The BMW coolant is premixed and you're very welcome, always happy to help a fellow enthusiast.

FWIW, when using non-premixed coolant only use distilled water.

Here is a link to a free Bentley manual that another member had posted. Just click and save to your desktop. Might find a few things that the Haynes manual dose not mention. Its helped me out a few times.

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13413980066355

^ Ty. I have acquired the paperback book. I will compare notes with the link above when needed!

Hey guys! I wanted to give an update since I was out of the states for a little while and came back several days ago. I changed the radiator and bleed the coolant heres what I was dealing with;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...NDUyLmpwZw.jpg

I believe this was the area of the radiator that was loosing coolant and running hot.

Changed to the new one, its a BEHR
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...NDQ5LmpwZw.jpg
Question, does the expansion tanks have a run off or internal drain of some sort? I noticed that there was coolant running inside of the expansion tank and on to the hose after toping off the tank and going over the top during the bleeding process.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...NDUxLmpwZw.jpg
It eventually stopped, but it FREAKED ME OUT since I KNOW that hose was NOT DAMAGED! Checked the inside of the car during the process as quick as I possibly could, while getting some pedal revs in there,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...NDUwLmpwZw.jpg
Stayed right at the half way mark vs the old radiator where it gradually shot over the halfway mark and towards danger!

Bubbles stopped, Im sure I lost more than a quart of coolant, but the fan DID KICK ON when it reached operating temperature I guess. I was just glad it turned on because I was concerned about this before. This was with the heat blasting. Heat became hot after a while, an when I saw no more drainage I turned the car off and returned it from its slight incline.

Test drive went well, stayed on the half way mark. When I put the a/c on it did more a centermeter off the half mark towards the right but never a whole lot more than that, an that was at full blast. I checked to see if the fan would kick on during ac usage and it eventually kick on as well. Not constant as I would like but at least they BOTH COME ON in both instances!

Im glad to have done this. It was a learning experience and although I JUST GOT FINISHED after starting at 10am, at least I DID IT MYSELF and not the dealership!

Only two questions I have left is, I noticed the coolant is now down to the halfway mark vs at the top over the course of driving and sitting for a bit. There are no leaks. Should I be concerned or is it simply coolant subsiding into the engine AND is it safe to top off or do I have to bleed all over again?

The second is what are the wire plugs on the left and where do they go???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...NDUzLmpwZw.jpg

Thanks for all the help and viewing my "job" lol.

YOU GO GIRL! lol

Congrates on getting it done!

Nice!

The plug looks like the ones for the fog lamps. See if you have one on each side not connected to the fog/driving lights. Do you know if your 318ti is a standard or an Active model? It could also be the connector for the alarm horn, being on the front passenger side.

Check coolant level over the next few days, but as you probably know, not when it's hot. OK. to add to it when it's cool to the Kalt or cool level.

Don't know of a coolant return off the expansion tank. I believe the cap is set to 2.0 BAR if it over pressurizes or too full. I like the BMW coolant as it will dry white so it's easy to see areas that leak or overflow.

Probably says it in the DIY, but take care not to overtighten the bleed screw on the top of the radiator.expansion tank. It can strip easily.

So, as a few have mentioned, the other parts of the cooling system are ones to watch or predict as the weak links after the amount of mileage. Water pump and hoses are typically next for me. the two plastic connectors can be problematic as they get brittle and can break. Perhaps they were replaced 70k ago if the engine was replaced, but maybe not. the hoses and 1 of the connectors are easy to change. The rear one on the M44 is a challenge and if your "Golden hands" happen to be small, it may be an easier job for you. My paws are too big to make it an easy job. :rolleyes:

Anyway, GREAT job on the replacement. You're off to a good start!

Cheers! :cool:

TY! 1st big BMW job!

Ill start monitoring the other areas, I'm just glad that part is over!

You did good! Drive it for a couple days and then this weekend give it one more good bleed session. The expansion tank is self-leveling, but to be honest I have no idea where the extra coolant goes. It's a mystery that I've yet to figure out:confused: When I bled mine, I used to fill it all the way to the top of the fill neck to the point that it spilled out. Then after driving it and letting it cool, the level would be right at the "kalt" mark where it was supposed to be and there was no sign of coolant leaking or venting off:cool:

There were three 318ti model packages in 96. Standard, Active and Sport. Standard is the base model, the Sport and the Active added desirable options as a bundled package. I don't believe yours is a Sport, but, perhaps an Active or Standard. I ask as the Active came standard with an alarm package while it may have been an option on a Standard.

If it's an Active, there would be an alarm siren on the passenger side. :) Does your ti happen to have Cruise Control, leather steering wheel and an alarm? If it does, it's likely an Active package.

Cheers! :cool:

No alarm, fabric seats, manual ac controls and I'll have to check for cruise as I dont use cruise control.

TY, but I still need to know if it is safe to top off w/o worries of air or bleeding prematurely.

Yes, O.K. to top off to Kalt line as needed. I'm doing this myself as well over the next few days. I will open the bleed screw when it's up to operating temp to check for no bubbles. I try to get all air out of the system over the check days.

I used a 50/50 mix of BMW AF and distilled water. :cool:

I never just add coolant as I always bleed the system whenever I top it off. Therefore I top off to the top of the fill neck and it self-levels after driving it. I wouldn't recommend removing the bleed screw or radiator cap when the engine is at operating temp. I had a radiator cap blow of and cover me with boiling water at a car meet one time. I think the same thing happened to wolferj. The pressure caused the coolant to rush out like a geyser shooting about 5 or 6 feet in the air and it practically emptied my radiator. This was after the car sat for about an hour and I thought it would be safe to top it off(had to bleed it daily due to a cracked radiator). I'm pretty sure the BMW antifreeze is pre mixed 50/50. Too much water can allow it to freeze and I think it also lowers the boiling point so be careful not to over dilute it:wink:

:cool:Hey Jess!

Since I happed to be refilling my radiator yesterday I checked the BMW coolant label for mixing coolant and distilled water. I had always used a 1:1 mix of BMW coolant and Distilled water and perhaps I shouldn't have.

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/f10acd30.jpg

The way I read it at least this coolant is made to cut down 60/40 or 50/50. The label also confirms BMWs recommendation of not mixing coolant types as they may contain phosphates.

I see the premixed coolant at the autostores going for $12 or so per gal, so a 50/50 mix of the $24 BMW stuff, 1 gal BMW AF plus 1 gal distilled water=2 gal, refill quantity) is still perhaps a little more cash wise, but does not contain phosphates and and in some cases, as in my Zionsville aluminum rad on the 540it, is required to be in warrenty.

Thanks for the rad cap removal clarification. Yeah, don't remove when hot. I have however bled via the bleed screw when at operating temp as the Thermostat is typically open and the system can pass excess air at it's high point. Old school from the M30 motors.

However, rereading the Bentley, you are right. Use the bleed screw when cool, closed when hot. I guess I've been lucky in the past. I can be taught... :biggrin:

Thanks!