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      06-26-2018, 05:55 PM   #1
car_driver
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Cooling system overhaul -- anyone do it yet?

So, has anyone done a general proactive freshening of their cooling system?

In the olden days you'd do it to a certain extent every 100k miles on a BMW.

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      06-26-2018, 07:07 PM   #2
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Not worth it, just do a coolant flush if you want
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      06-26-2018, 08:54 PM   #3
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I’m no expert on this but I have never heard of proactively replacing radiators and water pumps.
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      06-26-2018, 09:01 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elvisfan View Post
I'm no expert on this but I have never heard of proactively replacing radiators and water pumps.
guess you also didnt know bmw uses or use to use plastic impellers on water pumps. They only lasted 60k miles or so, this was true with the e36 and the e46.
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      06-26-2018, 09:03 PM   #5
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I have the same question for the B58 engine, which has more rubber hoses given the additional air-to-liquid cooling system. For B58 I assume the water pump should hold up better since it's now metal, but more plastic seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

It doesn't look like an easy DIY because you'd have to basically rip the whole cooling system apart, which requires removing lots of the things around the engine as well. (I guess a pro is you can replace other parts at the same time like the serpentine belt, oxygen sensor and probably other things that need 5 year maintenance).
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      06-26-2018, 09:35 PM   #6
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Replacing the hoses around 80-100k isn't a bad idea, as the rubber does deteriorate. It's just like replacing belts. Maybe the pump. But replacing the radiators is a bit much. I'd be looking at other than BMW OEM hoses too, those prices are off the wall.
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      06-26-2018, 09:53 PM   #7
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don't change the radiator, just wait for a small rock to hit it and then when you get a leak replace it then.
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      06-26-2018, 10:24 PM   #8
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This is definitely overkill. Your cooling system is not a regular maintenance item. It's the same reason you would go replace all your fuel lines. And I'd bet the risk of introducing new issues is somewhat high when replacing that many components.
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      06-27-2018, 10:46 AM   #9
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I like your idea of a PM service. Its expensive, and if you have the know how and, tools and time, I say you are just plain smart. It sure as hell won't hurt the car. Go for it and good luck. Let us know how it works out.
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      06-27-2018, 11:18 AM   #10
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I have 54k right now but I'm not driving nearly as much as I used to (around 8k/year now vs. 25k/year before). I plan on inspecting all the hoses and replacing the water pump, thermostat, expansion tank, and flushing the coolant around 60k miles. BMW's love preventative maintenance. And $750 every 4 years isn't too bad, in my mind.
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      06-27-2018, 11:36 AM   #11
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I agree with replacing hoses at 100-120K, but the rest of the components are much more robust. Unlike the first generation of radiators and expansion tanks (1990-2005 or so), those now appear quite reliable. The first generation electric water pumps in the E9x (and others) seem to have been upgraded to the point where they're not worth replacing until failure (it was the electrical controls failing, btw). Unlike on the older M50/M52/M54 engine water pumps where they were a $100 part, paying $381 just isn't warranted. Remember, the ECU is now smart enough to raise many flags and "reduced power" mode for thermostat/pump failures.
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      06-27-2018, 12:19 PM   #12
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I would say this is mostly wasteful.

I used to be a bit of a PM freak, but after replacing working parts with parts that failed in the first few months I have changed my tune.

If it is still working and no signs of trouble, don't spend the time or money.

Yes, PM on the coolant and at that time inspect the hoses - you can usually tell when they are going bad - and look for leaks around the pump and t-stat. I have never ever heard of a new radiator as preventative. If you keep the coolant in good shape, the radiator should last you the life of the car. As for the expansion tank, I am not sure this model is as bad ad the E46. That one was notorious.
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      06-27-2018, 05:41 PM   #13
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The biggest issue are the hoses.

If this was a Toyota Camry I wouldn't sweat it. Even the E46.

But look at these hose diagrams for the B58 engine... Fans, filters intakes etc probably all have to come out just to access these.

Is it DIY-able? Sure. But looks like a full day job if not more. I'm sure you will find parts you don't have that needs replacing once you get inside.

Do you want someone else to take care of it? How much do you trust your mechanic to take that much of the engine compartment apart, when most can't even mount new tires without scratching the rims.
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      06-27-2018, 05:59 PM   #14
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I would not attempt this task on a B58 engine.
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      06-28-2018, 06:48 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metallicpea View Post
I would say this is mostly wasteful.

I used to be a bit of a PM freak, but after replacing working parts with parts that failed in the first few months I have changed my tune.

If it is still working and no signs of trouble, don't spend the time or money.
This pretty much mirrors my comment. You're replacing working parts with parts that *should* work. But who knows. I've driven cars with stock hoses to 200k+. When one leaks, replace that one and that one only. You're basically disrupting a system that has taken a firm set and now you're creating a myriad of new potential failure points by touching everything.
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      06-28-2018, 07:59 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kern417 View Post
This pretty much mirrors my comment. You're replacing working parts with parts that *should* work. But who knows. I've driven cars with stock hoses to 200k+. When one leaks, replace that one and that one only. You're basically disrupting a system that has taken a firm set and now you're creating a myriad of new potential failure points by touching everything.
Even on the two high mileage E46s I had, I only ever had to replace one hose in the cooling system. Those cars both went past 150k and one is past 200k and still going.

Replaced several expansion tanks though and a couple thermostats and water pumps.

I certainly wouldn't sell the car earlier in fear of all the coolant hoses failing on me either.
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      06-28-2018, 09:03 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metallicpea View Post
Even on the two high mileage E46s I had, I only ever had to replace one hose in the cooling system. Those cars both went past 150k and one is past 200k and still going.

Replaced several expansion tanks though and a couple thermostats and water pumps.

I certainly wouldn't sell the car earlier in fear of all the coolant hoses failing on me either.
I think climate plays a big role. Looks like OP lives in Tempe, which is essentially part of Phoenix. Out here in Phoenix the heat is just brutal on rubber and plastic. I used to keep a big Rubbermaid storage container by my pool and it would literally disintegrate after 3-4 years in the sun.

Pretty much every single rubber and plastic part in my E46 had to be replaced somewhere between 60-120k miles. Some parts more than once (damn you E46 expansion tanks and radiator couplings!).

Anyway for my F30 I agree with everyone else, leave it alone until stuff starts failing. The only preventative maintenance parts replacement (fluids are a different matter) I’d do is the battery every 4-5 years, which I actually just did yesterday in advance of a roadtrip this weekend. And maybe the OEM chargepipe at 60k
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      06-28-2018, 11:45 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metallicpea View Post
Even on the two high mileage E46s I had, I only ever had to replace one hose in the cooling system. Those cars both went past 150k and one is past 200k and still going.

Replaced several expansion tanks though and a couple thermostats and water pumps.

I certainly wouldn't sell the car earlier in fear of all the coolant hoses failing on me either.
I sold my then 10 years old E36 328i for broken hoses, every two weeks a hose blew and I needed to have the car towed. After the third hose, I was pissed and got rid of it. Only a few days later I regretted so much, should have replaced all the hoses, my mechanic told me one hose replaced, others get higher pressure and more likely to blow too.
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      06-28-2018, 04:12 PM   #19
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Just flush the coolant and call it a day.
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      07-26-2021, 07:11 PM   #20
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I'm doing a complete overhaul of my 2014 335i M Sport and automatic transmission. My car has approximately 140,000 miles with track miles on it. I'm replacing the factory radiator with a CSF radiator.

I need a bit of assistance because I forgot to take pictures of one part of the removal.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0675

This the representative diagram.

I've also included a picture of the primary radiator removed but the smaller radiator still on the car. I am not 100% sure of which coolant pipes go back into the small radiator.

I think part #15 goes into the top, part #9 goes into the middle, and part #17 goes back into the primary radiator (very bottom fitting not shown in my picture).

If someone is able to take a picture of their M Sport + Automatic car that would be great.
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      07-27-2021, 12:41 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n00bkiller944 View Post
Just flush the coolant and call it a day.
This. Every 4 years maybe? The fill procedure is a vacuum fill, so it evacuates all the air out of the system before filling it up. It would uncover any leaks you may have in the system.
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      07-27-2021, 10:43 AM   #22
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I just did a coolant refresh at 90k so I could get to my DV and replace it. All the pipes near the waterpump and thermostat seemed like they were still in great condition. Didn't feel it was necessary to replace them at all.

The PCV pipe on the intake though... was not in good condition. Cracked immediately, luckily the dealer had one in stock.

The only piece I'd recommend replacing preemptively on the coolant system is the overflow hose from the upper radiator hose to the coolant reservoir.
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