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70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Tuesday 13th August
my son has bought a 320ci 2.2 LCI, the water pump needs changing, working but the bearing is a bit rattly
the expansion tank is original part, still got original label on it, tbf the hoses look great, car has 100k and was garage kept
should i replace the tank as youtube mechanics suggest, and are parts off ebay okay, or should i get oem
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
[report]
[news]
Tuesday 13th August
70proof said:
my son has bought a 320ci 2.2 LCI, the water pump needs changing, working but the bearing is a bit rattly
the expansion tank is original part, still got original label on it, tbf the hoses look great, car has 100k and was garage kept
should i replace the tank as youtube mechanics suggest, and are parts off ebay okay, or should i get oem
The M54 is a great engine; cooling system is generally chocolate though unless well looked after. I'd deffo change the header tank if you can (Febi, Mahle etc - stick with OE / OEM brands)
Water pump I'd go either Meyle or Mahle again; stat go for Walher if you can. Id change the top/bottom hoses for peace of mind too, may as well whilst it's all out, Febi again or Gates etc
C3BMW and BMWmotormec will have all the parts you need
Comma G48 for the coolant 
Every E39 530i I had with the M54; first thing I did was overhaul the cooling system - never let me down once that was done
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Tuesday 13th August
Many thanks
Mr Tidy
23,464 posts
131 months
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Tuesday 13th August
When I bought my E46 325ti it had done 80K, and within a couple of thousand miles the radiator started leaking as it was bent like a banana at the bottom. So I had the whole system refreshed and had no more cooling issues.
So it would be worth checking the radiator while you're at it.
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
[report]
[news]
Tuesday 13th August
Mr Tidy said:
When I bought my E46 325ti it had done 80K, and within a couple of thousand miles the radiator started leaking as it was bent like a banana at the bottom. So I had the whole system refreshed and had no more cooling issues.
So it would be worth checking the radiator while you're at it.
Good call. Behr is OEM but Nissens are solid also
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Wednesday 14th August
which stat do you change or is it the housing one changes, thanks
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
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[news]
Wednesday 14th August
70proof said:
which stat do you change or is it the housing one changes, thanks
It's one piece; this is the Wahler one as recommended
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Wednesday 14th August
top man, thanks
Ryyy
1,623 posts
39 months
[report]
[news]
Wednesday 14th August
danb79 said:
The M54 is a great engine; cooling system is generally chocolate though unless well looked after. I'd deffo change the header tank if you can (Febi, Mahle etc - stick with OE / OEM brands)
Water pump I'd go either Meyle or Mahle again; stat go for Walher if you can. Id change the top/bottom hoses for peace of mind too, may as well whilst it's all out, Febi again or Gates etc
C3BMW and BMWmotormec will have all the parts you need
Comma G48 for the coolant
Every E39 530i I had with the M54; first thing I did was overhaul the cooling system - never let me down once that was done
Out of pure curiosity of loving the e46, how much is said overhaul of the cooling system? If it was the m54 of course just incase i do ever bit the bullet but theres a list of cars and my never ending battle of going for it and not going for it in my head 
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
[report]
[news]
Wednesday 14th August
Ryyy said:
danb79 said:
The M54 is a great engine; cooling system is generally chocolate though unless well looked after. I'd deffo change the header tank if you can (Febi, Mahle etc - stick with OE / OEM brands)
Water pump I'd go either Meyle or Mahle again; stat go for Walher if you can. Id change the top/bottom hoses for peace of mind too, may as well whilst it's all out, Febi again or Gates etc
C3BMW and BMWmotormec will have all the parts you need
Comma G48 for the coolant
Every E39 530i I had with the M54; first thing I did was overhaul the cooling system - never let me down once that was done
Out of pure curiosity of loving the e46, how much is said overhaul of the cooling system? If it was the m54 of course just incase i do ever bit the bullet but theres a list of cars and my never ending battle of going for it and not going for it in my head
DIY, c£150 in parts and coolant exc. the rad. If you need the rad, they're c£150 IIRC, so that on top
If being done by an indy - probably a good 3 hours labour as well
The issue is; where do you stop
Personally I'm one of those that think whilst it's all apart, may as well do the belts, pulleys, viscous clutch, oil filter housing gasket etc etc
Edited by danb79 on Wednesday 14th August 20:56
Ryyy
1,623 posts
39 months
[report]
[news]
Wednesday 14th August
danb79 said:
DIY, c£150 in parts and coolant exc. the rad. If you need the rad, they're c£150 IIRC, so that on top
If being done by an indy - probably a good 3 hours labour as well
The issue is; where do you stop
Personally I'm one of those that think whilst it's all apart, may as well do the belts, pulleys, viscous clutch, oil filter housing gasket etc etc
Edited by danb79 on Wednesday 14th August 20:56
Thankyou for that,Thats a lot less than i inticipated 
i thought old german metal was meant to be expensive? 
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
[report]
[news]
Thursday 15th August
Ryyy said:
danb79 said:
DIY, c£150 in parts and coolant exc. the rad. If you need the rad, they're c£150 IIRC, so that on top
If being done by an indy - probably a good 3 hours labour as well
The issue is; where do you stop
Personally I'm one of those that think whilst it's all apart, may as well do the belts, pulleys, viscous clutch, oil filter housing gasket etc etc
Edited by danb79 on Wednesday 14th August 20:56
Thankyou for that,Thats a lot less than i inticipated i thought old german metal was meant to be expensive?
The parts aren't that expensive bar the rad (which again isn't that expensive)
Wahler/Febi Stat c£40, Meyle/Febi water pump c£35, Febi top/bottom hoses c£40, Cooma G48 coolant & deionised water c£30
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
[report]
[news]
Thursday 15th August
Ryyy said:
Out of pure curiosity of loving the e46, how much is said overhaul of the cooling system? If it was the m54 of course just incase i do ever bit the bullet but theres a list of cars and my never ending battle of going for it and not going for it in my head
meyle pump 27
meyle expansion tank 31
whler stat 40
o ring set 2
tbh watching repair guides on youtube can be done by self easily
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Sunday
parts all off ebay sellers are now here, look genuine and top quality, arrived within 48 hours too
danb79
9,185 posts
76 months
[report]
[news]
Sunday
70proof said:
parts all off ebay sellers are now here, look genuine and top quality, arrived within 48 hours too
Which seller(s) did you use?
Mr Tidy
23,464 posts
131 months
[report]
[news]
Sunday
Ryyy said:
Out of pure curiosity of loving the e46, how much is said overhaul of the cooling system? If it was the m54 of course just incase i do ever bit the bullet but theres a list of cars and my never ending battle of going for it and not going for it in my head
My BMW Indy charged me £469.47 in August 2015 to supply and fit a new radiator, cap, thermostat, expansion tank, alternator belt and coolant temperature sensor.
Ryyy
1,623 posts
39 months
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[news]
Sunday
These prices really arent bad, i reckon ill be over that on mot day for the insignia 
70proof
Original Poster
6,072 posts
159 months
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Yesterday (14:36)
danb79 said:
Which seller(s) did you use?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273373387540
the thermostat from motormec who have their own website now
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395172254871
waterpump
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162550247704
expansion tank
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