m44 thermostat replacement and spark plug question
 

hi, I am new to BMW and noticed that the m44 motor has a thermostat which comes with the whole assembly attached. When I change the thermostat, do i need to use any gaskets or silicone any areas when replacing? Also, is it just as easy as unbolting the old one, removing it and putting in the new one?

I ordered this thermostat with housing - hopefully it is good:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200383973460

Also, I am an NGK guy, but was wondering how autolites are since all the autostores around me seem to not have NGK in stock, and autolites are like 1.49 each.

I used blue RTV on mine and it never leaked and worked fine.

The OEM one didn't have anything on the gasket though....

NGKs are the factory spark plugs for BMWs, I'd recommend using them but cheap Autolites should be good too

after you swap the thermostat you'll have to bleed the cooling system, it's not easy but here's how to do it:
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=27983

i might get some autolites for now..

yeah i had a huge headache with my 240..they are the worse cars to bleed coolant from.. too many air bubbles.. thanks for the help

so i dont want to start another thread but after doing research, i think i have the infamous whistling crankcase vent valve! i heard it tonight but it was kind of whistling and sounded almost like a cricket whistle - does this sound right to any of you guys? it was dark and chilly out so i couldnt look at it any more.

Someone help!!! I got my thermostat today and changed it - very hard at night time when you have to hold the flashlight up and find the lower bolts, which i actually stripped one on..:O( Ok, so I changed it and everything looked good..it came with the gasket so no need for me to use RTV.. put it on filled up the radiator with coolant....... hear leaking..****..

I look under the car and its leaking by the power steering rack - any idea where it is actually coming from? Are there coolant lines by there? Maybe the previous owner kinked the line? The thing is, it doesnt leak at a certain level - only when it get passed half way point in the radiator, coolant starts leaking and it leaks by/on top of the power steering rack! Another problem, which may or may not relate to the leaking issue, even after changing the damn thermostat and the temp gauge is in the middle, the thermostat never opens and the lower hose is still cold as well as the heat inside the car, which is blasting.. very interesting.. any ideas is very much appreciated right now!

I use copper coat on the gaskets. Otherwise I have had leak problems.

Search for "Bleeding cooling system" Youll find its a bigger deal than one would expect.

Dave

the thing is, it isnt leaking from the thermostat, it seems like at the back of the motor or by where the power steering rack is.. and it is only if i fill pass the half way mark in the radiator that it starts to leak.. its got me stumped

Did you pull a hose too hard? It sounds like the driver side water tube... There is a plastic pipe hooked to the block below the intake manifold near the front of the motor.

Dave

hmm not sure ill have to look at it when i have light..

ok just took it out for a drive and it starts overheating after 10 mins of driving.. didnt get it to hot but passed the middle line.. this sucks.. im sure there are air bubbles in the system but i cant seem to get it out bc i cant fill the radiator to the top!! i also dont get any coolant coming from the upper radiator hose for some reason. Also, smoke is coming from the bottom of the thermostat housing.. can one missing theromostat housing screw cause overheating?

It's been over a month now, did you fix it and what was leaking? Can't start a thread and not finish it...

yeah it was leaking due to a missing bolt.. had to extract the bolt and put in another one - after that it is all good.

this might sound really stupid but your drove with half a tank of coolant and thought you were running hot because of bubbles in your coolantlines.