What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[crystalworks]

Speaking of thermostats... I still have the "modified" OEM one sitting on the shelf that is sold by Logic 7. Need to install that in my N62. Supposed to keep the engine running around 190 degrees I think without tripping anything. Even if I lose 1MPG... I'll be much happier running sub 200 degree temps.

[semcoinc]

Swapped out the failed full open thermostat for the new Behr unit today.

Kinda a PITA without removing the fan but my fan wrenches were under the spare and I hate tearing into there. The lower rear bolt on the thermostat was the biggest challenge but I prevailed.

Now running in the 109*C range and opening to cooling down to about 103*C. Sure felt a lot better to me knowing she was in the 85-92*C range

Factory dash gauge still indicating straight up 12 o'clock.

Sure hope this change recovers the 20% lost fuel economy, will know soon. I'm not throwing out the other thermostat just yet

Mike

[Pekelicious]

Stored "Bumbo" cuz the Mechanical fan crapped out... will go with electric now( waiting to be delivered)

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by semcoinc

Kinda a PITA without removing the fan but my fan wrenches were under the spare and I hate tearing into there.

1-1/4" wrench on the fan nut and a swift hit with a hammer toward the car's left side will take the fan off with less effort than the official fan wrench

[semcoinc]

I'll try to remember that one Andrew!

Thanks.

Mike

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

1-1/4" wrench on the fan nut and a swift hit with a hammer toward the car's left side will take the fan off with less effort than the official fan wrench

This has always worked for me in the past. As has a thin monkey wrench.

I'll get a chance to compare it to the official tool soon though as I found one on Houston CL for $20 and picked it up at that price.

[andrewwynn]

I prefer impact tools when possible. I find much less opportunity to strip parts and smash fingers. I think the official tool might be nice once the part has been loosened once. I've had my fan off 3-4 times and the first time was twice as hard as the rest.

For other people wondering should they bother with fan removal for the likes of thermostat replace job: absolutely. It makes it twice as easy overall and 1/4 the difficulty of squeezing through the small space left. Once you "knock" the fan off once you'll be surprised how easy that was and how much easier anything else is behind/near the fan.

[wpoll]

Pulled the MID to look into why three of the buttons only worked when the unit was cold. After ~10mins of driving, the three centre buttons would stop working. Couldn't call up CDs 4-6, use timers or check distance or speed etc.

Couldn't see anything obvious but I removed and re-seated the button connector cable (wide grey ribbon cable with black connector) that runs from the front PCB to the main PCB. Put it all back together and 24 hours later it's still all working correctly, regardless of run time or temps.

$0 fix - what I call a win!

(still need to address a couple of missing columns of pixels but they don't actually make the display unreadable - yet. You can see the missing columns in this video - https://youtu.be/hjuf_vDIWC4).

[xbimma]

Replaced all washer pumps:
front windshield
rear windshield
head lamp





Garage:
E53 4.4i M62 born 2003-03-04 (SOLD)
E53 4.8iS N62s born 2006-03-16
E90 325i N52 born 2006-03-28
F30 328i N20 born 2012-09-06

[semcoinc]

Now seeing 109*C regularly in Test #7 display and I want my old (stuck open) thermostat back.

I'm recording no appreciable improvement in fuel economy vs the ~85*C operating temps!

Thanks BMW engineering

I'd rather have the 20*C cooler temps for the same fuel economy!!!!

Mike