E39 528i M52 - cooling system replacement

[AussieInLondonTown]

Hello all

It is time for me to do some maintenance on my E39 528i with the M52 engine.

I am going to get the below replaced:

Upper hose
Lower hose
Thermostat
Water Pump
Expansion Tank
Temperature Sensor

My question is that should I purchase all genuine BMW parts as it comes to around £500 just in parts. Or should I look at Febi, etc?

I am not sure if I should get the fan clutch replaced too?

Appreciate your views. Thank you.

Cheers.

[danb79]

AussieInLondonTown said:

Hello all

It is time for me to do some maintenance on my E39 528i with the M52 engine.

I am going to get the below replaced:

Upper hose - Febi Bilstein or OE BMW
Lower hose - As above
Thermostat -
Water Pump
Expansion Tank
Temperature Sensor

My question is that should I purchase all genuine BMW parts as it comes to around £500 just in parts. Or should I look at Febi, etc?

I am not sure if I should get the fan clutch replaced too?

Appreciate your views. Thank you.

Cheers.

Parts as below:

- Stat (part number: 11537511083) Febi: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336681442223 & housing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/318727224561
- Hoses (Upper: 11531705223 / Lower: 11531705224): Top: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336553428629 / Bottom: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/33636561724465
- Water pump: (part number: 11517527799) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336586267560
- Sensor (13621433077): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236547720188
- Expansion tank (17111723520): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/237056948102
- Viscous clutch (11527505302): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/318569545315

Comma G48 for coolant (you need x2): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Comma-XSG48M5L-Xstream-An...

That'll do you well; no need to spend silly money as the Febi parts are solid and I've used them across all x5 E39s I've had (inc x2 Jap import E39s) and my most recently 540i earlier this year

Don't scrimp on the viscous clutch; that's why I've linked to OE Mahle

Double check the rad too; make sure it's not bowed anywhere (which if it is); needs replacing. Mahle or Nissens only for this

All PNs here on RealOEM: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=DD51-E...

[Collectingbrass]

If you're doing all that I would do the viscous fan and radiator as well. You need the rad out anyway to get to the stat and pump.

[Dannbodge]

C3BMW do a cooling system refresh kit for the M5x engines.

Probably cheaper and easier than sourcing it all yourself.

When i did my E46 one, I used mainly Febi parts with exception of the rad and waterpump.

[Diffman3000]

Febi.......hmmm. I've stopped using their stuff as a lot of it is just crap now. I've had their expansion tanks leak. One had a massive casting flash preventing a hose from fitting. All they do is re-box parts. They're not what they used to be, i.e genuine parts with the numbers filed off.

Genuine BMW thermostat every time. I'm done with 'OE' ones that don't work properly or fail early.
Nissens radiators are generally good.
Febi hoses should be okay.
Water pump - I've rarely had a bad one from Circoli but others have. They are a fortune from BMW. Both Gates and Firstline are good.
Temp sensor - Bosch, or BMW.
Viscous couplings - I've used Borg&Beck which have been okay but like so much, a lot of these and non genuine parts originate in China.

If you're doing the work yourself and you're keeping the car a long time, take a deep breath and buy as much as you can justify from the dealer.

Single vanos cars built before 9/98 used a much simpler cooling system.

[danb79]

Zero issues with Febi. Used their parts on all 5 E39s, in our current F31 and my 635d

Nothings ever failed.

Ive had more issues with TRW, Lemforder and OE BMW unfortunately

I tend to stick to parts via Parts in Motion and/or Autodoc

But there are a number of tried and tested resellers on ebay that sell Febi too

[Triumph Man]

Diffman3000 said:

Nissens radiators are generally good.

Just be aware with Nissens radiators - although hopefully a little better now - I put one in my E34 and where the lower hose sat there was an extra bit of casting material at the neck, which caused it to leak. I filed the plastic down and it's been fine since, but just be aware.

Re Viscous fans - don't skimp as Dan says. The cheap ones roar (i.e. permanently locked up) and whilst they make your car sound like a truck and increase fuel consumption, they can explode!

[Diffman3000]

Triumph Man said:

Diffman3000 said:

Nissens radiators are generally good.

Just be aware with Nissens radiators - although hopefully a little better now - I put one in my E34 and where the lower hose sat there was an extra bit of casting material at the neck, which caused it to leak. I filed the plastic down and it's been fine since, but just be aware.

I've had this with NRF rads as well.

I daresay Nissens as another 'used to be good' brand then.

[twokcc]

I had a Mahle fitted to my 125iAuto Ollie oils cheapest at time but strangely cheaper buying by ebay at that time 2year warranty