Overheating problems
Discussion
So, my car is overheating.
Its a BMW 328i, 99 i believe (R reg).
Recently its had a new pump, new hoses (split when overheated) and thermostat, and the radiator has/had a leak which was mended/patched up.
After about 8 minutes or so it starts to get hotter than the settled central position. Unless i take action it would eventually get to overheating (or at least, having had it already overheat once, i'm unwilling to risk it - but it gets right up to the red if i let it) - to keep it under control i can just put the heating on full and aim it out the window.
There is no loss of power or obvious water leakage, no water in the oil or oil in the water as far as I can see (any of which would suggest head gasket).
I don't ever hear the fan kick in to cool the engine down more than just the normal spinning of the engine, and the fan never stays on when the car is hot but has been switched off. So to me, it sounds like the fan cluch has gone.
But is it also likely that the radiator is still a problem (i know it will need to be replaced in due course) and not letting the pressure get up?
Your thoughts please (other than sell it! its cost me too much to just throw away now and its an awesome car for performance!)
Cheers
Its a BMW 328i, 99 i believe (R reg).
Recently its had a new pump, new hoses (split when overheated) and thermostat, and the radiator has/had a leak which was mended/patched up.
After about 8 minutes or so it starts to get hotter than the settled central position. Unless i take action it would eventually get to overheating (or at least, having had it already overheat once, i'm unwilling to risk it - but it gets right up to the red if i let it) - to keep it under control i can just put the heating on full and aim it out the window.
There is no loss of power or obvious water leakage, no water in the oil or oil in the water as far as I can see (any of which would suggest head gasket).
I don't ever hear the fan kick in to cool the engine down more than just the normal spinning of the engine, and the fan never stays on when the car is hot but has been switched off. So to me, it sounds like the fan cluch has gone.
But is it also likely that the radiator is still a problem (i know it will need to be replaced in due course) and not letting the pressure get up?
Your thoughts please (other than sell it! its cost me too much to just throw away now and its an awesome car for performance!)
Cheers
sad to say i think the car is going to have to meet its maker. way to early in its life in my view.
I think some sick pervert in its recent history bought it to use for parts and proceded to ruin a lovely car.
Having been driving it and absolutely loving it for a few months, overheating problems caused it to have to visit and revisit the garage a number of times - following a new pump, hose, brakes, tires, alloys, battery, radio - and now at MOT time it became apparent that there are major issues with the ABS.
The light didn't come on, causing further examination which revealed that the ABS ECU isn't responding, and that even bulbs had been taken out of the dash! (Let's ignore the fact that the car braked excellently anyway - guess its just an awesome car). The ABS guy said that he didn't even want to get involved with it, though that's a bit knee jerk imo.
Anyway, the sad result is that i can't easily work out how big the problems are, without spending more cash i haven't got. Who knows, maybe its the abs pump, and maybe the overheating is the head gasket.
On the other hand, maybe its just the ecu and the radiator. But like a gambler who keeps on betting his luck will change, i'm coming to the end of the road with it. 2.5 grand down the line, I can't afford to chuck another 200 at sorting both ecu and radiator only for the result to be that the worst case senario is infact - as has been every time so far - the case.
So, unless you have any advice, or any recommendations for how to sell it for parts, please shed a tear for my beautiful broken and abused 328i. May it rest in peace. It was much loved since i took possession. Today is a sad day.
I think some sick pervert in its recent history bought it to use for parts and proceded to ruin a lovely car.
Having been driving it and absolutely loving it for a few months, overheating problems caused it to have to visit and revisit the garage a number of times - following a new pump, hose, brakes, tires, alloys, battery, radio - and now at MOT time it became apparent that there are major issues with the ABS.
The light didn't come on, causing further examination which revealed that the ABS ECU isn't responding, and that even bulbs had been taken out of the dash! (Let's ignore the fact that the car braked excellently anyway - guess its just an awesome car). The ABS guy said that he didn't even want to get involved with it, though that's a bit knee jerk imo.
Anyway, the sad result is that i can't easily work out how big the problems are, without spending more cash i haven't got. Who knows, maybe its the abs pump, and maybe the overheating is the head gasket.
On the other hand, maybe its just the ecu and the radiator. But like a gambler who keeps on betting his luck will change, i'm coming to the end of the road with it. 2.5 grand down the line, I can't afford to chuck another 200 at sorting both ecu and radiator only for the result to be that the worst case senario is infact - as has been every time so far - the case.
So, unless you have any advice, or any recommendations for how to sell it for parts, please shed a tear for my beautiful broken and abused 328i. May it rest in peace. It was much loved since i took possession. Today is a sad day.
Thats a shame, did you use a dealer or specialist?
Shame your not down this way (profile)... you could always try www.fabdirect.com and get secondhand parts - just quoted someone for a rad fitted £100 fitted, thats usinf a rad from them....... has the viscous coupling been checked?
ABS needs diagnosis - find out whats up. If it is control unit ring round for seconds - they can be reprogrammed once fitted.
After that ebay
Shame your not down this way (profile)... you could always try www.fabdirect.com and get secondhand parts - just quoted someone for a rad fitted £100 fitted, thats usinf a rad from them....... has the viscous coupling been checked?
ABS needs diagnosis - find out whats up. If it is control unit ring round for seconds - they can be reprogrammed once fitted.
After that ebay
Thanks for the reply. do you think a dealer/specialist would be cheaper?
The problems this car has at the moment are:
- overheating
cause unknown, but could be the radiator alone, or the head as well
- abs
started with the light not coming on - has never come on since i bought it, but didn't know it should and the braking has always been fine... (actually, come to think of it, it was never as good since the garage changed the brakes, though it was only less than good when they were bedding in) and after the guy plugged the computer in, it found it couldn't get a reply from the ECU. Maybe its just the ECU? Would the removal of bulbs make you jumpy about spending money on it?
its either this, or trade it in as a deposit if that's even possible/wise.
Cheers
The problems this car has at the moment are:
- overheating
cause unknown, but could be the radiator alone, or the head as well
- abs
started with the light not coming on - has never come on since i bought it, but didn't know it should and the braking has always been fine... (actually, come to think of it, it was never as good since the garage changed the brakes, though it was only less than good when they were bedding in) and after the guy plugged the computer in, it found it couldn't get a reply from the ECU. Maybe its just the ECU? Would the removal of bulbs make you jumpy about spending money on it?
its either this, or trade it in as a deposit if that's even possible/wise.
Cheers
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