IMPORTANT: Two plastic cooling system parts that WILL break.

[Mopho]

I remember changing the gaskets on the valve cover on my first ti, and it seemed to me it would be easier to get to the back Y fitting. For one thing, you need to remove battery and air vent above valve cover to make it easier anyway.,,,, I just had my water pump go out (146,000 miles on my '96 ti Friday) 3/5/10 and when I refilled it, I had air in it. Got all the air out of cooling system, but overheated the engine slightly, still runs good.
Then yesterday, drove about 50 miles, and heard a pow. Looks like fitting on rear of head is gone, or the hose popped off. I hope I didn't blow a head gasket...no coolant in oil, still runs good but wondering what to do now.

Check compression? Change rear coolant y pipe and hope for the best?

Crap. One thing after another...

[pnosker]

Yes it does, makes it MUCH easier.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Great, looks like more stuff for me to tackle this weekend then. Do I need to drain the cooling system or can I just take the part off? Also, if I remove the intake manifold, will I need a new gasket for it?

[Mopho]

By the way, did I mention my ole lady bought a '08 X3 Dec. 26th.
I went and found a white one with 22K miles on a returned lease car for her, and made sure they put the 100,000 bumper to bumper warranty on that punk so I don't have to work on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mopho]

Originally Posted by PrimeTimeSlime

Great, looks like more stuff for me to tackle this weekend then. Do I need to drain the cooling system or can I just take the part off? Also, if I remove the intake manifold, will I need a new gasket for it?

No and yes. I never drain the whole cooling system if I have good coolant in it. It would be better to drain it, flush the system, then refill with BMW coolant though, if you don't know what's in it. New gaskets are a must for intake.

[DataTraveler]

So... yeah... thanks for this thread. Bought the parts March 2nd.

Yesterday while sitting in the car idling in the lot at one of the sites I service, finishing a phone call I saw steam start coming out from under the hood. Glanced at the temp gauge, it had started rising. Killed the engine real quick, hopped out, popped the hood, saw the stream of coolant on the ground, called a tow truck.

Got it home and started tearing it apart. Didn't take pics as it's my DD and I was trying to get it done for work today (I didn't, it rained on and off all evening, my totally awesome neighbor knocked on my door at about 11pm with a set of keys for one of his spare cars, unasked. The guy is a saint.)

Attached is what I found Gonna go ahead and replace the other connector and a few hoses while I have the intake manifold off. Amusingly, FedEx showed up with more parts while I was working on the car. So I'll have a fun weekend... reconnecting that harness that goes thru the intake manifold is gonna be a bitch.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Originally Posted by DataTraveler

So... yeah... thanks for this thread. Bought the parts March 2nd.

Yesterday while sitting in the car idling in the lot at one of the sites I service, finishing a phone call I saw steam start coming out from under the hood. Glanced at the temp gauge, it had started rising. Killed the engine real quick, hopped out, popped the hood, saw the stream of coolant on the ground, called a tow truck.

Got it home and started tearing it apart. Didn't take pics as it's my DD and I was trying to get it done for work today (I didn't, it rained on and off all evening, my totally awesome neighbor knocked on my door at about 11pm with a set of keys for one of his spare cars, unasked. The guy is a saint.)

Attached is what I found Gonna go ahead and replace the other connector and a few hoses while I have the intake manifold off. Amusingly, FedEx showed up with more parts while I was working on the car. So I'll have a fun weekend... reconnecting that harness that goes thru the intake manifold is gonna be a bitch.

Take notes and pics! there is a surprising lack of documentation on this repair. I'm doing it this weekend too so I'll be with you in spirit.

[Mopho]

Well, my rear y fitting definately broke, exactly like Datatraveler.
Being a retired bodyman, at least I have lots of tools, so I proceeded to take the cowl cover off, pulled the wiring harness back on top of the intake manifold, and it is a bitch to reach the y fitting, but last night, with the help of a 1/4" drive ratchet hanging from above the valve cover, I got the bolts out.
Jeese. I can only reach one hand in there. As good as I am, this is going to be a tough one to get the t-fitting on and get the bolts back in.
Yesterday, went to Weatherford BMW in Berkeley and got new hoses, clamps and the y fitting.
Now I will let you know if I can get the y-fitting on without either pulling the intake manifold or valve cover.
My car is a virign, never been apart, the valve cover is not leaking, but looks like easier to pull valve cover to reach y-fittiing than pulliing the intake. I am not changing the fitting on the block until I can get this thing running to see if I blew the head gasket.
Bummmer.....

[DataTraveler]

Originally Posted by PrimeTimeSlime

Take notes and pics! there is a surprising lack of documentation on this repair. I'm doing it this weekend too so I'll be with you in spirit.

what i should have done, and didn't, was label the the ends of that cursed wiring harness... i'm a bit angry at myself for not. the alternator/starter ones arent a problem. it's the 3 or 4 fittings that look identical that i'm hoping aren't identical

[Mopho]

Originally Posted by Mopho

Well, my rear y fitting definately broke, exactly like Datatraveler.
Being a retired bodyman, at least I have lots of tools, so I proceeded to take the cowl cover off, pulled the wiring harness back on top of the intake manifold, and it is a bitch to reach the y fitting, but last night, with the help of a 1/4" drive ratchet hanging from above the valve cover, I got the bolts out.
Jeese. I can only reach one hand in there. As good as I am, this is going to be a tough one to get the t-fitting on and get the bolts back in.
Yesterday, went to Weatherford BMW in Berkeley and got new hoses, clamps and the y fitting.
Now I will let you know if I can get the y-fitting on without either pulling the intake manifold or valve cover.
My car is a virign, never been apart, the valve cover is not leaking, but looks like easier to pull valve cover to reach y-fittiing than pulliing the intake. I am not changing the fitting on the block until I can get this thing running to see if I blew the head gasket.
Bummmer.....

Yep. I blew a head gasket.
Car runs fine, no water in oil, but so much pressure in cooling system, must be compression pushing the coolant out.
Crap.
Another project.
Anyone know a good inexpensive mechanic in the Berkeley East bay area?

[madhatch]

why doesn't pelican parts or some others well part retailer just find someone to manufacturer these 2 plastic coolant hoses in aluminum...seems like a no brainer especially when cad is so easy now...

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Originally Posted by madhatch

why doesn't pelican parts or some others well part retailer just find someone to manufacturer these 2 plastic coolant hoses in aluminum...seems like a no brainer especially when cad is so easy now...

You might be on to something there

[roadrash]

How much would you pay for them in aluminum? I asked a guy in Nashville about these two parts and he said that they'd end up costing more than most people are likely to pay for them (probably around $50) and therefore it's not likely that anyone will manufacture them.

But, if you find someone who wants to make them, step right up and be a hero! :-D

[madhatch]

....depending on quantity of order & sales long term....the price could become very reasonable ...$20-$30 ...I would pay no problem... for permanent piece of mind..I 'd also pay the $50 but I know regular non car nuts wouldn't if their was a large price disparity.....these plastic coolant hoses break.... period.... it just a matter of when..they are both in a nasty place to readily change frequently.. all the BMW dealers, parts & service folks all know these are our achilles heal...but go to them with one of these hoses in 2 pieces & they all play DUMB & give you the BS transparent runaround..in realty BMW should have rectified this with aluminum ones by now....wish I did know somebody I'd love to be the hero who solves this mess...

[chudzikb]

Gruven parts, makes stuff for VW's. I will bet that they will do this as well. I sent them a pulley that had gone bad, they sent it back to me in aluminium as the prototype. They are good, very good...

http://www.gruvenparts.com/website/cart/

What type of demand could we expect from these if made? I suspect if we could get 20 or 30 to agree, we could get them to make them?