I replaced the cooling system in my E46 today

"sefeing, actually bought an E46" (sefeing90) 07/13/2019 at 16:17 • Filed to: bmw, e46, 3series, diy, driveway mechanic

5

15

After discovering that my radiator was leaking from somewhere, I did the hoses, radiator, expansion tank and all the gaskets and nightmares that come with it.

That’s all, I’m just really proud since this time last year I hadn’t really done a A TON of my own work.

I also did the tranny fluid, diff fluid, brakes and a few others in the last few weeks

Here’s a photo of my car from the winter

getting dirty is fun :)

Hey Julie > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/13/2019 at 16:43

6

Based on my experience with Murphy’s law,  your water pump is going to completely destroy itself sometime tomorrow

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/13/2019 at 16:47

1

Very nice, and necessary on every Post E30 BMW I’ve owned. Did you do the thermostat and waterpump while you were in there, too?

superdave847 > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/13/2019 at 16:55

0

Beautiful car and nicely done. The cooling system is the Achilles heel of the E46

mazda616 > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/13/2019 at 17:21

1

Great job! It’s a wonderful feeling when you’re able to fix something on your own.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Hey Julie 07/13/2019 at 22:00

0

Jokes on you, it was already done by the previous owner ;)

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 07/13/2019 at 22:00

0

Already done a few thousand miles ago by the p/o through a BMW dealer 

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > superdave847 07/13/2019 at 22:01

1

Glad I got it all replaced !

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > mazda616 07/13/2019 at 22:01

0

Couldn’t agree more 

Jordan > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/13/2019 at 22:12

0

How much did it cost? Asking, because I have an E60.

72911T > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/14/2019 at 02:28

1

I I trust you did what every E46 should get then, the electric fan in place of stock fan clutch and fan? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when the fan clutch seizes you will be amazed at the amount of damage your plastic fan blowing into a thousand pieces at 5000 RPMs will do to your hood and everything else you just replaced. I had one seize on an E46 and all those little plastic pieces actually punctured the steel on the hood, and destroyed everything else in the vicinity of the fan. The worst part of it all, I’m a mechanic and I was test driving a customer’s car after replacing her double Vanos unit. I heard the bang and actually saw  paint chips fly over the windshield . That was one awkward explanation. Don’t go through what I went through, replace the fan clutch with an electric fan.

72911T > sefeing, actually bought an E46 07/14/2019 at 02:52

0

Every every single time I try to post something here, the comment never shows up.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > 72911T 07/14/2019 at 10:47

0

I thought about it for this job - but the P/O had the fan clutch replaced in the last few thousand miles. That said, maybe in the near future. Didn’t have the parts on hand

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Jordan 07/14/2019 at 10:48

1

I spent around $300 in parts. However, that does NOT include water pump or thermostat, since I was able to verify that was done within the last 5k miles by a BMW dealer

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > 72911T 07/14/2019 at 10:48

0

I see it? 

Mark > Jordan 07/15/2019 at 10:11

1

On an E60 the waterpump is electric and not belt driven. An OEM P ierburg waterpump will be around 300 dollars on Amazon, the thermostat OEM Mahle is 60.xx. E xpect to have two gallons of coolant and perhaps the expense of a new hose, depending on how yours look. Remember you must bleed with your electric pump, before you drive which is about a 12 minute cycle once initiated. Hope this helps.

I have an 08 528xi.