New BMW, New Problems

[Rompsku]

Hi Guys

The name's Rompsku, will give a proper intro in the proper section later. But need your help first.

So I got me a fair condition 328i off Gumtree this week and it's got some minor issues I need to address. I'm not all that clued up on vehicle repair and maintenance, but am looking to change that. Want to take good car of my new baby and, hopefully, do most of the repair work myself.

So here's the issues I'm having:
- Steering wheel shudder: The steering wheel shudders when I go over 100. I replaced the shocks yesterday, and the ride is a lot smoother (front shocks were done), but it's still got the steering wheel vibration. Going to replace tires and brake pads this weekend, but is there anything else that might be the cause? Checked brake rotors and steering rack, they look fine.

- Click/Tick sound from engine: It's intermittent. Sometimes it'll happen, other times not. What else could it be? It increases in pitch when I rev up.

- Overheating? : Temp gauge is always at 12 o' clock. But after a drive, especially when driven hard, the engine is really warm, and I can barely touch the coolant reservoir cap. Coolant is also a brown color. Is that normal?

- Smoking: The car likes to release a few puffs of white (doesn't look blue) smoke when I start her up or suddenly rev her high. Goes away almost immediately though.

That's about it.
Any input is very welcome.
raise:

Here's she is:

 

[moranor@axis]

Im going to say tires or wheel balancing for the vibration

coolant should not be brown... do a coolant flush and get some proper coolant from BMW... then see if it goes brown again...

 

[Bugger]

Welcome to the forum bud,you're in the right place,lots of aficionados on this site :thumbs:

The steering wheel shudder may be due to a bent rim,check that,it's easy enough,take it to your local wheel alignment spot and get them to check the balancing. If it's not that, you may have a stabiliser or control arm issue. Best bet is to try and get the car on a ramp and have a look at the suspension components, but check for the dented rim first. Maybe swap with another set of rims the same size and see if it happens again?

The clicking sound may just be a viscous fan that is catching on something, on the 328i they could very rarely give issues,but it's an exception rather than the norm. I had it on a 98 328i, had to replace the viscous fan twice. As long as there is no humming noise, at least you know it's not the diff! :roflol:

The water colour should be a bluish colour, BMW uses blue coolant,but it's likely yours hasn't seen a bottle of BMW coolant in many years,not a bad thing,just saying. Otherwise it should have a greenish tinge to it,most coolants are a green colour. If it's brown, the system hasn't been drained for a while,so maybe just drain it and refill with the necessary coolants. My advice,use the BMW coolant. As long as you do not see any sort of oily residue in the water,you should be fine (this could be a cracked head, block or leaking head gasket).

The cap SHOULD be hot,means that water is circulating through the system properly.If it were cold,I'd be worried. Just check if there are any water leaks and try and trace them. When the car is running,feel all the ancillary hoses from the coolant tank to the radiator,from the water pump etc. If they are hot,that's a good thing,means that water is circulating nicely through the system.

They can run hot (if memory serves me correct),but if it's not getting into the red,you should be ok.If you have a constant smell of burning/hot water,you may have a leak somewhere,also check if there are patches of white around the engine bay,that can also indicate water getting out somewhere.

White smoke,the piston rings may be a little worn,but if it's not constantly pouring smoke,again,you should be fine. Cars that age,yours seems to be at least a 96 with that front bumper style,will no doubt have the odd puff here and there. If you are in ANY doubt,take it to a specialist and let them check the car over. Sean Sing from Tune-Tech is an honest bloke who knows better than anyone about BMW (that's if you're in JHB of course)!

Good luck,you've got yourself an awesome car,I have a HUGE soft spot for the E36 328i.

:thumbs:

 

[Josh-ZN]

Im going to say tires or wheel balancing for the vibration

coolant should not be brown... do a coolant flush and get some proper coolant from BMW... then see if it goes brown again...

+1 on the balancing . Either that or wheel is buckled

 

[Twinz]

Welcome :thumbs:

 

[Rompsku]

Damn! You guys are fast, haven't even had chance to get me some tea and biscuits.

Thanks for all the input and rapid response. Luckily got a wheel shop like 50 meters from my house, will get all the rims over there tomorrow.
Will also get them to check steering components when the brakes get done.

Not brave enough to do any major engine work, so will have to get a mechanic to check the smoke issue.

But flushing the coolant system sounds like fun. Gonna use this guide here: http://www.bimmerzone.com/category/Tip_and_Tricks_Coolant.html

Thanks again guys!

 

[Bugger]

When you drain the coolant,make sure you put some plastic down,don't let your wife/girlfriend/mother see what you're doing,and prepare yourself for a bit of a mess....:roflol:

For the bigger stuff,just get someone to check it for you,you'll learn fast enough about doing your own stuff on the car,and it's fun (for you,not your family...:roflol

Good luck man. Now, put some pictures up in the New Members section!

 

[MikeR]

:fishwack: no time for tea and biscuits - your baby needs attention.

when the do wheel balancing they will pick up if rims are bent, but its and old car and its very possible they are.

Do full service, and flush all fluids, including break - Water - gearbox oil - Oil and start from there - you will pick up if these noises and smoke are related, :fencelook: idea to get the undercarriage cleaned well to check for and fluid leaks or even just sweating at joints. check all the hoses (rubber components) for cracks (dry rubber) including mountings, propshaft.

If you can check out the coolant system with a pressure test. :thumbs: good luck they are nice machines

 

[beezo003]

Welcome man

I used to have a shudder on the steering after 100 it ended up being my diff so check that too,

The noise from the engine could be your vanos as when its cold it makes that smoke and noise mine does that at the moment and if you read about vanos that is symptoms as well,aslso you could ask mornor on the forum he is from axis as he is the distributor of the vanos repair kits to confirm if what I'm sayong is correct as that's what I understood from reading about it.

Enjoy your stay hope you come right

 

[moranor@axis]

Thanks beezo003 but the noise could be many things Im not going to advise Vanos till we get more details on it

fix the coolant problem and see if it still heats up...
find the vibration...
then we can get back to the noise once you have lived with the car a bit and know when it happens

I see from your profile you in CPT so TuneTech is a bit far away :rollsmile:
funny story though about TuneTech... they did an install on an e36 M and a few days later Shaun emails me and buys 3 more full kits... he was blown away by the difference the kit made would definitely advise JHB guys to see Shaun nice chap and knows his stuff...

 

[ShaneP]

Welcome Rompsku!

:thumbs:

 

[Rompsku]

Thanks guys, you really know how to make a guy feel welcome.

Spent some time inspecting my baby now, found a few more issues. Mostly cosmetic and minor electrical stuff, things I can easily repair. Gonna be super busy this week, but the weekend is all about my baby.

Taking her to get the brakes and tires sorted on Saturday and will flush the coolant once that's done. Also gonna do an oil change as soon as possible.

Will post pictures as soon as she's been properly washed and I've had a chance to replace the kidney grill (One got stolen the day before i bought the car).

---

Oh, got a few more questions. :sorry:

Is it normal for the front of the rear wheels to point inward toward the body?
And their camber also seems a bit negative. This is on stock suspension.

What is a good/cheap choice for lowering the car, not too aggressively. 25-30mm front/20mm rear. I know good and cheap don't below in the same sentence, but koni's and H&R are way out of my wallet's reach right now.

Where can I get BMW coolant in cape town and replacement bulbs for the low beams?

The window washers aren't spraying. Filled the reservoir, but nothing. Not even a sound from the pump. Will replacing the pump fix that (looks easy to replace), or could it be that it needs to be bled or something?

Gonna have lots more questions...:rollsmile:

 

[DieselFan]

Thanks guys, you really know how to make a guy feel welcome.

Spent some time inspecting my baby now, found a few more issues. Mostly cosmetic and minor electrical stuff, things I can easily repair. Gonna be super busy this week, but the weekend is all about my baby.

Taking her to get the brakes and tires sorted on Saturday and will flush the coolant once that's done. Also gonna do an oil change as soon as possible.

Will post pictures as soon as she's been properly washed and I've had a chance to replace the kidney grill (One got stolen the day before i bought the car).

---

Oh, got a few more questions. :sorry:

Is it normal for the front of the rear wheels to point inward toward the body?
And their camber also seems a bit negative. This is on stock suspension.

What is a good/cheap choice for lowering the car, not too aggressively. 25-30mm front/20mm rear. I know good and cheap don't below in the same sentence, but koni's and H&R are way out of my wallet's reach right now.

Where can I get BMW coolant in cape town and replacement bulbs for the low beams?

The window washers aren't spraying. Filled the reservoir, but nothing. Not even a sound from the pump. Will replacing the pump fix that (looks easy to replace), or could it be that it needs to be bled or something?

Gonna have lots more questions...:rollsmile:

---

You'll get BMW coolant at the dealership. Depending on where you live...

I would say the pumps are broken, if it was blocked i would think you would still hear a noise from them. But they might be blocked and thats why they burnt out because the guy was trying to use the washer and burnt the pumps out as no water was going through them. But I am no mechanic. Maybe it could be a wiring issue or a blown fuse?

 

[ChefDJ]

Makes me miss my mom's old 328i. Welcom bud :thumbs:

 

[DeoJor]

Welcome buddy, nice choice in car, now get those pics up.

 

[328ii]

1st - welcome here & good luck with your 328..!

If the car have been standing 'long' the tires can develop flat spots

If rims and balancing check out fine, then also check for this

Probably best to do at the same time as rim check.

8?>

 

[moranor@axis]

rather dont lower if you cant afford Koni,H&R or Eibach... save up and do it properly preferably including some good dampers

always do maintenance 1st before mods anyway...

WRT the wheels yes the should point slightly in (this is called Toe in) but the front should not be very noticeable... get it on an alignment machine and post up the chart so we can have a look...

 

[Rompsku]

rather dont lower if you cant afford Koni,H&R or Eibach... save up and do it properly preferably including some good dampers

always do maintenance 1st before mods anyway...

WRT the wheels yes the should point slightly in (this is called Toe in) but the front should not be very noticeable... get it on an alignment machine and post up the chart so we can have a look...

Thanks Moranor, having seen your expertise regarding suspension, I'll stick to your advice. Will take while to afford a proper lowering setup, but will rather do it properly.

Car was taken for alignment when I had the shocks done on Tuesday, so should be correctly. But might take it again after I get the brakes and tires replaced on Saturday.

Does anybody know of any spares places in the Cape Flats area? Looking for a few odds and ends.

 

[moranor@axis]

If you have the sheet from the alignment post up the numbers... ALOT of places just put the car on the machine and put on a show to collect money... If you post up the numbers I can at least tell you if it was done properly

 

[Rompsku]

Will try to find the sheet at home (in office at the moment). Hopefully the wifey hasn't thrown it out yet