Local BMW Resources

[RicardoJM]

My youngest son recently picked up a 2003 325XI and had the expansion tank blow out on his first drive. We had a shop replace the expansion tank, but the car would overheat very quickly. I signed up on bimmerforums and e46fanatics, and found them to be great resources.

As the car was new to him and the cooling system components have a reputation to start failing after 10 years, we refreshed the balance of the cooling system, radiator, thermostat, water pump, temperature sender, water pump pulley and hoses. The work was detailed, but pleasantly straight forward.

It was my son's first time doing something more complex than an oil change and he did an excellent job. Cooling system is working great and the car is running sweet.

Anyhow, is there a local group/forum for BMW similar to what ours is for Toyota 4x4s?

 

[LXBRADY]

Glad to hear that went well.

Sorry, no help with the BMW club info.

FWIW, the LX rear brakes are performing as they should, .

 

[PabloCruise]

There is a Rocky Mountain Chapter of the BMW CCA: http://rmcbmwcca.org/forum/

and: https://www.facebook.com/rmcbmwcca

 

[74fj40]

Ricardo, an e46 is one of the best bmws to own. For the most part very reliable. Glad you were able to diagnose the issue. I spent 7 years wrenching BMWs and their other product MINI Coopers, feel free to PM any questions or if you need help with it!

 

[PabloCruise]

Ricardo, an e46 is one of the best bmws to own. For the most part very reliable. Glad you were able to diagnose the issue. I spent 7 years wrenching BMWs and their other product MINI Coopers, feel free to PM any questions or if you need help with it!

Glad to hear praise for the e46 from a pro wrench! We found a 2002 325i for an insane price last year, so now the is rolling in that. However she would like a little more interior room, thus my earlier thread "Thinking Out Loud".

What do you mean "For the most part very reliable."? What should I keep an eye on? 112k miles.

Thanks!

 

[RicardoJM]

Glad to hear praise for the e46 from a pro wrench! We found a 2002 325i for an insane price last year, so now the is rolling in that. However she would like a little more interior room, thus my earlier thread "Thinking Out Loud".

What do you mean "For the most part very reliable."? What should I keep an eye on? 112k miles.

Thanks!

The cooling system , ask me how I know. Seriously, in my research, the head does not do well if overheated. There is quite a bit of plastic in the cooling system components and after many years of heat/cool cycling it takes a toll.

 

[74fj40]

TJ, I have a huge soft spot for the E46. Would love to pick up an 2006 330i with the ZHP package and Alcantera interior. .

Anyways I think the e46 is so great because it's relatively easy to work on for the weekend mechanic. The biggest concerns other than cooling system are leaks and suspension wear.

Typically it's the power steering lines or the valve cover gasket, the CV boots tend to wear and crack or leak grease past the clamp.

Keep an eye on those lower control arm bushings near the back of the CA. You will start to feel a clunk in the pedal when braking.

E46 had a pretty good production run and is becoming a very affordable car to own and maintain especially if you don't mind jumping into it yourself.

 

[PabloCruise]

The cooling system , ask me how I know. Seriously, in my research, the head does not do well if overheated. There is quite a bit of plastic in the cooling system components and after many years of heat/cool cycling it takes a toll.

I do not know of too many heads that do!

It is interesting to make a t-stat housing out of plastic. Those crazy Germans...

How many miles on yours when you had the issues?

 

[PabloCruise]

The cooling system , ask me how I know. Seriously, in my research, the head does not do well if overheated. There is quite a bit of plastic in the cooling system components and after many years of heat/cool cycling it takes a toll.

And what was causing the overheating after the expansion tank blew?

 

[PabloCruise]

TJ, I have a huge soft spot for the E46. Would love to pick up an 2006 330i with the ZHP package and Alcantera interior. .

Anyways I think the e46 is so great because it's relatively easy to work on for the weekend mechanic. The biggest concerns other than cooling system are leaks and suspension wear.

Typically it's the power steering lines or the valve cover gasket, the CV boots tend to wear and crack or leak grease past the clamp.

Keep an eye on those lower control arm bushings near the back of the CA. You will start to feel a clunk in the pedal when braking.

E46 had a pretty good production run and is becoming a very affordable car to own and maintain especially if you don't mind jumping into it yourself.

Thanks! I will take a look at the service records to see what has been done.
The car was amazingly affordable, it was a deal I could not refuse, especially as my was getting pretty tired of her Camry.

I bought it from a friend I swim with. He knows nothing about cars, but follows all maintenance recommendations. So when he said he was getting rid of it I told him I wanted it. A 3rd friend (also on the swim team) opened a Euro repair shop and went through it with me. He said the 325I was "the F-150 of the euro auto market". His biggest reservation was that the automatics in these seldom live to 200k. True?

I changed a headlight, changed the gasket on the washer fluid tank and did one oil change. Everything seems fairly straight forward. I was surprised by the oil change interval @ 15k miles. There was an amazing amount of conversation on the forums about using Mobil1 0w-40 w/ LL spec but NOT using Mobil1 5w-30. I was surprised the 0w-40 had the LL spec, but not the 5w-30. Any thoughts on that?

 

[RicardoJM]

...How many miles on yours when you had the issues?

It is in the mid 80sK. Relatively low miles for the age. The service records we have indicate the thermostat failed open last fall and was replaced. They further go on to indicate the thermostat was replaced in March of this year under warranty. I believe that age (this one is 12 years old) and not miles is the better metric to consider for the cooling system.

And what was causing the overheating after the expansion tank blew?

Symptoms during overheating upper radiator hose was hot and lower radiator hose cool. The possible culprits; bad thermostat, clogged radiator.

I have not completed the forensics on the thermostat we replaced, but plan on putting it in water to verify it opens at 195-200 degrees.

I do not believe the radiator itself was clogged and am not planning to do any forensics. I believe that a part of the expansion tank (the coolant level measuring stick/float parts) may have ended up creating a blockage in the coolant flow to the radiator. There were plastic pieces of the expansion tank all over when it blew up.

 

[RicardoJM]

Follow up...

I tested the old thermostat this afternoon and it failed to open.

 

[PabloCruise]

Follow up...

I tested the old thermostat this afternoon and it failed to open.

Thanks!

 

[PabloCruise]

TJ, I have a huge soft spot for the E46. Would love to pick up an 2006 330i with the ZHP package and Alcantera interior. .

Anyways I think the e46 is so great because it's relatively easy to work on for the weekend mechanic. The biggest concerns other than cooling system are leaks and suspension wear.

Typically it's the power steering lines or the valve cover gasket, the CV boots tend to wear and crack or leak grease past the clamp.

Keep an eye on those lower control arm bushings near the back of the CA. You will start to feel a clunk in the pedal when braking.

E46 had a pretty good production run and is becoming a very affordable car to own and maintain especially if you don't mind jumping into it yourself.

Funny timing - she is clunking now! We took a trip on Memorial Day, and the last 15 miles were gravel road. I am wondering if that is what did it?
I have not even had time to look under the vehicle at these bushings, but is this something a regular Joe with hand tools can manage? Or do I need some heavier equipment? Or am I out of my league here?
Thanks!

 

[PabloCruise]

TJ, I have a huge soft spot for the E46. Would love to pick up an 2006 330i with the ZHP package and Alcantera interior. .

Anyways I think the e46 is so great because it's relatively easy to work on for the weekend mechanic. The biggest concerns other than cooling system are leaks and suspension wear.

Typically it's the power steering lines or the valve cover gasket, the CV boots tend to wear and crack or leak grease past the clamp.

Keep an eye on those lower control arm bushings near the back of the CA. You will start to feel a clunk in the pedal when braking.

E46 had a pretty good production run and is becoming a very affordable car to own and maintain especially if you don't mind jumping into it yourself.

Thanks for your help, you nailed it!

Replacing the lower control arm bushings fixed the clunk in the suspension.

Those are quite easy to replace. I did not even rent the gear puller.

When I dropped the skid plate, there is a leak towards the front, and low. The rack looked wet. You think the PS line is my culprit?