Part 2 BMW Cooling System Overview with Common Failures for e36, e46, e34, e39

This video explores the most common cooling system failures and fixes including Water Pump, Thermostat Housing, Plastic Pulleys, Coolant Overflow Tank, and Radiator for the BMW e36, e46, e34, and e39's with all variations of the M50, M52 or S50US Engines.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMW
• e36
• e46
• e39
• e34
• m50
• m52
• s50
• s52
• water
• pump
• waterpump
• thermostat
• housing
• radiator
• hoses
• bleeder
• screws
• m3
• 323
• 325
• 328
• 330
• 323i
• 325i
• 328i
• 330i
• failure

[VDPEFi]

how does a radiator only last 5-6 years?! My 96 BMW is on its original radiator, coolant changed every 2 or 3 years and its fine. We also have an 89 Camry on its original, it never overheats and the coolant is perfect blue. We are in the UK though but Americans seem very precious about replacing everything way before time, a radiator is not a service item IMO, another workshop trying to con people out of money.

[dudugdugdugdugdugdug]

My Yoke cracked right off the radiator like the guy said. Happened on thanksgiving halfway to my family's house. BMW's cooling system is a joke NO LIE. I still <3 my car though.

[ivantnt26]

@frankzen1941 i have a 99 328 with same m52 motor, it lasted 200 k before i changed radiator, water pump, and couple of pulleys. for the first time in 13 years... so even though some of the parts are made of plastic, it's some heavy duty plastic.

p.s if you want superior reliability buy a toyota, if you want a superior driving machine, get bmw,

[ihatefuckinglogins]

@ihatefuckinglogins i replaced them with OEM parts. I didnt know about the aftermarket products until later unfortunately.

[ihatefuckinglogins]

my 96 corolla is still running @ 160K no leaks, no OBDii error codes. On all our cars I do the scheduled maintenance. Although sad news I replaced all these parts on my sisters e46 twice and the damn thing still overheated blowing the head gasket finally retiring at 96K miles. I will never recommend buying a bmmr. I think the older BMWs had a better design than the newer ones. All the outsourcing in parts and design cutting the cost will ultimately create failure.

[szaki]

My 91" BMW 525i 20 years old, still on the same radiator, works fine.

Water pump had to be changed 6-7 years ago, the -resin blades- in the pump completely disintegrated!

[EddyKicksAss]

@frankzen1941 Funny how you say that. Yeah, maybe those parts only last for a few years, but as he said if you upgrade them to metal ones, they will last you for a lifetime. Ever seen a GM or a Chrysler over 500k KMs on the clock? Bmw's are extremely reliable, but these plastic parts are just STUPID!

[aleksankazakov]

I have another problem, the coolant shoots out from the Expansion Tank cap. Why does it do so? Because the cap gone bad? or there is a pressure for some unknown reason?

[azikosha]

Thank you very much for all your videos and help. I have original radiators on my 1997 528iA with 223000 km and 1998 M3 with 128000 km. Generally, the 6 cyl BMW cooling is good (except for the plastic pump impeller, which in case of my 1997 was metal as I pulled it out and checked), What this video didn't cover is the electric AC fan. I had the resistor for the first speed failed so it was always off when AC was working and which may have resulted in the overheating.

[Nza420]

@frankzen1941 after being a mechanic on german cars for a decade, i definitely will not own one myself. Glad to fix them, however :D