Cooling System Overhaul - ECS Tuning?

[94jedi]

Hey guys, my car has 93k on it and I don't know if the cooling system has been done or not. Since that seems to be the area that might cause the most damage ($$$) I figure it's first on the list to replace.

I'm looking at getting this kit, then taking the parts to my local indy BMW mechanic for install.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Engine/Cooling/ES2063862/

Any thoughts on this kit? Should I go another route? Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks!

[danewilson77]

That's the kit I have on my car. 70k miles on kit now. But... I think I have an exp tank leak.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Lanister]

Hey guys, my car has 93k on it and I don't know if the cooling system has been done or not. Since that seems to be the area that might cause the most damage ($$$) I figure it's first on the list to replace.

I'm looking at getting this kit, then taking the parts to my local indy BMW mechanic for install.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Engine/Cooling/ES2063862/

Any thoughts on this kit? Should I go another route? Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks!

That's the kit the previous owner of my ZHP put in and I thank him for it. Apparently, it is a pretty easy DYI because the owner isn't much of a mechanic and he did it himself with confidence.

[BCS_ZHP]

That's the kit I have on my car. 70k miles on kit now. But... I think I have an exp tank leak.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

DW,
Try the exp tank cap replacement, your system hasn't been stressed and should last at least a 100K.
B

[94jedi]

Hmm I was thinking about DIY. Or DIMyself lol. Only problem is that it's cold here and my garage doesn't have any space at the moment.

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[Lanister]

Hmm I was thinking about DIY. Or DIMyself lol. Only problem is that it's cold here and my garage doesn't have any space at the moment.

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I hear that. I keep forgetting that not everyone lives in California ;)

[BCS_ZHP]

Hmm I was thinking about DIY. Or DIMyself lol. Only problem is that it's cold here and my garage doesn't have any space at the moment.

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Jedi,
I'm in NVA about 2.5 hours from OC, get your parts and come down one weekend, I have a 3 car garage, we'll knock it out in a couple of hours.
Bruce

[94jedi]

Bruce, thanks for the offer. I might take you up on that. I was born and raised in Rockville MD and my family is still there. Not to far from NOVA.

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[danewilson77]

DW,
Try the exp tank cap replacement, your system hasn't been stressed and should last at least a 100K.
B

I did. I bought gas cap.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[BCS_ZHP]

Alright, guess we'll chalk you up for same weekend as Jedi, knock 2 cooling systems out, send you both home at a respectable hour

[kayger12]

My only issue with that ECS kit is the non-OEM parts. As much as the OEM parts suck, they seem to always have good fitment, initial quality, and fairly reliable life expectancy.

It seems that whenever I read about someone having a fitment issue, part failure right off the bat, or premature part failure (you know, earlier than the normal BMW premature failure) it's typically a non-OEM part.

Fwiw...

[ELCID86]

Pretty sure I went with ECS on the 02 330Ci I had/sold. Pretty straightforward and rewarding as one of my first DIYs.

Happy to assist at Bruce's :-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[94jedi]

Pretty sure I went with ECS on the 02 330Ci I had/sold. Pretty straightforward and rewarding as one of my first DIYs.

Happy to assist at Bruce's :-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

Fitment and quality of parts was good? ECS has the OEM BMW version of this refresh kit but it sells for $500 plus. That additional $200 saved could be poly FCABs and RTABs!!!

[kayger12]

Just a few examples from here of fitment and quality issues with aftermarket

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7278-Disaster-averted-ECS-Tuning-customer-service

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?8930-Expansion-Tank-9-months-old-and-leaking-already

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?4207-Cooling-System-Fuel-Pump-CABs-Done

[Vas]

IMO I would buy the OEM parts that are know to fail and replace them. Sometimes these kits seem great but they are not actually.

[UdubBadger]

I also used ECS kit. If you go OEM check Tischer but the generic stuff was good to me.


Goin' HAM mobile

[94jedi]

I also used ECS kit. If you go OEM check Tischer but the generic stuff was good to me.


Goin' HAM mobile

Gotcha, thanks. I'm hoping the aftermarket stuff works for me because I'd rather spend the extra $$ on more maintenance items.

[ELCID86]

If you go OEM, try these guys. Bruce turned me on to them as the are local to him. I've used them twice now. Prices were great, and I think s/h was $9.
http://www.bmwoffairfax.com/order-parts-online.htm

[WOLFN8TR]

Get the G.A.S. Exp Tank Cap!
German Auto Solutions
BMW 1.2 bar Coolant Cap.
Help protect your BMW cooling system from ruptures with our 1.2bar coolant system cap.
For more information about this product please use the link below.
http://www.germanautosolutions.com/product.php?product=127

ECS Tuning Aluminum Water Pump Pulley.
CNC machined from 6061 billet aluminum, our ECS pulley will never crack or break leaving you on the side of the road.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Engine/Pulleys/ES2580607/

[Johal E32]

http://www.bimmerzone.com/BMW_Parts_Cooling_Package/PKG-E46-COOLING-MANUAL.html

[Washburn]

So do ANY of the overhaul kits have an improved expansion tank, which is the main culprit? or do they use OEM/lesser tank? Then it's really replacing it, not overhauling/improving it....

[danewilson77]

No. TMS advertises theirs as "improved" but I could not find proof/clarification.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Washburn]

Thanks.
That's crazy! THE MOST vulnerable part is NOT improved in kits designed to overhaul the cooling system...so in other words, one has to keep doing it every 70k miles or so ?

[danewilson77]

Thanks.
That's crazy! THE MOST vulnerable part is NOT improved in kits designed to overhaul the cooling system...so in other words, one has to keep doing it every 70k miles or so ?

Yes. Unless the Al tank is retrofitted.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[94jedi]

Wow, thanks for that info, DW.

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[kayger12]

So do ANY of the overhaul kits have an improved expansion tank, which is the main culprit? or do they use OEM/lesser tank? Then it's really replacing it, not overhauling/improving it....

The oem tank has been improved. They now make it more robust than the original. I got that confirmed through an email a few years back (I'll try to dig it up). I believe they altered the plastic.

Miller still recommends changing out the tank every 90k.

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[danewilson77]

They is BMW?

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

They is BMW?

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

That's my recollection. It was a couple of years ago.

I'll see if I can find the email.

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[danewilson77]

That's my recollection. It was a couple of years ago.

I'll see if I can find the email.

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Thanks KG.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

Email from Turner Motorsports in reference to the improved OEM tank, December of 2010:


Keith,

Same manufacturer, BEHR, they just updated the version to a better quality one. I think they simply thickened the plastic walls to help prevent cracking. Not sure exactly but whatever they did it worked, these last much longer.



-Doug



<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>



Douglas Mahar

Turner Motorsport

[danewilson77]

Not conclusive. That's what I remember. Thanks for confirmation KG.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

Not conclusive. That's what I remember. Thanks for confirmation KG.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

Welcome, bud.

So we know it's improved, just not specifically how.

Would love to know how long the "improved" ones last.

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[danewilson77]

Well.... It just didn't seem like he wanted to come out and positively say it was improved.

If I knew that, and had the means to verify with Behr (whjch I'm sure TMS does), I would verify with specifics and yell it from the tree tops.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

Well.... It just didn't seem like he wanted to come out and positively say it was improved.

If I knew that, and had the means to verify with Behr (whjch I'm sure TMS does), I would verify with specifics and yell it from the tree tops.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

He said they updated it to a better quality one. Sounds like an affirmative statement to me.

Also, it has a new BMW part # so it is definitely updated over the original.

Enough evidence for me.

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[Washburn]

OK so we can safely assume that if you buy from TMS there's a pretty good, almost 100% certain chance we will get an improved (Behr) exp tank.
And this is not the case with ECS or what? I am getting confused...

[danewilson77]

OK so we can safely assume that if you buy from TMS there's a pretty good, almost 100% certain chance we will get an improved (Behr) exp tank.
And this is not the case with ECS or what? I am getting confused...

IDK. Even if you find the Behr, how are you sure to get a new one and not old surplus stock? I just wish we had more info/new p/n.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Washburn]

Ack! This is going to give me ulcers.

[kayger12]

IDK. Even if you find the Behr, how are you sure to get a new one and not old surplus stock? I just wish we had more info/new p/n.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH


Part numbers we have (from Turner)

Part #: 17117573781 This is the most recent expansion tank design from Hella-Behr, the OEM supplier to BMW. It replaces the original BMW part number 17137787039.

[Avetiso]

All hail, KG.

[kayger12]

All hail, KG.

Lol. Nah, I'm just trying to make up for slacking on here the last few months. ;)

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[danewilson77]

Part numbers we have (from Turner)

Part #: 17117573781 This is the most recent expansion tank design from Hella-Behr, the OEM supplier to BMW. It replaces the original BMW part number 17137787039.

Yes! Copied and added to initial post of the other tank thread so we can find it later.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[kayger12]

Yes! Copied and added to initial post.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

:)

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[Washburn]

Thanks for all who helped figure out the new part #

So this one shows the new part # (individual item coolant exp tank)
Now to see if they show individual part #s in their kits!

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Engine/ES2608763/

Also it seems ECS kits are a lot cheaper than their OEM kits - so even if you buy ECS kit and buy the new OEM part# exp tank separately, you still can save a bunch of $$.
Question is: is that a smart thing to do? exp tank IS the most critical component of the kit, AFAIK. The rest is less critical and maybe ok if it's not OEM,....am I thinking correctly on this? any thoughts?

[kayger12]

Each part can be a pita if it fails unexpectedly.

Weeping water pumps and slow leaking thermostat housings often go undetected until you get a low coolant light. Not necessarily critical, but nothing I'd feel like dealing with 30k miles after doing the cooling overhaul.

More importantly (for me anyway) is the reliability of aftermarket sensors which, if they fail to function properly, will most surely result in a warped head.

Just not worth it for me to save a few bucks...

[Washburn]

It's almost double the price, actually, OEM vs ECS (which is on sale now), but I see your point, too.
I guess when it comes to other parts except the exp tank, they're just a 'refresh', in either case, but still important...
I hope I can make it to 70k when I do this.

BTW, what do most ZHP owners go with? Level 1 ? Level 2 or 3?

[kayger12]

I chose to break it up and stick with the Old School Maintenance plan (kind of):

Water pump, thermostat, and belts at 60k

Expansion tank, coolant temp sensor, and hoses at 75k (OSMP is tank at 90k, hoses at 150k)

And I'll be doing the radiator and fan at 90K.

[danewilson77]

I went with level II kit, Wash.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Washburn]

Thanks, Dane - will def. research more and seek Mafia expertise when the time comes - bookmarked threads with correct/new part No.s etc, for now.
Thanks for being patient with my many questions.
I feel like a leach, not having really helped anyone on this site. Someday, though...i am learning.

[danewilson77]

I feel like a leach, not having really helped anyone on this site. Someday, though...i am learning. [/B]

This is definitely NOT true.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Washburn]

That's kind of you, sir.

[Junior2552]

I actually pieced together my cooling system kit from a few different places, basing it off of the ECS kit. I live about 30 minutes from ECS and a lot of their guys come to the meet that I run every Wednesday night. Their stuff is priced fair, but you can do a lot better.

[Avetiso]

Bmwpartstore.com

[JKO_ZHP]

I'm definitely going to need to source the majority of the cooling system parts in the next week. My system is failing - there is a leak somewhere and I'm literally bleeding coolant every time I drive.