[dj25000]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this forum adn the world of BMW's. I just recently bought a 318I se from auction.

I had right trouble after that moment. The car is magnificent. I am a great fan of bimmer's and i always wanted to have one but could not afford one. I bought this car with great hope and anticipation.

The car is a beautiful 318I SE in gold. X reg, 2000. The engine overheats. Radiator leaks. The steam comes out from eveywhere. I took it to a mechanic who i have known for a while. His garage is next to a BMW specialist called chiptune in west hounslow.

He looked at it and found a pipe broken behind the engine connecting to the radiator. He changed it with genuine parts and still pressure was builing and coming out from the other hoses. So, he then changed the main hose starting from the point where you put the water. Then He changed the water pump and thermostat as well. At that time the engine temperature was stable as showing on the dash. So, we started looking at the electronics. He said its not a head gasket problem but i'm not sure.

The car had no heating inside, as in, no hot air, no fan activity. Also the radiator fan was not regulating, as in not going up and down as needed. So, i took it to a electrician in west ealing. He kept the car for a while ( 7 days ) and made a direct switch to turn the fan on permanently an fixed the fan inside so the air can blow. Now the air inside thr car is circulating but no hot air at all. I drove the car to my home in uxbridge from ealing and the water from the radiator diappeared and the car stopped . So, i struggled to reach home and when ireached home all the water had gone. I put cold water and filled it up and found all water was just coming out from the bottom.

So, i asked a freind who knows a guy who has worked for BMW and knows about BM's. He came today and found the water reservoir ( ? ), the place where the water goes first when you pour water in the radiator has leak in it. So, they will buy that part tomorrow and put it in and we will see how it goes.

Now, i have spean about 700 pounds allready on the car and nothing has chnaged. So, i turn to you for help. Is there anyone who can help me with this issue and has knowledge about this car and let me know what i should do, as in where to go for it to be fixed cheaply. I am not a super rich guy but always wnated a BM. Can someone make this first experience of mine with BMW memorable ina good way please.

It will be great help and will be much appriciated.

Best regards,
DJ25000

 

[Slacker-ray]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this forum adn the world of BMW's. I just recently bought a 318I se from auction.

I had right trouble after that moment. The car is magnificent. I am a great fan of bimmer's and i always wanted to have one but could not afford one. I bought this car with great hope and anticipation.

The car is a beautiful 318I SE in gold. X reg, 2000. The engine overheats. Radiator leaks. The steam comes out from eveywhere. I took it to a mechanic who i have known for a while. His garage is next to a BMW specialist called chiptune in west hounslow.

He looked at it and found a pipe broken behind the engine connecting to the radiator. He changed it with genuine parts and still pressure was builing and coming out from the other hoses. So, he then changed the main hose starting from the point where you put the water. Then He changed the water pump and thermostat as well. At that time the engine temperature was stable as showing on the dash. So, we started looking at the electronics. He said its not a head gasket problem but i'm not sure.

The car had no heating inside, as in, no hot air, no fan activity. Also the radiator fan was not regulating, as in not going up and down as needed. So, i took it to a electrician in west ealing. He kept the car for a while ( 7 days ) and made a direct switch to turn the fan on permanently an fixed the fan inside so the air can blow. Now the air inside thr car is circulating but no hot air at all. I drove the car to my home in uxbridge from ealing and the water from the radiator diappeared and the car stopped . So, i struggled to reach home and when ireached home all the water had gone. I put cold water and filled it up and found all water was just coming out from the bottom.

So, i asked a freind who knows a guy who has worked for BMW and knows about BM's. He came today and found the water reservoir ( ? ), the place where the water goes first when you pour water in the radiator has leak in it. So, they will buy that part tomorrow and put it in and we will see how it goes.

Now, i have spean about 700 pounds allready on the car and nothing has chnaged. So, i turn to you for help. Is there anyone who can help me with this issue and has knowledge about this car and let me know what i should do, as in where to go for it to be fixed cheaply. I am not a super rich guy but always wnated a BM. Can someone make this first experience of mine with BMW memorable ina good way please.

It will be great help and will be much appriciated.

Best regards,
DJ25000

.............. I'm not taking the Piddle- you should have taken to ChipTune instead or at least another BMW specialists.......700 squids and its still not right, that's alot of money dude.

First things first.............did your mechanic conduct a sniff test to MAKE CERTAIN that there are no head-gasket or cumbustion leaks?

If he did not......then get that done- its easy enough if you have the kit and only takes 5mins tops, yoy could get a kit yourself, cost around 30 quid.

The leak that you have is on the expansion bottle........they are common to fail on the E46's........easy fix, ECP or GSF do one.IIRC they are around 40 quid.

To save you money, you could do this yourself mate- its easy enough to do.

 

[Ronnie]

The cooling system should be bled properly first and then diagnose from there, sounds like who ever worked on it unfortunately doesn't know BMWs to well :frown


How to bleed the cooling system.
1.Jack the front of the vehicle up onto stands as high as possible,
2.Turn the ignition on,engine off,heater on fan setting 1 and temperature fully hot,
3.Remove the rad cap/expansion cap,remove the bleed screw from the rad and IF you have them the bleed screw(s) from the thermostat housing/top hose, return pipe or EGR thermostat.
4.Fill the radiator up and keep pouring till there are no more air bubbles coming out from the bleeds, when good then install bleeds and tighten down(don't snap them),ensure the rubber O-rings/seals are still on the screws/on the bleed holes.
5.Suck some water out so it's not full to the brim, replace the cap and then start the car. Run her up and check for heat from the vents when warm and check if over heating still persists.
6.If good then check the water level again in the morning when cool.


And as mentioned get a block test done(sniff test/ headgasket test)

 

[dj25000]

thanks

thanks guys for your advice....but unfortunately. i am not technical enough to do this....so. i was looking for someone who knows about bm's and could help me out here.....anybody ....?

 

[Slacker-ray]

thanks guys for your advice....but unfortunately. i am not technical enough to do this....so. i was looking for someone who knows about bm's and could help me out here.....anybody ....?

I see you are based in London area, where abouts exactly mate?

 

[dj25000]

loccation

Hi Ray,

I'm in Uxbridge, UB8 area. It will be great if you can sort me out , buddy. I know noone who is good at bm's and i can trust. I used to have to have rover before and the forum guys in rovertech.net are so helpful that its like i'm talking to my brothers.:silly

So, i am hoping and aticipating the saem from you guys, big brothers of Bimmerforum.:thumbsup

Cheers,

DJ25000

 

[Slacker-ray]

Hi Ray,

I'm in Uxbridge, UB8 area. It will be great if you can sort me out , buddy. I know noone who is good at bm's and i can trust. I used to have to have rover before and the forum guys in rovertech.net are so helpful that its like i'm talking to my brothers.:silly

So, i am hoping and aticipating the saem from you guys, big brothers of Bimmerforum.:thumbsup

Cheers,

DJ25000

Uxbridge is pretty local to me...............you also have a decent, well respected garage around the corner from you- BIRDS in Iver 01895 810 850.

give them a tinkle mate- these boys are BMW through and through.

 

[dj25000]

excellent...

Hi Ray,

DO you think i should take the car to them and get it sorted...?
can you tell me worst case scenario how much its gonna cost me...?

There is not hot air insode the car at the moment...whatsoever...only cold air...i checked the engine oil inside the engine and near the top cover...nosign of gunk, fluff..someone told me is headgasket is gone water will mix with oil..as a result the water in radiator will look oily and the oil in engine will look bit funny as it will mix with steam...i am a novice...i may have missed something..i will have alook again after you guys advise me...


Cheers,
DJ25000

 

[Ronnie]

Hi Ray,

DO you think i should take the car to them and get it sorted...?
can you tell me worst case scenario how much its gonna cost me...?

There is not hot air insode the car at the moment...whatsoever...only cold air...i checked the engine oil inside the engine and near the top cover...nosign of gunk, fluff..someone told me is headgasket is gone water will mix with oil..as a result the water in radiator will look oily and the oil in engine will look bit funny as it will mix with steam...i am a novice...i may have missed something..i will have alook again after you guys advise me...


Cheers,
DJ25000

Depends on how the gasket goes.

If the seal between the cylinder and a water way goes then it will pressurise the cooling system and cause overheating, can also cause it to run slightly lumpy or misfire, especially when first started.

If gasket goes between oil way and water way then yes it will mix fluids.


Do you not have any tools or a jack and axle stands at all? :confused

 

[dj25000]

Hi Ronnie,

Nope i have nothing..can i borrow yours or even better some of your time....please..!!!

 

[Ronnie]

Hi Ronnie,

Nope i have nothing..can i borrow yours or even better some of your time....please..!!!

Too far for me

You not got a friend who will lend you the tools?

 

[Slacker-ray]

I've sent you a PM...............I could take a look at it for you since you are local but BIRDS are very good.:thumbsup

 

[dj25000]

friends..

Hi mate,

all my friends have computers..as i'm an IT professional...i know noone who is mechanic or has all the tools....alas....:frown

ray, pm'ed...

Cheers,
DJ