BMW Cooling System Overhaul Made Easy - 3-Series & 5-Series 1999-2006
Refresh your BMW’s cooling system yourself and save a ton of money!
NOTE:
*Z4 owners*
Your car has an extra brace that gets in the way of much of this work. Everything can still be done with the instructions from this video except replacing the water pump. To replace the water pump, you'll need to remove the bolt from the top of the motor mount on the (American) driver's side. Use your floor jack with a wood block to carefully raise the engine. With only one motor mount connected, the engine should tilt to one side, allowing just enough room to remove and replace the water pump.
Please recycle your used automotive fluids!
LINKS:
Mechanical Fan Removal: • Clutch Fan Removal | E...
BMW Coolant: amzn.to/43PhpQu
Breaker Bar: amzn.to/348rIWD
Torque wrench with 3/8” drive: amzn.to/3ooqxJl
Torque wrench with 1/4” drive:
Socket wrench set: amzn.to/3EP9kBW
Electric Screwdriver: amzn.to/3Hoafrt
Phillips screwdriver: amzn.to/34wLzhH
Large flat head screwdriver: amzn.to/3unqAsT
Flat head screwdriver: amzn.to/3J3azft
Tiny flat head screwdriver: amzn.to/3sbUm0L
T-50 torx socket: amzn.to/3sgPK9A
T-25 torx bit: amzn.to/34v0Dg7
Pliers: amzn.to/3gkXUIB
Plastic prying tool: amzn.to/3rx7q1X
Padded gloves: amzn.to/3Hpldgd
Magnetic bowl: amzn.to/3HsWtnA
WD-40: amzn.to/3oo5Opb
Silicone grease: amzn.to/3J1iryo
Low profile ramps: amzn.to/41Lgi2u
Floor jack: amzn.to/3gjrL47
Jack stands: amzn.to/3Pz5NN3
And a fluid drain pan: amzn.to/3uo6Xks
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TOOLS USED:
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench with 3/8” drive
• Torque wrench with 1/4” drive
• Socket wrench with 3/8” drive
• Electric screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Large flat head screwdriver
• Medium flat head screwdriver
• Tiny flat head screwdriver
• Socket extension with 3/8” drive
• Socket extension with 1/4” drive
• 10 mm socket (air box, T-stat x3, WP/pulley)
• 13 mm socket (T-Stat x1)
• T-50 torx socket (Both belts)
• T-25 torx bit
• Pliers
• Plastic prying tool
• Padded gloves
• Magnetic bowl
• Plastic bowl
• WD-40
• Silicone grease
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• And a fluid drain pan
SUPPLIES AND PART NUMBERS:
• 1 gallon of distilled water
• 1 gallon of BMW coolant PN# 82141467704
• Upper radiator hose PN# 17127510952
• Lower radiator hose PN# 11531436408
• Expansion tank PN# 17117573781
• Expansion tank cap PN# 17117639022
• Water pump PN# 11517509985
• Thermostat PN# 11537509227
• Thermostat bolts (1x) PN# 11531740316 and (3x) PN# 11531740317
• Accessory serpentine belt PN# 11287636379
• A/C serpentine belt PN# 11281437450
• Auxiliary fan switch PN# 13621433077
• Coolant level sensor PN# 17137553919
**This video description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue making videos like this.
*Disclaimer*
Due to the litigious world we live in, I have to include this statement:
I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. The creator of this content assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. I recommend safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not the creator of this content.
***Z4 owners*** Your car has an extra brace that gets in the way of much of this work. Everything can still be done with the instructions from this video except replacing the water pump. To replace the water pump, you'll need to remove the bolt from the top of the motor mount on the (American) driver's side. Use your floor jack with a wood block to carefully raise the engine. With only one motor mount connected, the engine should tilt to one side, allowing just enough room to remove and replace the water pump.
Such a nice, clear and clean guide, thank you!!
This is the most thorough video I’ve seen on an e46 cooling system refresh. I appreciate how you show what tools you use in the beginning. It could be frustrating when you’re half way through a project and you realize you need to stop what your doing to make a trip to autozone because you didn’t have a tool that is necessary.
Thank you for saying that. My goal is to make these videos as helpful as possible, so please let me know if there is anything I could improve.
Just like everyone else.....this is THE BEST e46 cooling video on KZhead. Other ones are decent but they don't show the necessary angles that you show, which is surprising because those video are done by the e46 pros but you easily take the cake. Subscribing rn! Much appreciation! Youre saving me hours with this video
Thank you so much! That's why I do it. The good videos out there just aren't good enough. I really appreciate the support!
7:47 was my last straw with this work, had to bring a higher power into it and finally by some means it was just done
The car gods are difficult to please.
Fantastic videography skills and a really detailed DIY! I'm surprised you aren't at more views, I can see you rivalling big diyers in not too long.
You are too kind, but I hope you're right! I'm having fun with this and I'll be spending a lot more time making videos starting in June, so we'll see what happens.
This is more a cooling system refresh than a cooling system overhaul. If you're overhauling the entire cooling system then you should also be replacing all cooling system hoses and cooling system hard pipes (made out of hard plastic) which are all under the intake manifold. That way you ensure there will be no failures throughout the entire cooling system. Good video showing the typical cooling system refresh/maintenance.
That's probably true but most people seem to use those words interchangeably. This car is 22 years old, I've owned it for 15 years, and the coolant hard lines have never needed to be replaced so they are not part of my maintenance schedule. If they ever go bad I will make a separate video on replacing them. I always thought they were metal, are you sure they are plastic? Thanks for the input, I believe you are technically correct.
@@EndlessMoneyPits no worries. I enjoyed your video, it was very informative. I'm positive the two hard lines along the engine (upper and lower) are made out of plastic, the same material you have on either end of the OEM radiator. That type of hard plastic. I have them on hand and am about to replace those two hard lines as well as all the hoses in the cooling system of my ZHP. Keep up the great work on your videos! 👍
I wish you had a video on everything e46 this is a masterpiece, doing my cooling system tomorrow!
I'm putting out videos as fast as I can but each one takes a lot of time. Glad you liked it! Good luck tomorrow, and let me know if you have any questions. I've done this job 3 or 4 times now.
Thank you
Great job thanks mate
This video is immaculate. Nice one.
Thank you! Took me about a month to edit this video. So much footage...
this the best video i’ve seen lol i’m doing this monday
Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. Good luck Monday!
@@EndlessMoneyPits thanks!
@@EndlessMoneyPits i took all my parts off today and man was your video much appreciated lol you don’t even understand how much it helped. my package from fcpeuro will be here monday morning. please keep making videos!
@@melvinlucas6147 Good to hear! Thanks for all the encouragement. I will be focusing on this channel full time starting in mid June, so we'll see if it goes anywhere. I love making these videos and being able to help people. Honestly, I watch my own videos when doing these jobs again. Saves a lot of time and helps me remember little things I might have forgotten. Thanks again for your support!
@@EndlessMoneyPits no problem at all! your video saved me time i needed today especially showing us where your mistakes were
How did you get to put the expansion tank retainer on the reservoir I’ve been having so much trouble with that and it always come off because my e46 you have to push it in and it’s a pain
Mine might go off and on more easily because it's so old. I just had to pull straight up / push straight down. Silicone grease and a little wiggling might help. I think it was a little tricky on my friend's Z4 but I don't remember exactly how it was different. Wish I could help more than that.
😊❤