First Big Maintenance

[Indvdl M]

Since purchasing the car in Feb., I have replaced the front rotors and pads and the rear shocks. This weekend I am tackling the full cooling system refresh. I have done this on my E36 M3, but have no experience with the E46. Anything special I should look out for? Everything looks packed in there pretty tight, but I would imagine it is pretty straight forward. BTW, I am using the Stage 3 kit from ECS. Any comments or tips would be helpful. Thank you.

[danewilson77]

Yes. Very straight forward. You'll have no problems with the exception of the expansion tank, hoses, bleed and temp sensor :rofl

[danewilson77]

Seriously though. There are good DIY's on this site to get the expansion tank out.

You'll have to muscle the hoses off. Make sure the steel slide clips are fully undone (remove them if you have to).

Read up on the bleeding procedure.

How do you plan to drain? From the expansion tank or the block? Both? Are you going to flush?

Just food for thought.

[gmurphy]

Use your biggest hammer to get that expansion tank off! Or just take out the entire mount and disassemble outside the vehicle. But that isn't any fun ;)


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[danewilson77]

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?5738-BMW-E46-330i-ZHP-Expansion-Tank-Removal-Made-Easy-doityourself

[LivesNearCostco]

IndvdlM: It looks packed in tight but once you remove the electric fan (MT) or mechanical fan and shroud (AT) and the serpentine belt, and take off the plastic undertray, then there's lots of room to work.

[Hermes]

Lots of room

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/330Ci%20Mysticblau/8CD6FC6A-67EC-43C9-86A4-32643069F94E.jpg

[Hornung418]

Go to the hardware store and buy two 10mm bolts that are relatively long and have a pitch of 1.00. Use them to remove the water pump. There are two threaded holes that don't have anything in them. That will push the WP away from the block. it's simple and easy and you won't puncture your Radiator when the pump comes flying off because you used a pickle fork on it...

[TigerTater]

Go to the hardware store and buy two 10mm bolts that are relatively long and have a pitch of 1.00. Use them to remove the water pump. There are two threaded holes that don't have anything in them. That will push the WP away from the block. it's simple and easy and you won't puncture your Radiator when the pump comes flying off because you used a pickle fork on it...
Quoting this so I can have it next week when I do my refresh as well. Good tip!



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[Indvdl M]

Go to the hardware store and buy two 10mm bolts that are relatively long and have a pitch of 1.00. Use them to remove the water pump. There are two threaded holes that don't have anything in them. That will push the WP away from the block. it's simple and easy and you won't puncture your Radiator when the pump comes flying off because you used a pickle fork on it...

On the E36 you just reused the bolts that held the WP in place. Is that not the case with the E46?

[gmurphy]

On the E36 you just reused the bolts that held the WP in place. Is that not the case with the E46?

You can reuse them.


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[Torxuvin]

Don't be afraid. The cooling system is pretty easy and very straightforward. The expansion tank is a little difficult but not bad. I actually had a harder time with the brakes because the rotors were rusted on... :shifty

[Hornung418]

On the E36 you just reused the bolts that held the WP in place. Is that not the case with the E46?


You can reuse them.

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I tried that and they weren't long enough to fully release the o-ring seal. They were 2 bucks. About 1.5 inches long.

Sent from my GS3.

[Torxuvin]

I reused mine without issue

[danewilson77]

I reused mine without issue


I tried that and they weren't long enough to fully release the o-ring seal. They were 2 bucks. About 1.5 inches long.

Sent from my GS3.

Somethings not right here?

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[Indvdl M]

I'll be the tie breaker. Ha

[Indvdl M]

My typical method is only drain from the radiator. When all is said and done, refill with pure water. Confirm that everything is tight and no leaks. Let it cool and then drain and refill with the proper mix. My thought is that the pure water fill will dilute whatever is left in the block and the final mix will be just slightly over 50/50.

[danewilson77]

My typical method is only drain from the radiator. When all is said and done, refill with pure water. Confirm that everything is tight and no leaks. Let it cool and then drain and refill with the proper mix. My thought is that the pure water fill will dilute whatever is left in the block and the final mix will be just slightly over 50/50.

Over half of the coolant is in the block and some is in the radiator.

I think you'd be lucky to get 0.75 gallons out of the exp tank drain.

Just FFT.

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[Newjack]

Over half of the coolant is in the block and some is in the radiator.

I think you'd be lucky to get 0.75 gallons out of the exp tank drain.

Just FFT.

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Also when you drain the coolant, it just kinda pukes everywhere. Hits the passenger wheel and everything near it. Just be prepared if you drain it twice.

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[gmurphy]

Also when you drain the coolant, it just kinda pukes everywhere. Hits the passenger wheel and everything near it. Just be prepared if you drain it twice.

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+1
Make sure you have lots of towels ;)


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[Indvdl M]

I performed this job today. I decided to drain the block. Got roughly 1/2 of the drainage from rad, reservoir, overflow and 1/2 from block. Whole job took roughly 5 hours in between distractors. No real hang ups. The WP was removed by using 2 of the WP pulley bolts. Ran the car up to temp with heater on and bled the system. Let it cool, topped it off and ran up to temp again. All is well, no leaks. Another successful DIY. Thanks for all the input.