Help Pls - BMW Forum

aheath · 08-23-2005, 07:48 PM

I'm sitting in gas station trying to figure it out.

3 days in a row I've noticed check coolant light on, but I've been dumb and didn't check.

So today it overheats and I pulled over bought some coolant and poured it in. Waiting for it cool off more to add more coolant.

Is there a air release valve?? If so where?

1996 328is

Thanks for any help!!! If u think you can help me jump on AIM/AOL and my sn is heathwwu

Or yahoo
heathwwu

aheath · 08-23-2005, 11:49 PM

Ok I've tried several things and nothing works. On the out hose its cold and the other side its hot. Seems like the thermostat is closed shut or would it be a water pump issue?

The check engine light is also on. The car won't overheat idling but if I drive it over-heats

Dudesky_E36 · 08-24-2005, 06:40 AM

I'm betting on the thermostat. While you're at it, if you've never changed the water pump, you may as well do that too, in case you have one of those plastic impellers. No way to tell w/o pulling it out.

The air release valve (better known as a bleeder screw) is the "+" looking screw to the right of the filler cap.

drz · 08-24-2005, 11:37 AM

If a portion of the hose is cold, then you need to change your thermostat. While you are at it, check for the water pump thing, as well as the thermostat housing -- upgrade to metal if yours is plastic.

aheath · 08-24-2005, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drz328i@Aug 24 2005, 11:37 AM
If a portion of the hose is cold, then you need to change your thermostat. While you are at it, check for the water pump thing, as well as the thermostat housing -- upgrade to metal if yours is plastic.

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Thanks for the response! I have a metal cover for the thermostat alreay. I'm betting that I have a metal impellar as well.

1st mechanic tells me he's worked on bmws all the time calls me this morning and tells me he's not touching the car says it looked like someone chiseled the screws since they didn't have the tools. I'm betting he doesn't know wtf he's talking about. He couldn't tell me where the bleed screw is.

So I towed it my mechanic who I trust. Turns out I have to wait til tmw.... How much is the water pump? I know the thermostat is 40 bucks plus 120 to install.

Dudesky_E36 · 08-24-2005, 04:03 PM

The water pump costs $60 if you buy one yourself. If the mechanic buys it, who knows what he'll charge you. Incidentally it should take no more than 2hrs for a mechanic to install both items, so he shouldn't charge you for much more than that.

aheath · 08-24-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dudesky_E36@Aug 24 2005, 04:03 PM
The water pump costs $60 if you buy one yourself. If the mechanic buys it, who knows what he'll charge you. Incidentally it should take no more than 2hrs for a mechanic to install both items, so he shouldn't charge you for much more than that.

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I would take the time and install it myself, but unfortunately I don't have the time or the money to. I work out of town and I need my car done while I borrow a car for a day or two.

The only problem with purchasing your own parts is if the part goes out, the mechanic will charge you labor for installing it in again. If you let the mechanic purchase the part and it breaks for whatever reason a week later then the mechanic will replace the part under warranty as well as labor cost. So paying the extra 20-40 dollars for the part isn't a bad idea.

aheath · 08-25-2005, 02:34 PM

Just heard from the mechanic........

$462

Apparently my water pump went out which also caused the thermostat to fail.

Does the cost sound about right? My car only has 45k miles on it can't believe the freaking pump went.

aheath · 08-26-2005, 11:47 AM

Sorry not $462 it's $585 after tax. This includes a new water pump with a metal impellar and a new thermostat and a luxury tow to the mechanic (rip-off tow). No point in putting back in the old thermostat.

Now I need to be more responsible and put aside money in case sh!t like this happens again.

I can't wait to get my car back today and wash/shine it up. It's been rough being without my car for 3 days.

Dudesky_E36 · 08-26-2005, 07:43 PM

Wow. Personally I'd rather spend an hour of my time with some tools to save $500.

obd2guru · 08-27-2005, 05:03 AM

lol 500 dlls for a wp , and who knows if its a water pump , as advice , first

termostat inspection , then water flow (taking out top hose ) no flow ? water

pump , the fan clutch, try with the ac on if it wont overheat with the ac on (forces

electric fan) then is the fan clutch, still overheating? while the car is warm take out

the fan shroud and both hoses ,pour cold water trough the top hose while passing

the hand trough the radiator if its even cold ur radiator is ok if you feel warm

spots your radiator is clogged.

sounds like a lot of job? 45 mins of time to diagnose.

wanna calculate how much?

normal shops 2 times the costs of parts is the total price including labor.

jackasses like midas ,aamco , pepboys , 3 to 4 times the cost of parts

500+ its a total ripoff 80 pump + 1.2 hrs most dealers charge 70-80 per hr

break it down to 80+120 +75 tow (in town) 275 dlls is what the dealer would charge you.

aheath · 08-28-2005, 03:07 PM

Turns out I had a plastic impellar on my water pump, cracked into 2 piece. To top it off I was suppose to get my car back on Friday, but the mechanic cracked my metal thermostat housing. I'm still trying to figure out how he did that one. Apparently whoever replaced the thermostat last time stripped the bolts. Shop said "it was battle to get every bolt off"

They're replacing it with new bolts and a thermostat housing.

What I don't understand is he said it was a 4-hour job to replace the thermostat and waterpump. He said he would charge me less if it took less time.

I've known this mechanic for 10 years and he's saved me thousands of dollars in the past on my other cars. I wouldve done it myself, but I didn't have the time or place to do it.