E46 Update: No Heat. Again. Fuck.

"Party-vi" (party-vi) 02/05/2018 at 13:24 • Filed to: None

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This is getting old. After parking the E46 because I’m a wuss and wanted heated seats for my commute (aka the Pilot), I get it back out for a few days and last Friday the heat takes a shit about 20 minutes from home in 25 degree weather. This is the third time I’ve had winter heating issues after thinking I’ve solved the problem. I just fixed it again around Xmas. At this point I’m just wanting to unload it at Carmax and get a GTI. Should I hold out for a performance package model? It’s never going to see track time.

gawdzillla > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:34

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dont get one with the sunroof lol

it will leak

Spanfeller is a twat > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:36

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Does that s60R on BaT have heated seats?

Not that you should get such a swedish take on a performance sedan

Party-vi > gawdzillla 02/05/2018 at 13:40

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Really? That’s a bummer. The sunroof on my E46 has been trouble free minus the shade going into the great beyond.

Party-vi > Spanfeller is a twat 02/05/2018 at 13:41

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My wallet has taken such a beating from the E46 I couldn’t possibly afford the tuition costs of a Volvo R product.

E90M3 > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:42

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You know that the E9X has become the ubiquitous answer. Might as well join in on the fun.

diplodicus > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:43

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Are the heater valves warm when the car is up to temp? Solenoid might have failed, you said you already did a thermostat right?

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-3-Series-E46/113-WATER-Heater_Valve_Replacement/113-WATER-Heater_Valve_Replacement.htm

gmctavish needs more space > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:44

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You’re having reliability issues with your BMW, so you want to replace it with a VW?

Spanfeller is a twat > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:45

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Then GTI is the answer.

Just because miatas aren’t practical and probably can’t heat one’s ass.

I love seat heaters, I abuse of the ones in my car, but still.

Grip heaters on bikes are too, essential.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > E90M3 02/05/2018 at 13:45

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Nailed it. Avoid the N54. As fun as it is they are maintenance happy.

The N52 cars are absolutely insanely reliable. They have that VANOS solenoid thing that’s an easy fix and that’s about it. Can’t go wrong. Seriously safe purchase. Plus they sound so good straight piped.

E90M3 > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 02/05/2018 at 13:46

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I know, I’ve put 24000 miles in 10 months on my N52 powered BMW. Only problem I’ve had is the coil went out on cylinder 4.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > gawdzillla 02/05/2018 at 13:47

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Apparently that’s just a modern sunroof thing. My FiST pours through and down into the drains in a carwash. It doesn’t actually touch the interior, you can just see it come in... I’ve been told that is normal.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Spanfeller is a twat 02/05/2018 at 13:47

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Grip heater? I never imagined.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:48

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Is it an electronic issue failing to command something? A VW with electrical issues? Never!

Spanfeller is a twat > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 13:49

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Yes, we have a bmw 800 gs and the grips are heated, two levels, they saved my ass on the highway once a month or so ago that I had to commute 30 miles in sub zero degrees (centigrade) weather with the summer gloves.

Party-vi > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 13:50

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Heck yeah. When it starts getting cooler in Autumn if you don’t have a good pair of gloves your fingers will start to get cold on your rides. Heated grips are fantastic for even colder weather.

Party-vi > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 02/05/2018 at 13:52

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There’s apparently an FSB for sunroof membrane cracks for the GTI.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:53

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Mine just goes around the seal. Probably should annoy the dealer about it, but that would require unflashing my car...

Party-vi > E90M3 02/05/2018 at 13:55

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Nope. The wife is tired of my E46. She even got mad when I suggested a facelift W204 C-Class. At this point trading in my 2002 E46 for a 2010 E9x will leave me with all the same maintenance work to do that the PO neglected.

Party-vi > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 13:56

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Wat. The E46 is doing what they do best by having a fucked up cooling/heating system.

Party-vi > gmctavish needs more space 02/05/2018 at 13:57

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Yeah considering VWs aren’t know for fucked up cooling/heating systems (at least to me). Plus, a decade in technological advancement would really help as well. It seems like BMW did everything they could to make my heating system complicated.

E90M3 > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 13:57

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That’s why you should do what I do, get a low mileage one owner car. My 328i might be an 09 but it was a one owner car with 40k on it.

Party-vi > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 02/05/2018 at 13:58

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I figure I’ll keep a GTI stock until I need to service the clutch, and then get a Burger or APR tune with a better clutch. I’ve been reading about stock clutches slipping on entry-level tunes.

Textured Soy Protein > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:01

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When I had this problem, it was 2 things in combination:

1. The final stage resistor for the blower motor was getting worn out.

2. My battery was low.

The reason is the various control systems refuse to do certain functions to preserve power when the battery is low, and so even though the HVAC controls were set to blow, the signal wasn’t actually going to the blower. Which is a pretty dumb thing to shut down when the battery is low if you ask me, but that’s BMW for you. They also shut down stuff like Comfort Access (touch the door handle to unlock).

Not sure if E46 does something similar. I got away with using my battery charger’s reconditioning mode a few times rather than replacing my relatively new battery.

gmctavish needs more space > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:02

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I was mostly joking, and a warranty would also be nice I imagine. I totally understand not wanting to keep servicing one of BMWs plastic cooling systems. As much as I love E46s, they aren’t quite the tanks that BMWs used to be

Party-vi > diplodicus 02/05/2018 at 14:04

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Hard to believe the solenoid would fail. I thought that was the issue last year, but the heater valve was good. I’ve got a new one in the garage that I could put on, but I hate doing cold weather work, and I hate the absolute mess the coolant makes whenever I mess with this thing. Guess that’s going to be my only option. I know the expansion tank is good, and the thermostat is good, and the water pump is good, so the heater valve I guess could be the only thing. I’ll let it run again and see if I’m getting heat on the lines for the valve, or if the valve is stuck closed.

Party-vi > gmctavish needs more space 02/05/2018 at 14:05

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I will say that my E46 has never left me stranded. It has however left me without a lot of conveniences depending on what broke or exploded or melted. If I lived somewhere with perfect weather it would still be a great car.

Arrivederci > gawdzillla 02/05/2018 at 14:05

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Makes me wonder if they used different parts on the A3/S3 - mine doesn’t leak or whistle. The only downside is that it will give a creak when the chassis flexes.

Party-vi > Textured Soy Protein 02/05/2018 at 14:07

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My final stage resistor should be good still - I replaced it a few years ago and I don’t have any of the erratic fan speed issues. Also the battery cranks fine, and the blower is working well, I just don’t have heat blowing out.

Party-vi > E90M3 02/05/2018 at 14:10

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Tempting, but she told me if I get a BMW or Mercedes I’ll be paying for it with my money which means something cheap.

diplodicus > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:10

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Hmm according to this thread if it did fail it should fail open. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=881172 I found another thread the guy said he unplugged it and coolant started to flow.

I feel you on coolant though. If I can afford too I pay my mechanic to do anything that involves coolant. I somehow manage to get it all over me and my floor when I mess with it. And disposing of the old coolant is a bitch too.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:14

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Yeah, they do make tunes specifically for the stock clutch if you don’t want to mess with it though.

Party-vi > diplodicus 02/05/2018 at 14:19

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I seem to remember if you unplug the valve it should stay open. I might just need to rap it with a brass hammer to get it unseated/unstuck. Or I could stop whining and just swap it out.

Party-vi > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 02/05/2018 at 14:20

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Seems like a waste though, when for the same price I could be getting up to 300hp.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:22

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IIRC, most limit torque, not horsepower.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:22

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I’ll have to look into that. Got a recommendation?

Party-vi > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 02/05/2018 at 14:23

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You’re right, but the DGS software does the same thing too unless you get a DGS tune.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:24

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I like the old FWD Veedubs from the 80s when you could maybe fix some of the stuff that was constantly breaking.

Party-vi > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 14:26

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Nope. I haven’t ridden in years. Start at Revzilla and look around.

Party-vi > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 14:27

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I haven’t heard the same issues from the older VWs being a problem on new ones. I have heard that the E46 is a shitbox but overall my experience has been good, minus winter driving blues.

gawdzillla > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:27

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a stock sunroof on a stock GTI will still leak lol

nermal > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:33

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If you’re planning on getting a used GTI, definitely hold out for an Autobahn trim level. They cost $10k more than the base model new, but only $1-2k more used.

It’s dumb, but they’re a bazillion times nicer.

bob and john > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 14:34

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heated gloves are WAY better then grips IMO

Party-vi > nermal 02/05/2018 at 14:35

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Absolutely. It seems like the only thing I’m wondering is if the real LSD and bigger brakes are worth waiting for. I’ve heard for street driving you won’t notice a difference, and I will probably upgrade the rotors/pads myself when it comes time to do the brakes for the first time. The 10hp is not that much of a difference.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > bob and john 02/05/2018 at 14:37

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How much battery does that require?

bob and john > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/05/2018 at 14:38

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not a lot.

if you DO want heated grips over gloves (heated gloves tend to be a bit bulky and soft) make sure you get like barkbusters or something for the wind blast, as THATS what kill you the most.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > bob and john 02/05/2018 at 14:51

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I was doing some riding at around 40 degrees F and I bought a pair of gloves supposed to be wind proof and they did alright.

nermal > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 14:53

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I’m seeing leftover 17's advertised for ~$26k. May not be a bad move to try to get one of those, depending on your budget, since it’s not much more than Carmax is asking for used.

Party-vi > nermal 02/05/2018 at 14:56

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I’m looking at ‘15 and ‘16 models for the low $20Ks. Something with 30K miles or so would be fine, since I’ll be putting on 20,000 miles a year anyway.

nermal > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 15:00

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If you’re going DSG, note that they require a ~$400 service at around 40k miles.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 15:22

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That’s strange, is your wife implying that you are currently spending her money?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 15:23

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Also, sounds like it’s Lexus time.

Party-vi > nermal 02/05/2018 at 15:25

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Nah - I’m going to get a manual. I’m sure the DSG is fun, but I really miss rowing my own. I figure I can get enough out of the clutch to offset the added cost of replacement vs a couple DSG services.

Party-vi > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/05/2018 at 15:27

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As of now it’ll be with our money, because that’s how we paid off her car when we got married. Otherwise I’d just get a 328i sedan.

Party-vi > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/05/2018 at 15:27

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Hmm. If I could find a cheap current-gen GS that would be neato.

marshknute > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:13

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Boy can I relate—I still remember my 11-hour drive home from college in a blizzard in my POS 2001 330xi with a broken heater. I unloaded it at Carmax the next day. Was so pissed.

Went to a 2007 Audi A4 which was bulletproof. Haven’t lusted after a single BMW since.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:14

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Cranking okay and supplying consistent voltage to control units are two separate things. And no, alternators don’t supply voltage to the vehicle with the engine running, they only charge the battery, the battery still supplies the voltage. German cars since the early 00's are ridiculously finicky about batteries.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:17

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On top of what others have suggested, I’ve seen head gaskets cause this lots of times on various engines. Usually it’s a small compression leak into the cooling system that creates an air pocket and stops or shows coolant flow. Not usually enough to lose coolant or cause a misfire, but enough to upset the way the cooling system works. Hopefully that’s not it, and I think it’s unlikely, but if you rule everything else out and still have a problem...

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:26

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Brakes - you don’t notice the difference on the street.
LSD - holy shit, it’s witchcraft! Alright, that might be (slightly) exaggerated, but seriously worth it.

Party-vi > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/05/2018 at 16:34

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Well, the exhaust looks fine and I haven’t seen any frothy soup under my fill cap, but it does have over 200K miles on it. It’s just getting old and sassy.

arl > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:39

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I have a 17' Autobahn GTI. Best. Seats. Ever. And they’re heated!

Great little car.

I have the manual, and while it’s good stock, I installed a short shifter and BFI knob, which lowers the shifter and adds weight. I love both of them. The Boomba shifter install is so easy to do. Takes longer to read the instructions than to actually install it. Perfect short throws.

http://www.boombaracing.com/2015-volkswagen-gti-golf-r-short-shift-transmission-adapter/

https://store.blackforestindustries.com/bfiheweshkna.html

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:40

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The fill cap thing is a leak to the crankcase, different failure. The exhaust thing usually only happens when the leak is much much worse. Head gaskets fail in many ways in many varying degrees of severity. I really don’t think that’s it, and I’m not trying to scare you, but I’d hate to see you chase your tail forever.

Party-vi > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/05/2018 at 16:43

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Well I’m going to go throw a heater control valve I have laying in the garage at it and see what that does. Guess I’ll spend the next week fucking bleeding it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:45

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Great place to start. Try jacking the front end up and blasting the heater with fan on high when you bleed it. With the bleed screw open of course. Or if you know someone with a vacuum filler/bleeder...

Party-vi > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/05/2018 at 16:49

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Does the fan speed matter? I know the valve is supposed to open with temp set on max but the blower speed won’t affect the coolant going through the heater core will it? There’s no secondary pump on an E46.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Party-vi 02/05/2018 at 16:53

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It can if there’s a heater core temp sensor, or logic for it. It should make sure any electric pump or shutoff valve duty cycles are at max.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Party-vi 02/06/2018 at 04:25

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buy a Chevy SS or Pontiac G8

Party-vi > pip bip - choose Corrour 02/06/2018 at 07:44

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I’m not Mr. Moneybags. An SS is still around $30K, and for some reason the G8 GXP is the same price even though they’re almost a decade older Love to have one, but I don’t want a $550.