E39 Overheating
Discussion
I`m after a bit of advice.
I have a couple of friends who have had E39s, and both have said that the six
cylinder petrol engines are prone to very expensive overheating problems.
This is worrying as my 528 has just developed a possible fan problem.
Sometimes the fan doesn`t start, meaning a swift pull off the road when the needle
gets high. If I pop the bonnet, there is a ticking noise from the n/s of the
engine, by what looks like the MAF sensor? She lit the red light up once, for about
15 secs before I could turn her off. The fan started, (aftter a 20 min wait) and
she is now home. I havent driven her since. The coolant level is down, but not by much.
As I said, my friends seem to think that if it has overheated, that I may need an
engine. Is this likley, as if it was as common as they are suggesting, wouldn't
it be easy to google for?
Any Ideas/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
I have a couple of friends who have had E39s, and both have said that the six
cylinder petrol engines are prone to very expensive overheating problems.
This is worrying as my 528 has just developed a possible fan problem.
Sometimes the fan doesn`t start, meaning a swift pull off the road when the needle
gets high. If I pop the bonnet, there is a ticking noise from the n/s of the
engine, by what looks like the MAF sensor? She lit the red light up once, for about
15 secs before I could turn her off. The fan started, (aftter a 20 min wait) and
she is now home. I havent driven her since. The coolant level is down, but not by much.
As I said, my friends seem to think that if it has overheated, that I may need an
engine. Is this likley, as if it was as common as they are suggesting, wouldn't
it be easy to google for?
Any Ideas/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Another common fault on these is the viscous coupling failing - gently try the old rolled newspaper in the fan trick - if it stops the fan then it probably is the coupling.
Mine went recently and caused erratic temperatures.
Apparently as a failsafe the aircon fan cuts in if the vehicle temperature climbs beyond a certain level.
The cooling systems on these are also prone to airlocks and there is a knack to filling / bleeding the system.
Have a look on www.bmwland.co.uk for tips.
>> Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Tuesday 29th November 19:59
Mine went recently and caused erratic temperatures.
Apparently as a failsafe the aircon fan cuts in if the vehicle temperature climbs beyond a certain level.
The cooling systems on these are also prone to airlocks and there is a knack to filling / bleeding the system.
Have a look on www.bmwland.co.uk for tips.
>> Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Tuesday 29th November 19:59
Sorry for dredging up an old topic everyone.
Just thought you might like an update. I topped up the coolant, bled the system, ran it at idle for 10-15mins. Temp got halfway, fan cut in, and after cooling down, no loss of coolant. Took her for a drive, still fine. Ran her for about 3 weeks, (doing about a tankfull each week of fuel approx 300 miles each), and was fine. Coolant level was checked before each trip, and was always fine.
Between Christmas and New Year, she overheated (into red for approx 20 secs) and I shut her down. Rad bottle was empty. I waited two days, filled coolant, bled system, sat and idled for 5 mins. Just about to pop bonnet, guage went into red, switched off. About 4 hours later, checked level, empty again.
At this moment, she is outside a independant, and he has informed me that from his prelimanary inspection, he believes that I may require a new engine block. I am kind of at a loss now, as that will cost approx £3000+. Not far off of what the car is worth. Even if I do it, I have been told that it is a fault with the engines, and that it may happen again.
I do really miss her, but am now at a loss as to what to do.
Sorry again, for the long post, and the old topic!
Just thought you might like an update. I topped up the coolant, bled the system, ran it at idle for 10-15mins. Temp got halfway, fan cut in, and after cooling down, no loss of coolant. Took her for a drive, still fine. Ran her for about 3 weeks, (doing about a tankfull each week of fuel approx 300 miles each), and was fine. Coolant level was checked before each trip, and was always fine.
Between Christmas and New Year, she overheated (into red for approx 20 secs) and I shut her down. Rad bottle was empty. I waited two days, filled coolant, bled system, sat and idled for 5 mins. Just about to pop bonnet, guage went into red, switched off. About 4 hours later, checked level, empty again.
At this moment, she is outside a independant, and he has informed me that from his prelimanary inspection, he believes that I may require a new engine block. I am kind of at a loss now, as that will cost approx £3000+. Not far off of what the car is worth. Even if I do it, I have been told that it is a fault with the engines, and that it may happen again.
I do really miss her, but am now at a loss as to what to do.
Sorry again, for the long post, and the old topic!
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