E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Basically on 112k and was losing a little bit water never had issues temp gauge bang on
Just now been in bit of traffic and battery light flickered then heard the aux fan come on??
Got home got out and fan came back on noticed steam at front of car went to drive in garage and temp was over to 3 quarters noticed puddle and drops into garage popped Bonnet and was hot near expansion tank with steam
Any ideas hg has not been changed before to my knowledge
Chees
Just now been in bit of traffic and battery light flickered then heard the aux fan come on??
Got home got out and fan came back on noticed steam at front of car went to drive in garage and temp was over to 3 quarters noticed puddle and drops into garage popped Bonnet and was hot near expansion tank with steam
Any ideas hg has not been changed before to my knowledge
Chees
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Sorry to hear that Hap
E46 expansion tanks are known to crack/deteriorate with age and from where you say the steam is, that's a distinct possibility. There are also a couple of hoses passing next to the alternator feeding into the tank - could be those too. There is a post somewhere about a B3 radiator was bulging at the bottom due to age - another thought.
Just had a look on mine - it's not easy to see the tank from the top so will have a look underneath when I get a spare hour. For what it's worth, mine uses a bit of coolant every now and then and hasn't had the HG done either (only 67K tho)
Any help?
regards,
Mike
E46 expansion tanks are known to crack/deteriorate with age and from where you say the steam is, that's a distinct possibility. There are also a couple of hoses passing next to the alternator feeding into the tank - could be those too. There is a post somewhere about a B3 radiator was bulging at the bottom due to age - another thought.
Just had a look on mine - it's not easy to see the tank from the top so will have a look underneath when I get a spare hour. For what it's worth, mine uses a bit of coolant every now and then and hasn't had the HG done either (only 67K tho)
Any help?
regards,
Mike
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Sounds like coolant system and not HG.
From experience, when you start changing one part, it's best to change the lot - hoses and expansion tank - otherwise you'll be chasing the next failure of the system. It's also worth inspecting the radiator at the same time.
From experience, when you start changing one part, it's best to change the lot - hoses and expansion tank - otherwise you'll be chasing the next failure of the system. It's also worth inspecting the radiator at the same time.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Good advice Charles and mike fingers crossed it is just that
Thanks for posting
Thanks for posting
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Doesn’t help tha# they have an awful system for the temperature gauge where it’s in the central position at 75 degrees and doesn’t move of there till your well over 100. By the time the gauge moves you should already have stopped and switched off. Hope you get lucky and it’s just a busted reservoir.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
if you start replacing the cooling system, I'd get the thermostat from BMW, the rest can be whatever but I have read of non oem parts failing prematurely, where at least should the BMW supplied stat go after fitting and takes anything with it, the warranty that goes with the part if supplied by BMW will pay to repair any damage occurred.
Former BMW CC 7 register chairman
2000 e39 B10 V8 Touring
1985 e23 B10 (sold)
1995 B3 saloon switchtronic (sold)
2000 e39 B10 V8 Touring
1985 e23 B10 (sold)
1995 B3 saloon switchtronic (sold)
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Yeah good call AG
The water pump and thermostat housing fitted June 2012
The alternator was nov 2011 had no symptoms at all but with battery light flickering could be a sign it’s playing up or coincidence
Car In on Tuesday so will report back
The water pump and thermostat housing fitted June 2012
The alternator was nov 2011 had no symptoms at all but with battery light flickering could be a sign it’s playing up or coincidence
Car In on Tuesday so will report back
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Why does the b3s have a reputation for blowing head gaskets. What is it that’s weak on the cooling system.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
It's the 3.4 gasket, The 3.3 gasket is bombproof, by comparison. Basically, the distance between cylinders is very narrow after the widening of the bore which results in the HG failing, on average, every 85k miles between cinders which isn't linked to the coolant system.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Thank you Charles
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Hi Hap
Quite a common issue on E46's. It's usually a bowed radiator or split expansion tank. Bmw used a lot of plastic on the cooling system and it deteriorates over time. If the rad comes out it's a good time to check belts and pulleys as well. A lot of people also change the water pump. I had this on a 330 and i think it cost about £600 all in with all oem parts. The oem radiator is quite expensive but there are several cheaper aftermarket ones about.
Quite a common issue on E46's. It's usually a bowed radiator or split expansion tank. Bmw used a lot of plastic on the cooling system and it deteriorates over time. If the rad comes out it's a good time to check belts and pulleys as well. A lot of people also change the water pump. I had this on a 330 and i think it cost about £600 all in with all oem parts. The oem radiator is quite expensive but there are several cheaper aftermarket ones about.
E46 B3 s coupe #122. (Sold)
VW Golf R.
BMW E46 M3
Riley 1.5
VW Golf R.
BMW E46 M3
Riley 1.5
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
I would agree with Cygnet about belts and pulleys also. If you have the access, it's worth doing it once if those parts haven't been changed recently.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Just to update 18 th dec 2019
Split expansion tank replaced expansion tank ,thermostat housing ,lower housing valve housing mount plate and belts all BMW parts
Also noted the radiator wAs in good shape water pump all ok. Rad cap on close inspection was leaking so order a new one from bmw @£17
Car all bang on just under £500 for all work
Split expansion tank replaced expansion tank ,thermostat housing ,lower housing valve housing mount plate and belts all BMW parts
Also noted the radiator wAs in good shape water pump all ok. Rad cap on close inspection was leaking so order a new one from bmw @£17
Car all bang on just under £500 for all work
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Well done Hap, good price
Cheers
Cheers
Mark Hodge
E46 B3s Coupe #19 (sold)
E46 B3s Touring #29 (sold) bought back 2023
Daily -
TTS DSG (Not for carrying dogs)
X5 45e (For carrying dogs)
VW R32 MkIV (weekends)
E46 B3s Coupe #19 (sold)
E46 B3s Touring #29 (sold) bought back 2023
Daily -
TTS DSG (Not for carrying dogs)
X5 45e (For carrying dogs)
VW R32 MkIV (weekends)
Re: E46 B3s dropped its coolant argh
Great stuff Hap - would you mind sharing the part numbers because I'm going to do similar over the next couple of weeks?