'Emergency' radiator hose repair

[cornershop]

Folks,

Car is currently at the OH's parents house just outside bournemouth whilst we holiday in Devon. I discovered a split top radiator hose on my 89 e24, which has lost me approx 0.5l of coolant in the 100mile journey to theirs.

Was planning on using the product below, unless anyone can recommend something better and just as easily available?

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-body-repai...

Cheers all

[Eighteeteewhy]

Cut hose, insert copper pipe of similar diameter. Secure with jubilee clips.

[cornershop]

Thanks, but that would be v tricky in this instance as the split is right on the mounting point, ie pretty much next to the edge of the jubillee clip.

[djgritt]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Cut hose, insert copper pipe of similar diameter. Secure with jubilee clips.

This!

Most secure fix without replacing the hose.

[PhillipM]

The silicone-based tapes work pretty damned well tbh.

[E30M3SE]

cornershop said:

Thanks, but that would be v tricky in this instance as the split is right on the mounting point, ie pretty much next to the edge of the jubillee clip.

Remove pipe, cut at split, re-fit, tighten jubilee clip.

[digger the goat]

Undo radiator cap to relieve pressure also.

[NicheMonkey]

Silicone tape from bnq cures with the heat and easy to apply around bends. I used some on an old shed I ran for work and it worked a treat.

[freddytin]

digger the goat said:

Undo radiator cap to relieve pressure also.

This ^^ The tape is surprisingly good, try and slide the jubilee out of the way whilst applying tape, starting and finishing where jubilee normally seats, then refit jubilee over the tape ends .

[Jimmyarm]

Can you not get the relevant part ordered into the nearest BMW place in Bournemouth and replace it when you return (or even get a local garage to fit it) ?

Some of those tapes seem to work but they are all designed as a bodge to get you somewhere nearby, not a 100mile trip

[chazola]

Jimmyarm said:

Can you not get the relevant part ordered into the nearest BMW place in Bournemouth and replace it when you return (or even get a local garage to fit it) ?

^This. If BMW are anything like Mercedes they should be able to order parts in for next day at the dealership.

If I had to bodge it I'd probably try the Silicone self-fusing tape (possibly with added duct-tape and cable ties!)

Edited by chazola on Wednesday 17th September 21:59

[Gruber]

Jimmyarm said:

Can you not get the relevant part ordered into the nearest BMW place in Bournemouth and replace it when you return (or even get a local garage to fit it) ?

Some of those tapes seem to work but they are all designed as a bodge to get you somewhere nearby, not a 100mile trip

This.

The BMW Classic parts service is superb. Speak to the guys at Battersea and they'll be able to order in and mail out the part to you. Or see if your local dealership can get it direct.

Not worth bodging if you can find a proper solution.

[Ozzie Osmond]

digger the goat said:

Undo radiator cap to relieve pressure also.

^^^^ Very much this. It's a technique I've used many times.

• Leave the cap loose or off to stop the system pressurising
• Put the heater on full power to aid cooling
• Drive gently to minimise the amount of heat the cooling system has to cope with.

Personally I would never put gunk in the system.

[cornershop]

Wow, thanks all for your input!

I'll try the recommendation to cut the pipe after the split and re-tighten - hadn't thought of that! Only constraint is a connection to the transmission coolant pipe, however it's def worth a go.

The 'outlaws' have been to the local dealership armed with a photo, part number and my chassis number - they were told its a german delivery only, circa 10day lead time.

I'll try the tape if all else fails, sounds as though some have had success with it. The coolant loss hadn't affected temps on the way down, so will have to time the journey back to avoid any traffic

Part number 15 here - http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=5362...

Cheers chaps

ETA - has Devon discovered mobile telecommunications yet?? Can't get a signal anywhere with O2, admittedly

Edited by cornershop on Wednesday 17th September 22:18

[Gruber]

10 days!? I'm surprised!

Worth giving these chaps a quick ring to see if they can supply it quicker.

http://www.bmwparklane.com/parts/classic.html

[cornershop]

Thanks for the park lane nod - i will (try to) call them in the morning.

[9mm]

E30M3SE said:

cornershop said:

Thanks, but that would be v tricky in this instance as the split is right on the mounting point, ie pretty much next to the edge of the jubillee clip.

Remove pipe, cut at split, re-fit, tighten jubilee clip.

This. Most hoses will stretch a little.

[blongs]

I used the tape from Halfords and a couple of jubliee clips as well to back it up. It worked and got me back from Wirral to Goole without a problem on a Sunday evening. I stopped 1/2 way at Hartshead Moor services to check all was ok and it was so carried on home.

The hole in mine was about a pin hole size where something had rubbed and it chose the most in-appropriate time to fail, furthest point of the journey on a Sunday morning with a christening to get to.

[Slidingpillar]

Go to a decent hose stockist who'll let you browse their racks. There doesn't look anything odd about that hose and I bet a near replacement is not too hard to find.

None of the hoses on the Morgan I had were the 'correct' ones, suitable alternatives were easily found without travel to a dealer.

[benjj]

Call Fritz Bits - http://www.fritzsbits.co.uk - they're in Somerset. They'll almost certainly have the part you're after. Have used them quite a few times now, good blokes.