91 E34 overheated.

Hi all

Yesterday my car ran into the red, very quick, i let it cool twice and
topped up and got home, in slow or standing traffic the gauge shot up, i
popped the bonnet and noticed the water was bubbling, so im thinking the
water pump or thermostat is stuck. Its been fine for the 1800 miles i have
done since i have had the car in 2 months. I am having trouble finding the
parts i need in the UK, i would like a viscous coupling unit too.

Google didnt bring up anything useful.
Im in Sheffield and in 2 months im off for a drive in her to E Germany so
need to get it sorted.

hope somepeople can help, i still havent got a works manual yet, and never
touched a BMW before
cheers

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Jules wrote:
> > Hi all
> >
> > Yesterday my car ran into the red, very quick, i let it cool twice and
> > topped up and got home, in slow or standing traffic the gauge shot up, i
> > popped the bonnet and noticed the water was bubbling, so im thinking the
> > water pump or thermostat is stuck. Its been fine for the 1800 miles i
have
> > done since i have had the car in 2 months. I am having trouble finding
the
> > parts i need in the UK, i would like a viscous coupling unit too.
> >
> > Google didnt bring up anything useful.
> > Im in Sheffield and in 2 months im off for a drive in her to E Germany
so
> > need to get it sorted.
> >
> > hope somepeople can help, i still havent got a works manual yet, and
never
> > touched a BMW before
> > cheers
>
> Haven't you mentioned for a while that you need a new viscous fan
> coupling? Shouldn't that be a clue?.......
>

Yes but the rate it went up it hadnt done it like that before. 1800 miles
normal driving was fine, i dont drive in rush hour etc.

Jules wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Yesterday my car ran into the red, very quick, i let it cool twice and
> topped up and got home, in slow or standing traffic the gauge shot up, i
> popped the bonnet and noticed the water was bubbling, so im thinking the
> water pump or thermostat is stuck. Its been fine for the 1800 miles i have
> done since i have had the car in 2 months. I am having trouble finding the
> parts i need in the UK, i would like a viscous coupling unit too.
>
> Google didnt bring up anything useful.
> Im in Sheffield and in 2 months im off for a drive in her to E Germany so
> need to get it sorted.
>
> hope somepeople can help, i still havent got a works manual yet, and never
> touched a BMW before
> cheers

Someone else just posted the identical sort of problem.

1. DO NOT DRIVE IT - every time it hits the red there is a very good
chance of warping the head and causing major engine problems.

2. Replace the waterpump. While you're at it - replace the thermostat
and as long as you're doing things - replace the fan clutch.

See a BMW dealer for parts - or ?? dunno where else in the UK.

Your waterpump has gone tits-up.. the impeller has at best come detached
from the shaft (a failing of that era pump) - at worst, broken up and
pieces are now scattered through the cooling system (if so - you have to
get them all out - good luck!) The overheating hasn't done the already
elderly thermostat any good, and at this point the fan clutch is, or is
about to also join the waterpump on the march to the grave.

Find a manual for it (Bentley makes a good one) and follow the
directions on bleeding the system after reassembly. It's not easy to
bleed them unless you know what you're doing, so some instructions will
be quite useful to you.

I'm sure a Google or two will turn up more info on the waterpump problem
(seach for "M50 waterpump")

"admin" > wrote in message
...
> Jules wrote:
> > Hi all
> >
> > Yesterday my car ran into the red, very quick, i let it cool twice and
> > topped up and got home, in slow or standing traffic the gauge shot up, i
> > popped the bonnet and noticed the water was bubbling, so im thinking the
> > water pump or thermostat is stuck. Its been fine for the 1800 miles i
have
> > done since i have had the car in 2 months. I am having trouble finding
the
> > parts i need in the UK, i would like a viscous coupling unit too.
> >
> > Google didnt bring up anything useful.
> > Im in Sheffield and in 2 months im off for a drive in her to E Germany
so
> > need to get it sorted.
> >
> > hope somepeople can help, i still havent got a works manual yet, and
never
> > touched a BMW before
> > cheers
>
> Someone else just posted the identical sort of problem.
>
> 1. DO NOT DRIVE IT - every time it hits the red there is a very good
> chance of warping the head and causing major engine problems.
>
> 2. Replace the waterpump. While you're at it - replace the thermostat
> and as long as you're doing things - replace the fan clutch.
>
> See a BMW dealer for parts - or ?? dunno where else in the UK.
>
> Your waterpump has gone tits-up.. the impeller has at best come detached
> from the shaft (a failing of that era pump) - at worst, broken up and
> pieces are now scattered through the cooling system (if so - you have to
> get them all out - good luck!) The overheating hasn't done the already
> elderly thermostat any good, and at this point the fan clutch is, or is
> about to also join the waterpump on the march to the grave.
>
> Find a manual for it (Bentley makes a good one) and follow the
> directions on bleeding the system after reassembly. It's not easy to
> bleed them unless you know what you're doing, so some instructions will
> be quite useful to you.
>
> I'm sure a Google or two will turn up more info on the waterpump problem
> (seach for "M50 waterpump")

Thats some useful advice, thanks....there is a manual on ebay that ends in a
few days so i am hoping to get that.

I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I have
always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands to
use and which to avoid etc like i did before.

I know about alloy heads warping, but only ever had 1 and that was a old
Talbot that was known for it.

thanks for the help

Jules wrote:

> Thats some useful advice, thanks....there is a manual on ebay that ends in a
> few days so i am hoping to get that.
>
> I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I have
> always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands to
> use and which to avoid etc like i did before.

In general - parts from BMW are good. Can't speak to aftermarket except
there are some junky aftermarket waterpumps available.

> I know about alloy heads warping, but only ever had 1 and that was a old
> Talbot that was known for it.

Hopefully the bubbling you saw in the coolant isn't a sign of a blow
head gasket or warped/cracked head. if the bubbling smells like exhaust
you may have let things go too far already. If you can find a garage
that has an exhaust sniffer - (or the special tool made to check for
exhaust fumes in the coolant) that would settle the question.

> thanks for the help

"admin" > wrote in message
...
> Jules wrote:
>
> > Thats some useful advice, thanks....there is a manual on ebay that ends
in a
> > few days so i am hoping to get that.
> >
> > I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I
have
> > always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands
to
> > use and which to avoid etc like i did before.
>
> In general - parts from BMW are good. Can't speak to aftermarket except
> there are some junky aftermarket waterpumps available.

Thanks, that was my fear, getting a very bad aftermarket one.


>
> > I know about alloy heads warping, but only ever had 1 and that was a old
> > Talbot that was known for it.
>
> Hopefully the bubbling you saw in the coolant isn't a sign of a blow
> head gasket or warped/cracked head. if the bubbling smells like exhaust
> you may have let things go too far already. If you can find a garage
> that has an exhaust sniffer - (or the special tool made to check for
> exhaust fumes in the coolant) that would settle the question.
>
> > thanks for the help

I noticed it just about straight away, i cant see any white guff mixed with
the oil, so i am hoping all is ok still. I know once its sorted i am going
to have to put it to some milage, better to break down here than E Germany.
I cant find any car cover for Europe for cars over 10 years old, is that
normal?
ta

Jules wrote:
>
> I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I have
> always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands to
> use and which to avoid etc like i did before.
>

If
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...2053299b902487

was no use to you then you're pretty much stuck with going to BMW for
the parts.

If you divide the prices on www.realoem.com by 2 you get pretty close
to the UK price.

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Jules wrote:
> >
> > I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I
have
> > always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands
to
> > use and which to avoid etc like i did before.
> >
>
> If
>
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...ead/a18a2813e1
36d8d/652053299b902487?lnk=st&q=eurocarparts&rnum=1&hl=e n#652053299b902487
>
> was no use to you then you're pretty much stuck with going to BMW for
> the parts.

Ah yes my pc went tits up so lost the bookmarks...and forgot i asked, stupid
of me

>
> If you divide the prices on www.realoem.com by 2 you get pretty close
> to the UK price.
>

I just called my local garage and they put me in touch with GSF who have a
branch in Sheffield so i called them. I tried looking at eurocarparts
website but was dead slow and not easy to use.

ANyway GSF quoted me these prices

coupling fan 24.99 or 10 quid more for better one

water pump 27.50 or 2 quid more for a metal prob version.
all plus vat.

i asked about a ball joint but he said they were built onto arms, and they
are 22.50

So as soon as i get some cash will pick them up

I came accross this diagram.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...0&btnr=11_1503
&hg=11&fg=35

Whats the leval of coolant for these cars? i googled a bit and it said these
engines were prone to overheating, but didnt say much more....like i have
said before, always had really old Celica's, pretty simple to work on (which
is good in my case). Quite fond of the BMW, my German girlfriend said it
was pretty good for its age, as she once had a couple and expected a pile of
junk for what i paid.

I have flushed radiator systems before, but the engine bay on this is much
more complex, even power steering and leccy windows are new to me.

thanks for the help

"Jules" > wrote in message
. uk...
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>>
>> Jules wrote:
>> >
>> > I googled for places to get parts but not really found what i need. I
> have
>> > always had 70's Jap cars so BMW is new to me, i dont know what brands
> to
>> > use and which to avoid etc like i did before.
>> >
>>
>> If
>>
> http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...ead/a18a2813e1
> 36d8d/652053299b902487?lnk=st&q=eurocarparts&rnum=1&hl=e n#652053299b902487
>>
>> was no use to you then you're pretty much stuck with going to BMW for
>> the parts.
>
> Ah yes my pc went tits up so lost the bookmarks...and forgot i asked,
> stupid
> of me
>
>>
>> If you divide the prices on www.realoem.com by 2 you get pretty close
>> to the UK price.
>>
>
> I just called my local garage and they put me in touch with GSF who have a
> branch in Sheffield so i called them. I tried looking at eurocarparts
> website but was dead slow and not easy to use.
>
> ANyway GSF quoted me these prices
>
> coupling fan 24.99 or 10 quid more for better one
>
> water pump 27.50 or 2 quid more for a metal prob version.
> all plus vat.
>
> i asked about a ball joint but he said they were built onto arms, and they
> are 22.50
>
> So as soon as i get some cash will pick them up
>
> I came accross this diagram.
>
> http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...0&btnr=11_1503
> &hg=11&fg=35
>
> Whats the leval of coolant for these cars? i googled a bit and it said
> these
> engines were prone to overheating, but didnt say much more....like i have
> said before, always had really old Celica's, pretty simple to work on
> (which
> is good in my case). Quite fond of the BMW, my German girlfriend said it
> was pretty good for its age, as she once had a couple and expected a pile
> of
> junk for what i paid.
>
> I have flushed radiator systems before, but the engine bay on this is much
> more complex, even power steering and leccy windows are new to me.
>
> thanks for the help
>
This is the best reference sight for the E34s. I have been using it for
years...if it could break, it did for me.
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main.htm

Mark
>
>