My first DIY success !!!

whippet

apart from topping up oil and changing a flat wheel I had never gone near the mechanics of any car I have owned, until recently!

I have a bit of a project car, a e36 323 coupe, generally in good condition and was driving well, until it started overheating. Out of the blue, needle hit the red, fortunately I was just about home and parked it up.

The thoughts of having to plough money in to it to get it towed, looked at, parts etc .. especially considering I hadn't a clue what was wrong or needed to be done. In essence (with a bit of persuasion from my wife - who can't understand why I need two cars!!) I decided I was going to try and sort this out myself.

Que, google ..... eventually I decided it had to either a thermostat or a waterpump. I popped in to my local motor factors picked up both for about 80 quid. Enlisted the help of my auld boy (has is own workshop for vintage motors).

Armed with a Bentley BMW workshop manual, a box of tools from the auld fella I went at it last week.

Removing the fan, belts, thermostat housing, water pump. Managed to change the lot in a day ..... plenty of mistakes and searching had to be done.

Topped up with coolant and alas the thing was still overheating. Left it for a week, pondered what to do and then after further reading realised that the 6-pot engine actually had to be bleed properly and more than likely was air locked.

Went at it again yesterday, drained the block & rad, topped up very slowly and eventually all the air worked it's way out.

Took it out for a 10 mile spin this morning and the needle is dead centre and the six pots are humming like a dream !!!

What is it about oil, dirt, tools and dirty rags that makes spending a day working so much fun? Still the wife can't understand ... but the satisfaction from driving my own work is savage !!!

... can't wait for the next job that has to be done !!!

kasper

well done would reconmend an oil change for your next diy job ,because got over hot as well when she hit the red

Captain Slow IRL

Well done!

A lot of the bm's have bleed screws, very easy to miss them:( Did you have any trouble removing the old water pump from the engine block?

whippet

oil change due in the next week or two I reckon, at least I will be able to do it in my auld boy's place, tools at hand and proper axel stands etc...

Originally I missed the bleed screw on the block, even after finding pics online I found it near impossible to locate !!!

The water pump was actually quite easy, mind you I found some great 'how to' guides online otherwise I would never have guessed having to insert bolts into the 'empty' threads to ease the pump out.

I have realised that there isn't anything mysterious beneath the bonnet!!

alo1587

Its a great feeling when the job goes right,and you cant beat the feeling of satisfaction when you fix the problem.Keep it up

robtri

no better feeling than that.... fair play..

GTE

I can relate. I fixed my reverse light switch all on my tod the other day, then she went in for NCT and passed with flying colours.

Effing great feeling!!

*hi5*