E46 coolant weep - heaterbox?
Discussion
Got a persistent slow leak. Doesn't show up on a pressure test, doesn't show up on UV.
Car has had new rad, waterpump, thermostat, pipework recently. Garage (z4 specialist) is suggesting heaterbox but says it's very labourious on the Z4 and might be the same on the 330ci but needs to look into it.
Thoughts welcome.
Daniel
Car has had new rad, waterpump, thermostat, pipework recently. Garage (z4 specialist) is suggesting heaterbox but says it's very labourious on the Z4 and might be the same on the 330ci but needs to look into it.
Thoughts welcome.
Daniel
If its from the heater matrix it will show up on a UV test traces on carpets etc, plus you can usually smell it in the cabin the other give away will be on start up on a cold morning put heater to hot and fan on you will see the screen instantly mist and steam up instantly and may even taste the coolant in the interior atmosphere , heater matrix problems are usually obvious and to be losing coolant to noticeable levels even Stevie Wonder could diagnose
Had similar problems in my E39, (similar vintage in terms of BMW weakness, I suspect.)
I chucked some of the better rad-weld stuff from Halfords in, and it's been fine since.
It it was concourse, of course the whole lot would come out and be fixed properly, but it's not. Sadly. The wife and kids have seen to that.
I chucked some of the better rad-weld stuff from Halfords in, and it's been fine since.
It it was concourse, of course the whole lot would come out and be fixed properly, but it's not. Sadly. The wife and kids have seen to that.
Yeah, I've had bad coolant leaks in the cabin so aware of the symptoms if it's bad and am getting none of that, which I have told them. However it is a reasonably small leak, like a pint in 500miles type leak.
Current thinking is it might be the filler cap, the one bit you don't test with a leak test obviously. Apparently although reasonably new it damaged.
Daniel
Current thinking is it might be the filler cap, the one bit you don't test with a leak test obviously. Apparently although reasonably new it damaged.
Daniel
Pressure tested, UV die, nothing. Held overnight.
Has had new rad after the GSF spec one lasted 18month, and with that a new res and tophose, and rad cap was pretty new too. However it appears that has failed. So next plan is swap that out, sort the oil weep, and drive it for a bit!
Rad cap like most of the rest is genuine BMW and done about a year, which is fairly crap in my book. Unless it's been compromised by the GSF spec rad that was fitted in a rush as it was available.
Daniel
Has had new rad after the GSF spec one lasted 18month, and with that a new res and tophose, and rad cap was pretty new too. However it appears that has failed. So next plan is swap that out, sort the oil weep, and drive it for a bit!
Rad cap like most of the rest is genuine BMW and done about a year, which is fairly crap in my book. Unless it's been compromised by the GSF spec rad that was fitted in a rush as it was available.
Daniel
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff