeguard. Do you guys agree? One DYI guys used Mobil dexron VI would this be a better choice?

went with Liqui Moly Top Tec 1200 Automatic

I'm doing the same thing to my car. Do I install the Stewart pump with the open slot facing up, or down? (Since the old one was open on all sides, I'm not sure if it matters - but thought I'd ask anyways.)

I don't think you have a choice on which way to mount it, based on where the 4 bolts line up.

Originally Posted by Sansho

I don't think you have a choice on which way to mount it, based on where the 4 bolts line up.

+1
Bolts are not symmetrically arranged.
Only goes in one way.

When you put the pump back in , there is no use of sealant? Do you put a little coolant on the rubber seal prior to the new pump install?

Definitely use some lube on that O-ring!
Mistake to put it in dry.

I like silicone O-ring lube, but most use coolant.

Use coolant, as recommended by BMW.

what is a good brand for replacement on the clutch fan? I cannot find a behr replacement part that is local. Should the pulley be replaced as well, I am thinking yes with all that I have read?