Nic_s - E34 540i 6 Speed (Update 07-08-12)

[Andy1GP]

:yuck:

Geen vernuf :nonono:

 

[Nic_s]

:yuck:

Geen vernuf :nonono:

He was just trying to use our forum to generate traffic for his forum. :shakehead:

 

[Nic_s]

Went home for lunch and the coolant warning came on, but home was just around the corner. Stop the car and and switched it off. Car was already warm so I didn't chance it and left the cap closed. Had some lunch and came back to the car about 20min later. Opened the bonnet only to find the tank empty. Took almost 2L.

I noticed some water splats on the pipe that goes to the radiator which seems to suggest that the fan is throwing water against it. So it might just be a pipe that's leaking. Ran out of time to look for the leak, but the water level still looks good. Will take a closer look after work. Sorry, no picks yet.

 

[Jandre]

2l water before the car started to bitch about it. wow, that's quite a bit.

Mine bitches for 500ml.

anyway, there is 11 litres in there in total if I remember correctly.

I had a water leak last month. Turned out to be a bottom radiator hose, and the waterpump that leaked.

A small tip: You often get that you are loosing water, but can't see a visible leak. Take the engine cover and fan cover off for better visibility.

Only when I asked my mechanics to take all the covers off, did we find my leaks.

 

[Legacy]

The pipe underneath the expansion tank is prone to leak with age, replaced the white 540i's yesterday.

 

[Nic_s]

Like I said, there are green-ish water splats on the pipe that goes to the top of the radiator which looks like the fan is throwing up there. So the leak must be at the front somewhere. I think it might be the pipe that connects to 3 and 4 in the pick below. Could be that it's not tightened properly from when they replaced the radiator... or maybe that's just wishfull think :mmm:

 

[Raybimmer]

nic I often find at work I tighten a hose clamp on a new pipe and a week or so later I can tighten it maybe a whole turn or so . Maybe check the hose clamp tightness and check if the hose clamp has not cut the hose if it has been overtightened at a time . Good luck .

 

[Nic_s]

nic I often find at work I tighten a hose clamp on a new pipe and a week or so later I can tighten it maybe a whole turn or so . Maybe check the hose clamp tightness and check if the hose clamp has not cut the hose if it has been overtightened at a time . Good luck .

That's the first thing I plan to check when I get home. Thanks

 

[Riaanv540]

Car looks great. There are few things on my car that needs attention as well. All in good time. Bought a few things from a guy in PTA, he is stripping his for spares. Got the windscreen, a few plastic covers, original bmw rubber carpets(these are swell), 6disc changer and telephone(bought car with broken telephone screen).

Its a keeper and definitely going to undergo lots of TLC and cosmetic repairs in the near future.

 

[Nic_s]

Car looks great. There are few things on my car that needs attention as well. All in good time. Bought a few things from a guy in PTA, he is stripping his for spares. Got the windscreen, a few plastic covers, original bmw rubber carpets(these are swell), 6disc changer and telephone(bought car with broken telephone screen).

Its a keeper and definitely going to undergo lots of TLC and cosmetic repairs in the near future.

Thanks. Yea... it actually needs a lot more work than I thought, but the drive is just brilliant... even when I'm just going to work and back while the engine ticks over at around 1000rpm.

Keep us updated on your progress. :thumb:

 

[Nic_s]

UPDATE:

So I went to see Rick540 as I could not find any leak around the engine, but once at Rick I spotted the radiator for the first time. See, I was standing mostly on the left side of the car trying to figure out where the water that made the marks against the pipe came from. Was also under car port and not so good light. It's only when I was at Rick, standing on the right side of the car, and not under cover with good light that I noticed the marks on the radiator.




The water is leaking somewhere around the radiator and the fan is blowing it against the pipe. I've not been able to actually see it leak. Letting it idle and revving it didn't produce any water leaking. All the pipes seem fine. Was worried that it might be the water pump, but the fan wouldn't allow the leaking water to get to the radiator and there would have been some evidence which you can see there isn't in the below pick:




This radiator is only about a year old. I should actually go and find out if there's a warranty on it. Also I want to see if I can find some picks on how the radiator is assembled. Might give some insight into what may be the cause of the leak :dunno:

 

[Nic_s]

Car will go in tomorrow morning. The radiator will be pulled to see what the issue is and then hopefully it's either a quick fix or I get a new one through the warranty as it's only 11 months old. Worst case is that I need to buy a new one.

All this just before the BMW Festival this weekend. If I could work on it myself then I would have the car for the weekend, but now I have to hope that my mechie can get it all done by end of Friday. I told him that I need the car this weekend, but we all know how they love to make promises. :shakehead:


So far it only seems to leak a tiny bit as the water level has dropped maybe 2cm, but I'm scared that the radiator would just give in completely and then I'm stuck where ever that decides to happen. So I have to try and get it fixed before I do long distance driving over the weekend.

This car is cursed... I'm sure of it.

 

[Rooi_Willie]

Sheeesh!! Good luck Nic!

 

[Nic_s]

Sheeesh!! Good luck Nic!

Thanks

 

[WyKiD]

Hope its not too serious and you get it sorted soon....:thumbs:

 

[Nic_s]

Car is in... now the wait...

 

[Nic_s]

Warranty was only 6 months
Hopefully they can fix the radiator. I was told that they will pressure test it and hopefully they just need to, and I quote, "re-crimp" it. Not 100% what that means, but if that's the case it would be about R450 rather than a new radiator. I've got new belts and thermostat so my mechie will be fitting that while the radiator is out.

Considering the luck I've had with this car so far I should probably just buy a new radiator to begin with. I'm actually quite annoyed with the car now. Our love hate relationships is sliding more towards the hate side :shakehead:

 

[Jandre]

I know the feeling all too well Nic.

POFS and I shared many a broken part.

I know that sometimes they get you down, but just remember, your car is one of only 72 in SA.

See it as an investment to keep a very limited classic on the road, for you and others to enjoy.

 

[Nic_s]

I know the feeling all too well Nic.

POFS and I shared many a broken part.

I know that sometimes they get you down, but just remember, your car is one of only 72 in SA.

See it as an investment to keep a very limited classic on the road, for you and others to enjoy.

Thanks Jandre.

So why you selling your 540?? Spotted it on the gum... or maybe it's another 540 that looks the same from durbanville :mmm:
EDIT: I know! You getting a 6 speed!

 

[Jandre]

Just testing the water.

Their is a nice e46 328i on the forum that i want.