Expansion tank leaked

[stephen]

:angry: it has finally happened! If you have a e46, read on.Really really regret didn't take heed of Ah Meng of M-Speed's advice that the expansion tank needed to be changed at 60,000kms. Mine's at 70500kms.Last nite at 8.30pm it gave way along Jalan Gasing's notoriously jam roundabout as i was heading home. The low coolant warning light came on....but the temperature reading still at mid-way. About a month ago, this happened, i meant the low coolant sign, i topped up with water and no problem since. But i didnt check water level after that. Should have, damn. I carried on along Old Klang Road and when approaching the junction with Jln Puchong, the temp suddenly rise so fast to the red mark and i stopped within a few meters later. ( i knew it is critical to stop immediately coz i had the same problem with a Peugeot 405 SRi coz as i went on to stop somewhere more suitable, the engine overheated and top-overhaul was required).Next came the ordeal of waiting one hour for AAM tow truck. When it came at 9.30pm, the chinese tow truck guy refused to tow from the REAR! He said too dangerous for him to reverse to do that. He said let him tow to the shell station some 2km away to change to rear tow. He said he towed many Benz like that for short distance before. I said it is a RWD car and cannot be towed from the front. Called my neighbour and also Ah Meng and they confirmed cannot. The tow truck guy just went off! I called AAM again and another guy came 1 hour later, 10.30pm. And so it is two hours since and the car cooled down and traffic lesser, he helped to divert traffic as i restarted car to quickly reverse into position for RWD towing. Now waiting at home for Ah Meng of M-Speed to come to fix the bloody damned e46 expansion tank! Real shitty experience. This morning i poured water into the expansion tank and watched it leaked immediately to the floor.So, moral of the story, in my opinion, if you drive to work everyday and always stuck in traffic jam in KL (who doesnt), get the bloody thing changed at 60,000km!

 

[3er]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Hope this is a useful reinforcement tip for E46 owners out there.

 

[BMW9700]

sorry to hear....been through it before....another "COMMON PROBLEM"........


my rear power window lifter gave way yesterday..had to drive home with window half down...malu laa..kancil drivers sneering!!



E46 owners please take heed of the above!!!!


regards

 

[flash]

Not only E46 owners to take heed.... all those BMWs with the bloody plastic expansion tanks take heed. Me kena too on both my E36 and E34.... :beaten: But I change them when the leak was small.... both of mine cracked at the head.

 

[stephen]

ah meng just came. M-Speed.

After changing it, started the car and burning smell came out. He said should disappear after one day

 

[leakwoon]

scary

how much is the cost?? i heard was below RM200 if we change


like better change mine also

 

[ALBundy]

Its a good warning to all BMW owners. I would add on other common wear and tear items like water pump, thermostat, water hoses, battery, fan clutch, fuel pump and etc.

 

[leakwoon]

ya those hoses

get it check regularly

 

[flash]

Originally posted by ALBundy@Apr 7 2006, 12:05 PM
Its a good warning to all BMW owners. I would add on other common wear and tear items like water pump, thermostat, water hoses, battery, fan clutch, fuel pump and etc.

Ha ha, these are also common wear and tear parts for other makes of car too....

 

[leakwoon]

but other make got expansion tank leaking ar?


seldom hear ler

 

[E46Fanatic]

And to think this happens on a 200+k car. I am sure there were a few Proton Wira owners driving pass the crippled E46 grinning away...

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by stephen@Apr 6 2006, 08:30 PM
:angry: it has finally happened! If you have a e46, read on.

Really really regret didn't take heed of Ah Meng of M-Speed's advice that the expansion tank needed to be changed at 60,000kms. Mine's at 70500kms.

Last nite at 8.30pm it gave way along Jalan Gasing's notoriously jam roundabout as i was heading home. The low coolant warning light came on....but the temperature reading still at mid-way. About a month ago, this happened, i meant the low coolant sign, i topped up with water and no problem since. But i didnt check water level after that. Should have, damn.

I carried on along Old Klang Road and when approaching the junction with Jln Puchong, the temp suddenly rise so fast to the red mark and i stopped within a few meters later. ( i knew it is critical to stop immediately coz i had the same problem with a Peugeot 405 SRi coz as i went on to stop somewhere more suitable, the engine overheated and top-overhaul was required).

Next came the ordeal of waiting one hour for AAM tow truck. When it came at 9.30pm, the chinese tow truck guy refused to tow from the REAR! He said too dangerous for him to reverse to do that. He said let him tow to the shell station some 2km away to change to rear tow. He said he towed many Benz like that for short distance before. I said it is a RWD car and cannot be towed from the front. Called my neighbour and also Ah Meng and they confirmed cannot. The tow truck guy just went off! I called AAM again and another guy came 1 hour later, 10.30pm. And so it is two hours since and the car cooled down and traffic lesser, he helped to divert traffic as i restarted car to quickly reverse into position for RWD towing.

Now waiting at home for Ah Meng of M-Speed to come to fix the bloody damned e46 expansion tank! Real shitty experience. This morning i poured water into the expansion tank and watched it leaked immediately to the floor.

So, moral of the story, in my opinion, if you drive to work everyday and always stuck in traffic jam in KL (who doesnt), get the bloody thing changed at 60,000km!

what would be the damage if our bimmers were to be towed from the front? Curious :dunno:

 

[flash]

Originally posted by E46Fanatic@Apr 7 2006, 01:31 PM
And to think this happens on a 200+k car. I am sure there were a few Proton Wira owners driving pass the crippled E46 grinning away...

Hee hee, I used to do that when I was driving my Wira .... until the day the tables turned on me when my ex-E36 broke down by the road-side.... due to a broken RM5 retaining clip. :angry: Then many Wiras were driving past me grinning at me.... :beaten:

 

[flash]

Originally posted by c-square@Apr 7 2006, 01:38 PM
what would be the damage if our bimmers were to be towed from the front? Curious :dunno:

Not too sure, but I think you might compromise your giabok. :dunno: Perhaps other parts like the prop shaft, etc too since they will be rotating when towed from the front.

 

[ersalle]

heheeh E46's radiator, the worst radiator problem BMW have ever produced, at least the older generations type do crack but not as early as 3yrs old. :lol:

 

[Raymond@M-BeasT]

brothers and sifus out there...i thought this problem usually on e36 more?? :dunno:

the sifus out there can tell me more bout that ar????

 

[romeo_v12]

Sorry to hear about your expansion tank problems dude....and you are right to change at 60k kms. I had mine changed at 70k kms and now at 103k kms still ok...I hope!! For a RM200+ part....better for all of us to change for peace of mind.

As for towing from the front, my view is that the turning of the rear wheels when towing will cause the rear axle and long shaft to turn thus cause the gearbox to turn too. And we all know that when that happens when the oil pump is NOT running means very high ware and tear on the gears. It may not show problems straight away but will fail sonner rather than later. My 2 cents worth gents.

Along with expansion tank change, better to change thermostate, water pump and hoses at 70k kms as per AB major service recommendation. This will also allow you to do 180/200kmh on long distance trips with peace of mind.

Cheers!!

Romeo

 

[wan3333]

My expansion tank leaked at only 55K and the water hose behind the engine block became brittle and leak at 65K. So better check when time up than really regret later in the middle of the road.

 

[Mont-o]

ya BMWE46 are so fragile...expansion tank, gearbox, trailing arm, all the bloody hoses, power window. What i can say it's unreliable car...ya BMW build a good engine but not a good car.
My previous E36 328i more reliable as i am no worry to travel to kelantan or t'ganu...anytime, but not with E46. BMW s.uck!!!

Cheers

 

[ersalle]

Agree with u Mont-o, E36 better built. E30 even better built hehehehhehe. The materials used on latest car are just i dunno know how to say. Very very dissapointing indeed on e46's.