Thanks for the heads up but already got it covered as I have the Harbor Freight tool which I have used in the past for other cars. In my experience it really isn't necessary but sure makes it easier.

I do all my own work not because of costs but to know it's done right. I completely rebuilt my daily (2003 325i) and you'd never know it has 171k.

Well I ran another test while I was on the highway giving the folks a tour of Texas and decided to watch my temps for an hour long drive. Part of the trip was through Hill Country but overall temps averaged around 76-79 doing about 80mph with the A/C blasting on a warm 90+ degree day. Priced out a bunch of parts to the tune of about $500 to do a full overhaul of pump, thermostat, tensioner, belts and few other odds and ends. Going to try a new parts source as everything was genuine BMW and $100 cheaper than the popular resources we see on the forums.

I look forward to a DIY thread :thumbup:

Haha you know me all too well. Definitely will see what I can put together.

You misunderstand me. Harbor freight does not sell a tool for installing the gates "stretch belt". There is no tensioner. You need a special tool to shoehorn the belt onto fixed pulleys.

Took about a 1000 mile round trip last week with the 35d. Tstat temps were 79-96* but average and steady around 83/84*. Fairly safe to say my tstat is functioning properly??

Bringing in the vehicle for service tomorrow for glow plug fault code, it's probably a bad module.

Ok, so this is quite a tease. Let us know how it works out as any savings on parts for these wonderful but ridiculously unreliable beasts is widely appreciated.

John

I would say so.


That's a fun one to do yourself. (Not)

Hence why i'll let someone else do it! haha