96 BMW 320 (E36)

kuro2k

Hi all,

I need some advice and I hope someone can help.

A crack had developed at the front of the engine block at the point where the radiator hose meets the engine which caused coolant to spray onto the engine.

It happened during a short journey so I hope the engine hasn't overheated but can anyone tell me how big a repair job this is?

Thanks

rebel.ranter

Hey Kuro,
that looks like the thermostat housing cover (#4 in diagram & link). It's made of plastic & should be changed out once the car hits 100k miles to prevent sudden failures ike this. While you're changing this you might as well put in a new water pump & thermostat.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E36/Cabrio/Europe/320i-M52/RHD/M/1996/july/browse/engine/waterpump_thermostat/



Here's a "How to" on replacing a thermostat that should help you:

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/diy/e36coolingsystem/

and another one:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-thermostat/E36-thermostat.htm

Good luck, hope you haven't fried your cylinder head!

DrZeuss

Cheers for the bmwfans link, I always used realoem.com for the pics but bmwfans seems nicer, and euro prices (although probably not Irish Euro!).

Leonard Hofstadter

OP, if you do decide to change the water pump, make sure to get one with a metal impeller - BMWs may have a premium image and given the price of them new one would be forgiven for thinking that they are engineered to be the best rather than to be as cheap as possible but they use plastic impellers to save money and these can often fail at higher mileage, resulting in overheating!

kuro2k

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Hey Kuro,
that looks like the thermostat housing cover (#4 in diagram & link). It's made of plastic & should be changed out once the car hits 100k miles to prevent sudden failures ike this. While you're changing this you might as well put in a new water pump & thermostat.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E36/Cabrio/Europe/320i-M52/RHD/M/1996/july/browse/engine/waterpump_thermostat/



Here's a "How to" on replacing a thermostat that should help you:

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/diy/e36coolingsystem/

and another one:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-thermostat/E36-thermostat.htm

Good luck, hope you haven't fried your cylinder head!

Thanks rebel,

Great diagram, yea thats definitly the part that has cracked. Its a 96 but it only has 96k miles on it so I guess it failed right on schedule. The car was sent to a local independent earlier. I'll post an update when I know the full extent of the problems, hopefully it hasn't overheated!

kuro2k

Hi all,
Just wanted to post an update, its looks like the damage isn't too bad and the HG is ok.

We have decided to put the car into retirement so we can bring it back to its former glory.

Once again, thanks to all