Diagnosis:  It's a BMW

"Party-vi" (party-vi) 01/12/2016 at 10:22 • Filed to: None

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The dealer inspected my cold-ass E46 this morning and found I have a cracked expansion tank. Whoopee! They’re suggesting reservoir, thermostat, water valve and hose replacement for a grand total of fuck-that dollars and hell-no cents. Looks like I have a busy week ahead of me.

Justin Hughes > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:25

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Noooo! That NEVER happens...

OPPOsaurus WRX > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:26

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450X_FTW > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:28

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Better replace the car too, just to be safe

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:31

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Same thing happened to my father’s 1999 E46 about 3 years ago, the good news all the parts are available at Pep Boys (among other places I’m sure) the bad news is the root cause in his case was weak not dead cooling fans, be prepared to replace those as well

For Sweden > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:42

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Why not just a new tank?

Ash78, voting early and often > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 10:52

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I’d just DIY the tank and see what happens. Maybe $100?

My Passat heater core gets clogged up EVERY winter. It’s a crappy and unforgiving design, but I really need my cooling system power flushed to get all the crap out of it unless I just want to keep flushing the core every winter.

I’ll just take it to the shop. I tend to fuck things up when I’m in a hurry, and these days I’m always in a hurry.

Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 11:00

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What shape is the cooling system in? If its never had a water pump or thermostat done, prepare for a grenade to go off in your cooling system soon. Yay for plastic impeller water pumps

Party-vi > 450X_FTW 01/12/2016 at 11:02

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The only way to guarantee a working E46 is to not own an E46.

Party-vi > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/12/2016 at 11:02

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Cooling fans? Was it a manual car?

Party-vi > For Sweden 01/12/2016 at 11:03

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The last thing I want to do is replace the tank and then have something else go. It’s cold!

For Sweden > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 11:06

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Best sell the BMW and buy a Volvo :^)

Party-vi > Ash78, voting early and often 01/12/2016 at 11:09

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Looks like it’ll be the tank and thermostat.

Party-vi > Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing 01/12/2016 at 11:10

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water pump was done with a metal impeller around 60k miles ago, so it could use another I’m sure. I don’t believe I’ve replaced the thermostat.

Party-vi > For Sweden 01/12/2016 at 11:12

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Yeah, and instead of Cruz I should vote for Trump.

For Sweden > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 11:14

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I hear he can’t be stumped

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 11:19

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Yes it was a manual, it was a 1st year production 328i it had 2 of them IIRC

Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 11:19

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Word of advice, the metal impellers are great but if it breaks/comes apart, it will put a pretty sweet hole into the number one cylinder. Hence why BMW uses the disintegrate impellers. I’ve installed a few of the newer water pumps recently and they’ve updated the material on the designs to a sturdier carbon/plastic/mesh type thing.

Party-vi > Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing 01/12/2016 at 11:36

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They went from plastic to a composite. Also, I’m hoping the cast iron impeller doesn’t decide to not-be cast iron any more haha.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 12:13

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It’s a safe diagnosis. You could probably get away with just the reservoir. However all of those other things have such a high rate of failure it would be irresponsible not to recommend them when cooling system with its already being done. But even if you have no skills you can do the reservoir yourself.

Party-vi > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 01/12/2016 at 12:42

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I’ll have a new reservoir and thermostat delivered this evening, and will also have the upper/lower radiator hoses and belts to replace as well. It’s going to be a long night.

Party-vi > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/12/2016 at 12:55

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The manual cars have electric fans - I’ve got a stone-age mechanical fan.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 14:44

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I’m trying to get some shop time at the family garage to do my CDV but my mom’s got two cranes in this week and they’re pretty much taking up the whole property.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > For Sweden 01/12/2016 at 14:46

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It’s time to play Stump The Trump with Click and Clack the Tappit brothers!

Party-vi > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/12/2016 at 14:52

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I’ve heard those make driving a manual BMW terrible.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 16:18

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I feel your pain. Working on the front of I6's isn’t always a while lot of fun.

Tapas > Party-vi 01/12/2016 at 20:38

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Hmmm fuck that dollars? Thats close to my salary of fuck me dollars.

Mosqvich > Party-vi 01/13/2016 at 16:28

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Be sure and replace the tank, water pump, hoses, and radiator. I’m not joking. And for heaven’s sake, use BMW antifreeze. I have been there and done it right and done it wrong. Wrong is bad and you’ll get to do it all over again.

Party-vi > Mosqvich 01/13/2016 at 17:44

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boo and hiss. I know I should, but right now I’m in “get this bitch back on the road” mode. I’m just waiting for my transmission thermostat to put everything back together.