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Sulfurshelfsean
Defender of Cubes


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,942
Last seen: 42 minutes, 41 seconds
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Anyone know about Bimmers?
#26563667 - 03/28/20 04:48 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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More specifically the 323CI? Ive got a 2000 and it has a cracked expansion resevoir. Im looking at new ones and not sure which to get.
Some options have just the tank and some have options with thermostat, coolant level etc... My gut says get the one with the thermostat, but I'm not sure if the one I have even has that thermostat in it.
Also I'm kicking a p1510 and that is supposed to be a idle speed control valve stuck. My understanding is most times i can clean the idle speed control valve and I'll be good money. If not it's a problem with the wire harness....im going to try and figure this one out tomorrow. My real concern atm is figuring out which expansion tank to buy. Im pretty nubile with cars so sorry if my questions sound dumb.
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   Everything is better when it is done ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!
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Strkly4kix
The Analyst



Registered: 05/07/20
Posts: 4
Loc: NJ
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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While I do understand this post has some months on it, when I saw “Bimmers” my eyes darted right to it. I’m a long time fan/owner of the e46 chassis. I purchased my ‘01 330Ci brand new and owned it for 15 years before selling it. I still have my ‘03 M3. The expansion tank DOES NOT have a thermostat in it and these tanks are known to fail. You can save some money and buy a Behr expansion tank and cap, they make them for our cars sans “BMW” logo. It also pays to know how many miles you have on your car. Our systems should be completely refreshed at every 75 if not 80,000 miles. Sooner the better. Also note that some models DO have dual thermostats....one by the water pump and if you are an automatic there is another on the transmission cooling lines. I know this because even after doing a refresh on my 330, the system ran cold. I found this other thermostat and sure enough a cracked piece allowed the thermostat to stick open.
As for the idle control, yes, you can pull that bad boy off and decarbon the heck out of it with some CRC products. I did this to that and the DISA one day and she was breathing very well there after.
Hope this helps, I just recently joined and am getting familiar with the site, otherwise I could have jumped on sooner. Any more e46 questions just feel free to reach out.
-------------------- ”If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - Albert Einstein
Edited by Strkly4kix (06/09/20 12:49 PM)
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Sulfurshelfsean
Defender of Cubes


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,942
Last seen: 42 minutes, 41 seconds
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Re: Anyone know about Bimmers? [Re: Strkly4kix]
#26731547 - 06/09/20 01:59 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks fam, welcome to the shroomery! I'll definitely hit you up if i need thebinfo. And definitely appreciate your input. I still havent gotten it on the road, lots of bullshit woth covid and work in general. Cant wait to whip it around though.
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   Everything is better when it is done ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!
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Strkly4kix
The Analyst



Registered: 05/07/20
Posts: 4
Loc: NJ
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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I hear ya, happy to help, and thanks for the welcome brother . The E46 chassis is a great platform, but like any car it has its quirks...some small...some that makes you want to punch the ground. My ///M is out of commission as well...fuel pump. I’ll be looking to get on it soon and am rebuilding it with a stronger pump.
-------------------- ”If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - Albert Einstein
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Sulfurshelfsean
Defender of Cubes


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,942
Last seen: 42 minutes, 41 seconds
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Re: Anyone know about Bimmers? [Re: Strkly4kix]
#26734116 - 06/10/20 11:13 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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The guy who sold me it said to only use bmw parts, but when i went looking online like bimmerforum, most people were saying that aftermarket were better alot of the time. Reason being that most parts on bmws that use, say, have plastic fans that break easily where the adtermarket parts are usually way more sturdy.the 323ci I have has 240000 miles on it! I read exactly what you were saying that the cooling system usually needs replacing after about 80000.
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   Everything is better when it is done ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!
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Strkly4kix
The Analyst



Registered: 05/07/20
Posts: 4
Loc: NJ
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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Using “BMW parts” is always debated, but I will agree that SOME parts should be BMW only (like gaskets...Took me three VCG’s of leaking to say, “just buy a BMW one”). Sure, after all these years there a number of proven aftermarket producers that have improved on the technology, but what you replace and upgrade should go hand in hand with your goals. For example, I’m upgrading my fuel pump to reduce chances of starvation on a supercharged car...the pump going bad was just a trigger for me to finally do it, lol. On the other hand I would never go solid or race bushings throughout the car as I’d like ti keep my fillings in my teeth on a normal Sunday cruise. You could look into a Moroso Aluminum expansion tank....but do you Reaaaaallly need to throw down $3-400 on that? Nah.
Examples of Behr (for cooling) and Meyle (for your control arms) are manufactures of the parts for BMW and is a sure fire win. You are going to find debates everywhere, but again, I would base it on your needs. I am also sure you know there’s tons of debates on oil as well...I prefer have Liquimoly in my arsenal.
Fans...they do degrade over time, but it really depends on which fan. Any fan running off of the water pump pulley and power of the crank on a BM is bound to “explode” and ruin your hood if not more. Rather than getting fancy and going with a SPAL fan and retro fitting wiring, I removed the fan/fan clutch, and the pusher fan found on an automatic. The manual non-M’s came with an electric fan. With the pusher fan removed, the wiring left was a direct plug and play. A quick “upgrade” with OEM parts for under $50. That 330 never saw red and always stayed cool. No worries about an exploding fan.
BTW - that’s GREAT mileage, someone must have been taking care of her. Keep her going.
-------------------- ”If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - Albert Einstein
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Sulfurshelfsean
Defender of Cubes


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,942
Last seen: 42 minutes, 41 seconds
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Re: Anyone know about Bimmers? [Re: Strkly4kix]
#26736064 - 06/11/20 05:57 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Im gonna do my damndest to keep her alive! I realized i hadnt updated this at all. I changed out the expansion tank and went to change the oil. The oil change shop that did the oil on it last cranked the plug idown super tight. It wound up stripping. And the plug bolt was steel while the pan was aluminum so the pan stripped not the bolt...i was going to use a time ser lot to try and tao and rethread it but im ranking of just getting an oversozed selftapping bolt. Or maybe change thw pan. I round an aftermsrket pan for lile 100 bucls but OEM ones are 750 bucks and up...
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   Everything is better when it is done ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!
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Strkly4kix
The Analyst



Registered: 05/07/20
Posts: 4
Loc: NJ
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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For what it’s worth, I have seen drain plug repair kits for our cars. On a quick search the kit was $115, but I am sure more searching would turn up a deal. To your point, you could go aftermarket, but I would weigh the options. The oil pan on my 330 and M3, requires some “umph” to get to. I am not too sure about the lower block of the 323 and the clearance....but you have options. If you’ve never done the oil pan and I imagine at 240k it’s been done, it may be worth to pull it and go new there as well (This is where you want to go with BMW gaskets). If the gasket is fairly fresh, retap the hole as long as it wasn’t enlarged but the bolt. That’s how I would look at it.
-------------------- ”If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - Albert Einstein
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Sulfurshelfsean
Defender of Cubes


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,942
Last seen: 42 minutes, 41 seconds
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Re: Anyone know about Bimmers? [Re: Strkly4kix]
#26739560 - 06/12/20 12:57 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yeah the timesert kit was 115 and specifically for my bimmer. Ill start looking into gaskets tonight.
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   Everything is better when it is done ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!
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