Dumb Question About Bleeding Coolant in 3.0i

[luvmy03E53]

Originally Posted by x5homework

i agree with you both....dealer is over an hour away, definitely would be a bad idea to try to drive it there. i will think about towing it there i suppose....unless i get any other gogetter suggestions.

I don't know how you feel about DIY, but an overhaul is not really that bad. Toughest task in my opinion is getting the fan/fanclutch off the water pump. Lots of people here would be glad to walk you through it.

[x5homework]

here's plan a:

file:///C:/Users/TOSHIBA/Desktop/DIY%20-%20Replacing%20lower%20radiator%20hose%20and%20tem p%20sensor%20-%20Xoutpost.com.htm

now taking a slight detour to solve mystery of melted looking plastic circle

$300 (that's 2 barbie dreamhouses btw) to tow to dealer and take a hosing. not just yet!!! re-upped my patience and determination.

[BimmerM3inGA]

The cooling overhaul is very much a DIY job. It will cost 2-3 times as much if you have the dealer do it! Call the dealer and get a quote and then look up the parts prices. To buy ALL the parts you'd need, plus a few tools, the cost is well under $1,000 (more like around $700) and can easily be done over a weekend.

I've done the job at least a dozen times (including a 3.0 X5) and it gets easier each time.

[x5homework]

if an overhaul is a must, i'll have to run down the street and buy a backup vehicle. i am sure not to be able to get a straight shot from start to finish! i am going to post on e46 finatics, our m54 stepsiblings. maybe they have one or two thoughts to share. it is xmas time, four kids to make happy. i really want a simpler, albeit temporary, solution...if at all possible.

[BimmerM3inGA]

For a short term fix, pour in a bunch of distilled water and maybe you'll get lucky and the source of the leak will be obvious. Just replacing that part should buy you some time until after the holidays. Just don't get lulled into a false sense of security!

A word of advice: Take off your rings when working on a car! You don't want to damage them, or get your finger stuck somewhere. My dad was a hand surgeon and has put the fear of God into me by telling me stories of how people get hurt while working on something while wearing a ring!

[x5homework]

i love that! i will just throw an old kiddie pool under the machine since who knows where the water will exit! and, try to get these size 4 rings off also. good advice, thank you.

[bcredliner]

You can overhaul the whole system but that is not required. All you will get is warm fuzzes. Cooling system components have very different life cycles, even hoses. There is no need to replace anything that is not failing.

[x5homework]

not to offend our forum brothers, but this really is my frame of thought. peace of mind has been redefined a bit over time. trade you cars? btw any guesses as to part identification on the earlier pics?

[x5homework]

maxxed out reservoir @ 1qt distilled water. no sign of it yet.

[BimmerM3inGA]

You can overhaul the whole system but that is not required. All you will get is warm fuzzes. Cooling system components have very different life cycles, even hoses. There is no need to replace anything that is not failing.

Very true. I agree with you in principle and have no desire to start an arguement. But unless you know what those lifespans are, I think it's better (albeit a little more costly) to replace it all at once. This is especially true if it's a car that was bought used and it's complete service history is unknown (and unknowable). Besides, many of the plastic and rubber parts don't give a warning that they are about to fail. They just fail (I'm looking you, idler pulley!). To me, the warm fuzzies are worth it. I have seen firsthand what happens to an all-aluminum BMW engine when there is a cooling system failure. And folks, it ain't pretty - or cheap to fix.

Just sayin'…