Do I need special tools, or skills?

G'day all

My 2000 coupe has done 130k & has developed a coolant leak either at the thermostat or water pump. I won't know which until I pull it apart.

So, this weekend I'm replacing the following:

Thermostat (again!?)
Water pump
Expansion tank & hose
Top hose (lower hose already done)
Drive belts
As well as an early oil & filter change, seein' as how I'll have the bonnet up.

I have a 32mm spanner for the clutch fan.
Do I need anything else that's special.
Are there any do's & don'ts I should know about.

Thanks

Graham

You will need a long thin screw driver to wedge between the WP pulley 10mm bolts to hold it while you spin off the fan clutch. If you cannot do that, you can use a bigger screw driver and wedge it in between the belt and the idlers pulley to keep the belt still. This allows you to loosen the clutch.

Get some silicone grease to ease installation of the hoses, etc.

Water pump pulley holder if you have an automatic, and some silicone grease to help with installation of hoses. It's not a bad diy, just a bit time consuming and getting old hoses off take a lot of wiggling and pulling because of the O-ring seals.

If you need tools, I can help!

Originally Posted by Gee Emm

G'day all

My 2000 coupe has done 130k & has developed a coolant leak either at the thermostat or water pump. I won't know which until I pull it apart.

So, this weekend I'm replacing the following:

Thermostat (again!?)
Water pump
Expansion tank & hose
Top hose (lower hose already done)
Drive belts
As well as an early oil & filter change, seein' as how I'll have the bonnet up.

I have a 32mm spanner for the clutch fan.
Do I need anything else that's special.
Are there any do's & don'ts I should know about.

Thanks

Graham

Hey Graham

First diagnose exactly where it leaks from before you pull it apart. That way you will know what to replace. Once you take apart you will have coolant all over and will never be able to tell where its leaking from. When you diagnose, follow the leak from the bottom going up to the top. You will eventually end up at the leak. The cooling system is easy to take apart. Hope all goes well.

g'luck

Thanks fgin

I'll do as you suggest.
I spent some time last Sunday doing some preliminary investigating which diagnosed the thermostat or water pump.

It's gunna be a hot weekend to be under a bonnet!

Graham

No need to go under the bonnet for this.

I only use fan holding tool as in special category. Other than that, not that I know of, all tension bells can be released by hex wrench, etc.

I did this work on Saturday arvo & Sunday morning. 35 degree heat working on a car on axle stands is for the birds.

Anyhoo, the coolant leakage was from the water pump, so I didn't change the thermostat (done 18 months ago)
I replaced the other items, even though they all looked to be in VG condition. Car has done 135k.

A coupla things I noted

1. Hit the 32mm spanner for the clutch fan with something metal. I tried for 15 mins with a wooden mallet. Nuthin'.
three hits with a metal hammer, bazinga!

2. I was warned by Clickable that the thermostat in the bottom of the expansion tank might be cracked. It was.
I didn't spend the extra $90. I wish I had. I had to put it back how it was.

3. When reassembling the clutch fan
For about an hour+ I tried relentlessly to get this left handed PoS back on. Some words came out of my mouth my wife had't heard me say before, and I've been married nearly 27 years (I woulda got out 7 years ago).
Then I remembered. Have the start of the thread at 12 o'clock. I cranked the over to get change the position of the start of the thread.
It then went on first go. It took 15 seconds.

I love the hose connectors on the cars. Love them to bits.

I also noted, the air filter had only done 6500km but was really dirty when I replaced it. Maybe something to do with our long, hot, dry summer.

Originally Posted by Gee Emm

...and I've been married nearly 27 years (I woulda got out 7 years ago).

That's a pretty good effort.

Originally Posted by Mitch E46

That's a pretty good effort.

Yeah, I'll say. I've escaped being killed in my sleep more times than I can count!

^ good effort, Graham! Now you get to take it all off again for the water pump

Originally Posted by Ballistic325

If you need tools, I can help!

Hey Ballistic,
In front of my t v screen I have a small circular window which I have no idea about. The same is beside the turn knob for the lights. I thought the window on the screen had something to do with B/T but I don't have that display on screen. I still cant get a manual for the screen and will try u-torrent.

I also have a female connection, under my rear coin plate and wonder what the hell that is ? No sat/nav, and as for the leds on the top right, they never light up.

Cheers anyway

nicgala

Advice needed.
I have a 2004 e46 318i ( stock ) and the stats for new tiers is for 16" rims which I have, require 205/55 yet the label is stating for a t7 16" rim and 17" rims you can install 225/55.

Will my best bet would be to upgrade to a 215 Tyre.

What sort of coolant did you put back in? My car has 'green' looking stuff (whatever the previous owner put in) and now I'm confused about what type of coolant I can mix it with. The BMW coolant isn't green is it?

Use BMW coolant. BMW coolant is blue in color. When I have used others that were in the cars already it seem there is corrosion. When i went to BMW coolant, I don't fond any corrosion or deposits.

Gallon of BMW coolant is about $22-$25.

I used the BMW coolant. Mixing ratios are on the bottle.

It comes in 1.5 litre bottles.

Considering how long coolant lasts, and you don't need gallons of the stuff, there is NO reason not to use the OEM coolant.

Originally Posted by Gee Emm

I used the BMW coolant. Mixing ratios are on the bottle.

It comes in 1.5 litre bottles.

Considering how long coolant lasts, and you don't need gallons of the stuff, there is NO reason not to use the OEM coolant.

Yes indeed, but unless you drain the engine block you're going to be mixing new & old. I just don't know what the 'old' in my engine is. What colour was the Australian BMW stuff? Various youtube videos seem to show both green or orange. I guess I should do a full drain and start from scratch.

Originally Posted by ppmz

Yes indeed, but unless you drain the engine block you're going to be mixing new & old. I just don't know what the 'old' in my engine is. What colour was the Australian BMW stuff? Various youtube videos seem to show both green or orange. I guess I should do a full drain and start from scratch.

Its blue. Definitely do a full drain to get what you have out, the BMW coolant is far superior to anything else.