So my E60 2006 N52 525ia kept screeching via the iDrive that the radiator coolant level was low.
So after 10 million hours of googling I got the theory on how to bleed the coolant system after draining the coolant out.
But common sense first told me to first do a trial run on the coolant bleed first to make sure I don't get caught with my pants down.
I followed the whole ignition-on-blower-on-heat-high-10-seconds-on-the-accelarator-with-a-CTEK-attached thing that everyone with a BMW on planet earth does, only to find that the stupid water pump did not actuate. It did not fire up the bleed process. Good thing I checked first before. Not nice to get caught with pants down. Awkward moment averted.
After 10 more billion hours of googling, I figured out that the water pump was not OEM and this is why I think that the stinking thing doesn't bleed the coolant with engine off. I think that the previous owner installed a non OEM pump by looking at the invoices. Cheapskate Americans have the same problem when buying walmart/ebay coolant pumps but few seem to put 2 and 2 together on this. It isn't nice being clueless, like me, sometimes.
To add to the drama queen day, I had a leak on the breather pipe. Could see it was dripping. Bought another one and replaced it. The old one then disintegrated in my hands while I was fiddling with it. Another pants-down moment averted.
To change the radiator fluid, I went full backyard mechanic and redirected the newly installed breather pipe into a giant plastic bottle. Disconnected from the expansion tank and directed into said bottle. Stood on standby with a giant clean plastic bottle full of BMW coolant mixed with de-ionized water. 50/50
Fired up engine. As coolant spewed into the bottle out of the breather hose and into the large bottle, I poured coolant into the plastic reservoir tank at the same tempo that it was leaving the breather pipe. The breather hose is the pipe that sends fluid from the radiator and into the expansion plastic tank.
Not the best way to get a clean flush but it is one way to freshen up the coolant somewhat with new coolant when the pump does not want to actuate the bleed process, until I figure out what to do next.
Put everything back together, warmed up the engine and test drove my E60 as if I robbed a bank and stole the E60.
No overheating problems. Coolant level stayed the same.
Now I need to go google 10 million more hours on how Specific gravity works and if its applicable to BMW. I don't like being clueless.
Comments and insults from the experts are welcome.
So after 10 million hours of googling I got the theory on how to bleed the coolant system after draining the coolant out.
But common sense first told me to first do a trial run on the coolant bleed first to make sure I don't get caught with my pants down.
I followed the whole ignition-on-blower-on-heat-high-10-seconds-on-the-accelarator-with-a-CTEK-attached thing that everyone with a BMW on planet earth does, only to find that the stupid water pump did not actuate. It did not fire up the bleed process. Good thing I checked first before. Not nice to get caught with pants down. Awkward moment averted.
After 10 more billion hours of googling, I figured out that the water pump was not OEM and this is why I think that the stinking thing doesn't bleed the coolant with engine off. I think that the previous owner installed a non OEM pump by looking at the invoices. Cheapskate Americans have the same problem when buying walmart/ebay coolant pumps but few seem to put 2 and 2 together on this. It isn't nice being clueless, like me, sometimes.
To add to the drama queen day, I had a leak on the breather pipe. Could see it was dripping. Bought another one and replaced it. The old one then disintegrated in my hands while I was fiddling with it. Another pants-down moment averted.
To change the radiator fluid, I went full backyard mechanic and redirected the newly installed breather pipe into a giant plastic bottle. Disconnected from the expansion tank and directed into said bottle. Stood on standby with a giant clean plastic bottle full of BMW coolant mixed with de-ionized water. 50/50
Fired up engine. As coolant spewed into the bottle out of the breather hose and into the large bottle, I poured coolant into the plastic reservoir tank at the same tempo that it was leaving the breather pipe. The breather hose is the pipe that sends fluid from the radiator and into the expansion plastic tank.
Not the best way to get a clean flush but it is one way to freshen up the coolant somewhat with new coolant when the pump does not want to actuate the bleed process, until I figure out what to do next.
Put everything back together, warmed up the engine and test drove my E60 as if I robbed a bank and stole the E60.
No overheating problems. Coolant level stayed the same.
Now I need to go google 10 million more hours on how Specific gravity works and if its applicable to BMW. I don't like being clueless.
Comments and insults from the experts are welcome.
