heater core remove/replace any tips?

[bolt-on-bandito]

i need to do this because i smell coolant whenever the heat kicks on, and my heat takes forever to get warm. it really only gets warm on the freeway. please let me know, thanks.

[bolt-on-bandito]

by the way it's an e-36, not e-30. i need to update my sig.

[Pirate_copy]

Hi mate

There is a cooling section on here that will help :thumbup:

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/e36

[Bimrpwr]

to change the heater core is PITA. Have you checked the thermo, heater control valve, bleed the system, waterpump? These are all alot easier to do then the heater core. good luck

[oembimmerparts]

i need to do this because i smell coolant whenever the heat kicks on, and my heat takes forever to get warm. it really only gets warm on the freeway. please let me know, thanks.

Curious what is the core going to cost you?

[Pirate_copy]

Curious what is the core going to cost you?

Tell him it was $50 and you will buy it from him if he can match it hehehehe

[oembimmerparts]

Tell him it was $50 and you will buy it from him if he can match it hehehehe

:D :p

All I have is factory bmw on that application so I was curious what the one he was getting was going to cost.

[ronpapworth]

Pelican Autoparts has them for about $105 delivered. Get all your other parts at the same time and save on shipping(Such as the plastic neck that goes into the core, oil filter(s), Brake pedal light switch (cause it if hasn't failed yet, it will) and maybe even some bushings if you have the extra cash and have not replaced them.) I have not been able to find anyone that can beat Pelican yet.
I have the part sitting in the garage and have been waiting for a) the core to fail or b) it to go back above freezing. I did however drain out the old nasty antifreeze and replaced it with distilled water and water wetter, that way if the core does fail the interior won't smell like antifreeze. Pirate posted a great how to about this and I have it as a link at home so let me know if you need it. It's a big job, but it will cost you 130 bucks in parts (including the $20 BMW antifreeze) versus 800-1200 bucks at a shop...

[Pirate_copy]

....maybe!

[Pirate_copy]

:)

[Pirate_copy]

My fault!!!

BTW, this is the E36 forum :)

Going away now!

[oembimmerparts]

My fault!!!

BTW, this is the E36 forum :)

Going away now!

ohhh its been a long day

[Pirate_copy]

indeed!

[bolt-on-bandito]

okay about the price war.....not really interested.

as far as this is concerned, i have been smelling coolant for a while. i figure back flushing it wouldn't really help in this case. anyone think/experience different?

i have replaced the therm,H20 pump, and radiator within the last year, so i think this is the weak link.


i was actually in england last weekend, and it sucked. too expensive, and the food :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn:

[Pirate_copy]

Another happy customer.......awesome!

[ronpapworth]

Meh, Mustang owner. That explains a lot...

[Pirate_copy]

:flame:

:)

[bolt-on-bandito]

yeah ron, i am a mustang driver.....a high 300 hp driver that eats up M3's and M5's anyday of the week.

i like my beamer, but you can't beat massive amounts of torque and cheap speed.

[Andycapps]

yeah ron, i am a mustang driver.....a high 300 hp driver that eats up M3's and M5's anyday of the week.

i like my beamer, but you can't beat massive amounts of torque and cheap speed.


Mustangs are good for raw power, and you can definately build a mustang for much cheaper than a bmw..but i'd still take my bmw over a pos ford any day.

[Pirate_copy]

yeah ron, i am a mustang driver.....a high 300 hp driver that eats up M3's and M5's anyday of the week.

i like my beamer, but you can't beat massive amounts of torque and cheap speed.

That arguement is only good if bhp is the only thing that matters to you cos bimmers prevail in EVERY other way :)

[Rickman]

Mustang is a good car, sure enough - but outrun an M5, I don't think so. 155 MPH speed limited. You are in a different league my friend, but it's ok to dream...

[bolt-on-bandito]

tell the M5 owner that i was dreamin :confused: , gears and a 6 speed will do wonders for your top end. and yes i know these are totally different vehicles. you guys want smooth, quiet speed. my 325 stock is pretty nice on that level.


but it's so much fun to lay 2 fifty foot patch's of rubber and not be able to hear your passenger due to the exhaust. if only i had a mullet blowing in the wind, i would be everything you bimmer guys invision in mustang drivers.

by the way this POS ford runs better, and breaks down less then the e30 and e36 i have owned. it also cost about 1/3 less to repair/replace parts. but i am not on a bimmer site to flame bmw owners, thanks for the advice.

[ronpapworth]

That thing just needs the Knight Rider light running back and forth in the grill to be complete. How are those 300 horses when you get to the corner?

[Pirate_copy]

Oh dear!

Ron, you are SOOOO right!

[Bimrpwr]

Stangs are nice i will admit that, but our 540i that we had well lets say we ate alot of stangs, impalla SS and list go on. Also our audi A6 puts down 340hp and it will through you in the back of the seat and that is with it being a Automatic. But i am not here to bash cars there is another area of the board where that belongs. Also if you shop around right you can find cheap parts and there are parts from Ford, VW etc that can be used on our cars.

[Pirate_copy]

I always found BMWs quite reasonable to repair...especially cos they are so reliable!