Author Topic: Damn Behr... (Read 3955 times)

DesktopDave · « **on:** November 07, 2009, 08:17:27 PM »

Who else has ever popped their radiator bleed screw? My love/hate relationship with BMWs is solidly in the latter category currently. :mad:

I also just figured out that the aux fan isn't working AGAIN. Damn car. Last time it was a bad resistor & thermo switch. Now I suspect wiring or a flaky relay but I haven't found the problem yet.

This is how she repays me after I finally fixed the sunroof, spliced in a radio, re-installed the clock & changed the coolant. I'm trying out 40% Zerex G05/60% distilled water with 6oz of Water Wetter this time. Seems to work well, at least until I cracked the bleed screw.

Sorry, had to vent. I feel much better now.

I also tried a different way of bleeding the system. I start by draining the rad & block, pulling the heater core hoses & main hoses. I reverse flush everything with a garden hose until the water runs clear. Then I filled both heater hoses & buttoned them up. I filled the lower rad hose next, then plugged that in. Finally I filled the upper hose. I didn't even need to fill the overflow tank after all of that. A few bubbles from the bleeder and that was it! Nice & toasty inside too.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2009, 01:00:30 AM »

I feel your pain!

After I bought my E36 318is, I changed my coolant as normal maintanence and ended up breaking the bleed screw. I tried drilling a hole into the plastic and then using a bolt extractor but did not work as it is plastic. Ended up buying a new radiator at $450.00 AUD (non-gen).

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:05:26 AM »

I heated a screwdriver & tried to slot it that way. Didn't work that well. I just got lucky picking at it with a skinny screwdriver and screwed it out. I'm ordering three of the $4 brass replacements from Pelican. I'll be upgrading them immediately on my fleet.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2009, 03:36:57 AM »

Can you tell me the part no. please or give me the link for this part. Seems well worth it.

rac3r · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2011, 09:40:36 PM »

The bleed screw broke off on my E36 M3. Luckily, the screw broke in such a way that it easily turned and I was able to get the rest of it out. No issues with my E30 yet.

monko141 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:02:15 PM »

Dave, you might have the same problem I just fixed Monday. The 3 prong connector for the aux fan had one of pins pushed out of it that controlled the low speed of the fan. It is located underneath the drivers headlight.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2011, 08:16:44 AM »

Monko - thanks for the post but it's not the plug. They do have a tendency to fall apart though. BTW, mine is on the passenger side.

I have some sort of a wiring problem that I still haven't figured out, there is no voltage to the plug at all... It's not been that important, the car still cools off with the clutch fan. I'll figure it out sooner or later.

monko141 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2011, 10:23:58 AM »

I'm not talking about the temp control switch on the radiator. That plug shouldn't have any power at all. It controls the high/low relays using a ground to trigger them. I am talking about the actual plug that the aux fan plugs into.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2011, 11:09:52 AM »

Oh, got it...was confused a bit. I've already checked that power plug as well. I've even swapped a known good aux fan unit and cleaned it thoroughly. No go. I'm planning on exploring the fusebox next; I'm told a failed diode can cause this, or the positive rail could be damaged. Good think I have a spare, eh?

monty23psk · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2011, 04:37:43 PM »

Dave,

If you are getting no power to aux fan, it is the diode inside the fuse box. I have replaced every part of my cooling system as everything broke on me one by one. I ended up was a Spal 14" in place of my aux and still use it with OEM wiring and system for the hi/lo dual temp switch. I just run the e36 80/88 switch due to no fan clutch. I went to the junkyarrd and took like 5 diodes as I dont want to have one go bad. I have extra ones if you need one. Check yours with a multimeter. I have a feeling it is that.