do you recommend OEM expansion tank? I purchased a URO brand expansion tank a year ago, it seems to be leaking where the thermostat goes into from the bottom. Is there some sort of o-ring that is around that area where the thermostat goes into?
I'd be happy just to get my old tank out. Too much crap in the way. I already had to go buy a jack and stands in addition to the new tank. I'm having a hard time getting the old one off. I wish I'd just let a real mechanic do this instead of taking it on myself because I have no patience. And now that I've got it taken apart, I pretty much have to finish it. It's weird though how everyones BMW does this around 90K miles.
It's called planned obsolescence.. unfortunately. The fact is, the heat cycles and the stress of the pressure (the cooling system is under 14 ft.lbs during normal operation.) within the tank causes the Exp. tank to fail eventually, due to age. BMW recommends you replace at around 75K. So, if you push it to 90K, you are guaranteed to have unexpected random Fail. Also, when you over fill the tank, it will cause premature failure even when the tank is brand new. Just a heads up.
@bimmersgarag That was a complete mistake on my part. My truck is at 96K. the Bimmer is at 73,9 right now. I actually just finished getting the tank replaced. It wasn't that bad. It's just when you're not sure how things are put together it can be intimidating. I was worried about getting the transmission cooling stuff out but it turned out to be quite simple.
No worries, glad to hear my vids are able to help you out in a pinch.
Just remember to follow those BMW Inspection I & II schedules and other maintenance routines and your bimmer will be solid for many mileages to come. Once more thing, remember to Bleed your cooling system once your expansion tank is installed to prevent overheating. DO NOT drive until after you have bled the system.
@bimmersgarage DOH! too late. I drove it around the block once. I did fill it with antifreeze before I drove it though. The temp gauge was right in the middle which does seem a tad high. You may have REALLY saved me some headache. i bleed it out today. What's the point though if it;s full of coolant already? just curious.
That is a Big Negative.. BMW cooling systems are under pressure, so bleeding process is (Critical) to remove ALL air pockets out of the system, including the heater core. If you ignore/skip this process, the air (no matter how small) will cause the water pump to Not circulate efficiently, leading to a blown head gasket and/or warped heads. Search & Read up on the procedure. > I can Not stress how Mission Critical this is. You been warned. NOTE:You should Not use generic antifreeze
@bimmersgarage ...and thanks btw for posting this video and the reply. Helpful doesn't begin to describe it. I guess now that this car is 13 years old it's due a few minor breakdowns huh? It's a 2000 model 323ci. Do you think I could get $5500 for it if I put it up for sale? It's midnight blue and It has nice camel color interior. The top is in perfect shape. It also has new Michelin tires on it (and a new expansion tank too :). Just curious.
That depends on your location/region and what other over due maintenance items needs to be done. BMW has a Huge list of things that should be checked and repaired based on mileage. Too long to list here...so, Just do a search for BMW Inspection I & II. Keep in mind that just the basics, there are other components that wear out on performance vehicles such as control arms, struts, shocks, etc. So honestly, there's no way for anyone to quote a price without looking at the vehicle.
same thing just happened to me. such a pain in the ass too. tried patching it with fiberglass and a shitload of epoxy bad idea it worked for a short time then gave out and caused my car to overheat. now i get to spend 50$ on a new one whereas i just spent 40 on repair kits and coolant
Trying to repair the leak/crack with epoxy (or any kind of stop leak product) is definitely NOT recommended to "fixing" a failed expansion tank. As I stated previously,the cooling system is under pressure -it is Best to replace the unit with a new OEM expansion tank to prevent PITA headaches. How long did you overheat? Were you able to turn off the engine quickly? Within a minute of the temperature gauge moving up? Or, did you get to into the Red (light)? Did you warp header gasket?
@bimmersgarage yea i figured after a couple times. it turns out my tranny thermostat is broken too but i just bought a new tank and slapped it on. i was in the red about 2-3 times on short drives to my work but not for more than a minute
@shaindaman13 meh saw the source of the problem which is in the other vid but i just popped it back in since its like 100$ where i work. was selling the car anyways
No, there is not. The cooling system of the BMWs are under pressure (~14lb.) during normal operation. Once the tank gives out from age/fatigue (or improper maintenance) it is best to replace the unit. Do Not try to repair it with any kind of sealants/stop-leaks, etc. It will only cause more issues that may lead to overheating your motor. Also, once you replace the unit with a new one, remember to bleed your system - use BMW coolant with distilled water in 50/50 mixture.
Yup, this is exactly where the crack developed on my car. I only found it by removing the plastic cover, filling the tank and starting the motor and watching for leaks. As said it wasn't noticiable until the water heated up and was under pressure!! I am hoping there is a newly designed tank that I could fit so I don't have the same problem all over again!!
Hey quick question i have a 1986 325e that had a warped head, so i get the head resurfaced and install a new head gasket I put on all torque screws about 65 pounds of torque, I put everything back together but the car still overheats and there is steam coming out of the reservoir which makes it loose all the coolant, what can this be? I did a compression check on the head and everything came out ok. Can this be a bad radiator, water pump or cracked block PLEASE HELP I REALLY NEED IT!!!!!
I have another issue, as soon as i shut down the engine in like 1 minute, the coolant is pouting out from the expansion tank cap. Does it mean the cap is bad? Or the pressure inside is too great for some reason?
Need more details. What did you do? Did you replace more than your tensioner pulley? Also, did you over fill the expansion tank? DO NOT do that! You must fill within the prescribed amount or you risk over pressure (or exploding the exp. tank) Let me know what you did.
@bimmersgarage I actually find out the problem. Two days ago I noticed a hair line crack in plastic radiator hose connector. I patched it. The leak was stopped. Then when I added water to the expansion tank. I didnt screw the cap all the way back which resulted in the loss of coolant
It's a very BAD idea to "patch" that radiator connector... That's just a temporary fix, I would highly recommend that you just buy a new hose unit and replace it. Don't cheap out and risk an expensive repair later. Just a heads up.
It's all relative... "common" in the sense that BMW's cooling system is pressurized and the expansion tank has a recommended replacement schedule that needs to be followed. However, some owners either ignore the MRS or likes to gamble with their vehicles by the way of " I'll replace it when it fails" thinking. Both ways leads to a cracked Exp. tank.
Sir, great videos. Im in a small panic right now. Today I did a full cooling system overhaul on my friends 2001 325i Auto. And we saw the transmission thermostat which was broken but didn't know what it was. Since we installed every part of the cooling system new we were able to put everything back together without a problem. I just now realized my friend drove off without a transmission thermostat. Would you please be able to give me written instruction on how to install the thermostat. THANKS
First, I strongly advise your friend to STOP driving his 325i immediately, until a New ATT (Automatic Transmission Thermostat) is obtained and installed correctly.
Second, no problem on the instructions.. I'll send it to you via YT message.
Lastly, thank you for your comments and for watching my vid(s), feel free to rate & Subscribe.
Also, if you're bleeder screw is leaking, check the O-ring on it first, it's probably brittle and worn out. Go ahead and replace that bleeder screw with a new one if that's the case.
@bimmersgarage 83k is on original expansion tank, thanks for advice. Going to replace the little bleeder tomorrow. Great vids btw thanks for shareing.
This has been flagged as spam show
do you recommend OEM expansion tank? I purchased a URO brand expansion tank a year ago, it seems to be leaking where the thermostat goes into from the bottom. Is there some sort of o-ring that is around that area where the thermostat goes into?
bhdproduction2007 4 days ago
Comment removed
bhdproduction2007 4 days ago
I'd be happy just to get my old tank out. Too much crap in the way. I already had to go buy a jack and stands in addition to the new tank. I'm having a hard time getting the old one off. I wish I'd just let a real mechanic do this instead of taking it on myself because I have no patience. And now that I've got it taken apart, I pretty much have to finish it. It's weird though how everyones BMW does this around 90K miles.
shaindaman13 1 week ago
@shaindaman13
It's called planned obsolescence.. unfortunately. The fact is, the heat cycles and the stress of the pressure (the cooling system is under 14 ft.lbs during normal operation.) within the tank causes the Exp. tank to fail eventually, due to age. BMW recommends you replace at around 75K. So, if you push it to 90K, you are guaranteed to have unexpected random Fail. Also, when you over fill the tank, it will cause premature failure even when the tank is brand new. Just a heads up.
bimmersgarage 1 week ago
@bimmersgarag That was a complete mistake on my part. My truck is at 96K. the Bimmer is at 73,9 right now. I actually just finished getting the tank replaced. It wasn't that bad. It's just when you're not sure how things are put together it can be intimidating. I was worried about getting the transmission cooling stuff out but it turned out to be quite simple.
shaindaman13 1 week ago
@shaindaman13
No worries, glad to hear my vids are able to help you out in a pinch.
Just remember to follow those BMW Inspection I & II schedules and other maintenance routines and your bimmer will be solid for many mileages to come. Once more thing, remember to Bleed your cooling system once your expansion tank is installed to prevent overheating. DO NOT drive until after you have bled the system.
bimmersgarage 1 week ago
@bimmersgarage DOH! too late. I drove it around the block once. I did fill it with antifreeze before I drove it though. The temp gauge was right in the middle which does seem a tad high. You may have REALLY saved me some headache. i bleed it out today. What's the point though if it;s full of coolant already? just curious.
shaindaman13 1 week ago
@shaindaman13
That is a Big Negative.. BMW cooling systems are under pressure, so bleeding process is (Critical) to remove ALL air pockets out of the system, including the heater core. If you ignore/skip this process, the air (no matter how small) will cause the water pump to Not circulate efficiently, leading to a blown head gasket and/or warped heads. Search & Read up on the procedure. > I can Not stress how Mission Critical this is. You been warned. NOTE:You should Not use generic antifreeze
bimmersgarage 1 week ago
@bimmersgarage ...and thanks btw for posting this video and the reply. Helpful doesn't begin to describe it. I guess now that this car is 13 years old it's due a few minor breakdowns huh? It's a 2000 model 323ci. Do you think I could get $5500 for it if I put it up for sale? It's midnight blue and It has nice camel color interior. The top is in perfect shape. It also has new Michelin tires on it (and a new expansion tank too :). Just curious.
shaindaman13 1 week ago
@shaindaman13
That depends on your location/region and what other over due maintenance items needs to be done. BMW has a Huge list of things that should be checked and repaired based on mileage. Too long to list here...so, Just do a search for BMW Inspection I & II. Keep in mind that just the basics, there are other components that wear out on performance vehicles such as control arms, struts, shocks, etc. So honestly, there's no way for anyone to quote a price without looking at the vehicle.
bimmersgarage 1 week ago
@bimmersgarage Even more helpful info. Thanks!
shaindaman13 1 week ago
same thing just happened to me. such a pain in the ass too. tried patching it with fiberglass and a shitload of epoxy bad idea it worked for a short time then gave out and caused my car to overheat. now i get to spend 50$ on a new one whereas i just spent 40 on repair kits and coolant
Storm7289 3 weeks ago
@Storm7289
Trying to repair the leak/crack with epoxy (or any kind of stop leak product) is definitely NOT recommended to "fixing" a failed expansion tank. As I stated previously,the cooling system is under pressure -it is Best to replace the unit with a new OEM expansion tank to prevent PITA headaches. How long did you overheat? Were you able to turn off the engine quickly? Within a minute of the temperature gauge moving up? Or, did you get to into the Red (light)? Did you warp header gasket?
bimmersgarage 3 weeks ago
@bimmersgarage yea i figured after a couple times. it turns out my tranny thermostat is broken too but i just bought a new tank and slapped it on. i was in the red about 2-3 times on short drives to my work but not for more than a minute
Storm7289 3 weeks ago
@Storm7289 Oh my goodness. I did the exact same thing. Held for 15 min then gave out.
shaindaman13 1 week ago
@shaindaman13 meh saw the source of the problem which is in the other vid but i just popped it back in since its like 100$ where i work. was selling the car anyways
Storm7289 1 week ago
is there any way to seal the crack with some sort of sealent
69elpresidente 1 month ago
@69elpresidente
No, there is not. The cooling system of the BMWs are under pressure (~14lb.) during normal operation. Once the tank gives out from age/fatigue (or improper maintenance) it is best to replace the unit. Do Not try to repair it with any kind of sealants/stop-leaks, etc. It will only cause more issues that may lead to overheating your motor. Also, once you replace the unit with a new one, remember to bleed your system - use BMW coolant with distilled water in 50/50 mixture.
bimmersgarage 1 month ago
Yup, this is exactly where the crack developed on my car. I only found it by removing the plastic cover, filling the tank and starting the motor and watching for leaks. As said it wasn't noticiable until the water heated up and was under pressure!! I am hoping there is a newly designed tank that I could fit so I don't have the same problem all over again!!
ThePowerbloke 5 months ago
thanks David for the help!
billythekid602 7 months ago
@billythekid602
You're welcome. Glad to assist.
bimmersgarage 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey quick question i have a 1986 325e that had a warped head, so i get the head resurfaced and install a new head gasket I put on all torque screws about 65 pounds of torque, I put everything back together but the car still overheats and there is steam coming out of the reservoir which makes it loose all the coolant, what can this be? I did a compression check on the head and everything came out ok. Can this be a bad radiator, water pump or cracked block PLEASE HELP I REALLY NEED IT!!!!!
dsg816 7 months ago
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dsg816 7 months ago
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dsg816 7 months ago
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dsg816 7 months ago
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dsg816 7 months ago
I have another issue, as soon as i shut down the engine in like 1 minute, the coolant is pouting out from the expansion tank cap. Does it mean the cap is bad? Or the pressure inside is too great for some reason?
aleksankazakov 8 months ago
@aleksankazakov
Need more details. What did you do? Did you replace more than your tensioner pulley? Also, did you over fill the expansion tank? DO NOT do that! You must fill within the prescribed amount or you risk over pressure (or exploding the exp. tank) Let me know what you did.
bimmersgarage 8 months ago
@bimmersgarage I actually find out the problem. Two days ago I noticed a hair line crack in plastic radiator hose connector. I patched it. The leak was stopped. Then when I added water to the expansion tank. I didnt screw the cap all the way back which resulted in the loss of coolant
aleksankazakov 8 months ago
@aleksankazakov
It's a very BAD idea to "patch" that radiator connector... That's just a temporary fix, I would highly recommend that you just buy a new hose unit and replace it. Don't cheap out and risk an expensive repair later. Just a heads up.
bimmersgarage 7 months ago
Common problem if its not cracked it will split at the joint of the two halves.
ngt84 11 months ago
@ngt84
It's all relative... "common" in the sense that BMW's cooling system is pressurized and the expansion tank has a recommended replacement schedule that needs to be followed. However, some owners either ignore the MRS or likes to gamble with their vehicles by the way of " I'll replace it when it fails" thinking. Both ways leads to a cracked Exp. tank.
bimmersgarage 11 months ago
Sir, great videos. Im in a small panic right now. Today I did a full cooling system overhaul on my friends 2001 325i Auto. And we saw the transmission thermostat which was broken but didn't know what it was. Since we installed every part of the cooling system new we were able to put everything back together without a problem. I just now realized my friend drove off without a transmission thermostat. Would you please be able to give me written instruction on how to install the thermostat. THANKS
Thegarmendia 1 year ago
@Thegarmendia
First, I strongly advise your friend to STOP driving his 325i immediately, until a New ATT (Automatic Transmission Thermostat) is obtained and installed correctly.
Second, no problem on the instructions.. I'll send it to you via YT message.
Lastly, thank you for your comments and for watching my vid(s), feel free to rate & Subscribe.
bimmersgarage 1 year ago
bro its been awhile . anyways did a lot of diy . havin' problem with interior pillars any suggestion
TEMMUGEE 1 year ago
you are the best!!
MrCusmile 1 year ago
@MrCusmile
Thank you.
Please remember to Subscribe.
bimmersgarage 1 year ago
Mines leaking from a bleeder shoudl i get new one or new expansion tank ?.
onabreeze 1 year ago
@onabreeze
How many miles is on your current expansion tank?
Also, if you're bleeder screw is leaking, check the O-ring on it first, it's probably brittle and worn out. Go ahead and replace that bleeder screw with a new one if that's the case.
bimmersgarage 1 year ago
@bimmersgarage 83k is on original expansion tank, thanks for advice. Going to replace the little bleeder tomorrow. Great vids btw thanks for shareing.
onabreeze 1 year ago
You should see one of my friend's expansion tank... It literally split in half (from top to mid point), down that same corner!
bimmersgarage 2 years ago
Thanks Very helpful
mazn1983 2 years ago
I'm glad the vid helped you out.
bimmersgarage 2 years ago