radiator blew today - BMW Forum

tico481 · 08-03-2004, 12:36 PM

well I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my check engine light pops up and i look over only to see the temp light is on and running hot. I pull over in the turning lane and all of a sudden i hear this loud pop and radiator fluid shoots all over my car. Im waiting on the tow truck to bring my car home as I type this. I'm glad this happened now instead of this weekend cause that would have sucked since Im driving my car to go on vacation.

jllphan · 08-03-2004, 12:42 PM

Sucks dude. Sorry to hear that.

Guys, they say to replace the rad. every 60K as the coolant system is a trouble spot for the e36

tico481 · 08-03-2004, 12:43 PM

yeah, the coolant that was spewing out was dark brown....can't be good

97alpineM3 · 08-03-2004, 07:06 PM

The coolant system is only a troubled spot for e36s because people dont understand coolant and how it works with a BMW. There is a FAQ in the FAQ forum that helps. Good luck and sorry to hear that.... just had my water pump blow last Saturday.. I feel your pain.. as I was about to go on vacation with my car of course this weekend.

Kevin325i · 08-03-2004, 07:15 PM

Did you get all the little pieces? You might want to pull the heater core and scrape that shit out.

KingScare · 08-03-2004, 09:05 PM

Are there any signs that I can check??

We bought the ride at like 47000 kliks and I think the previous owner had done a replacement...

but is there anything i can do to prevent that from happening to my ride?

jllphan · 08-03-2004, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KingScare@Aug 3 2004, 09:45 PM
but is there anything i can do to prevent that from happening to my ride?

Yes, you can check the FAQ section for trouble areas (water pump, radiator, thermostat, housing, etc.).

As stated above, BMW recomends changing the radiator every 60K miles and the water pump as well.

If you have a pre 95 car, I would change your water pump with one with a metal impeller. You may get varying opinions on this, but I am convinced this is the better of the two systems (the other having a plastic impeller).

thekid · 08-03-2004, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jllphan+Aug 3 2004, 10:00 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (jllphan @ Aug 3 2004, 10:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-KingScare@Aug 3 2004, 09:45 PM
but is there anything i can do to prevent that from happening to my ride?

Yes, you can check the FAQ section for trouble areas (water pump, radiator, thermostat, housing, etc.).

As stated above, BMW recomends changing the radiator every 60K miles and the water pump as well.

If you have a pre 95 car, I would change your water pump with one with a metal impeller. You may get varying opinions on this, but I am convinced this is the better of the two systems (the other having a plastic impeller). [/b][/quote]
you actually can't buy a plastik impeller system any more. They don't exist.

jllphan · 08-03-2004, 09:42 PM

I was saying you should change over to a metal impeller equiped pump as opposed to leaving the oem plastic impeller equiped unit in.

Both can blow up, they just do so in different ways. That is why you get varying opinions...

tico481 · 08-03-2004, 10:02 PM

so my 95 has a metal impeller in it?

RedBeemer95 · 08-03-2004, 10:04 PM

My 95 325i (is now 71k) has the water pump (all the cooling system) replaced at 65k i.e last year Jun 03 by the previous owner. I bought this car a month ago and now it has the same leakage problem due to the water pump (figured by the mechanic on the pressure test). But as I heard its not very often that we replace the water pump. So, do i need to consider any other options or just replace the water pump(as suggested by the mechanic) and see how it goes?

jllphan · 08-03-2004, 10:05 PM

Maybe, tough to say. BMW used both for a while. If you want to be sure, change it. I would say this is worth while preventive maintenance.