1994 525i (e34) - Getting to the fan, thermostat, wp area?

Those helper videos mostly use the e39 series - which does not have this thing in the way when you need to get the fan (and especially the thermostat housing) off:



What is that thing - and is there a tutorial that considers it when removing the fan / thermostat housing? (One that actually shows someone removing the fan from an E34, or better a 525i about the same year - not some other model and saying "it's the same procedure with other models" - as it is clearly not the case with that big ole piece of machinery jutting out right there!). Thanks.

Welcome. That is part of the valve cover and does not have to be removed to get to the WP, etc. The fan shroud and fan and upper radiator hose just need to be removed. Here is a link to where you can find the Bentley manual which will explain it for you.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=629472

Again, welcome

That would be your vanos under there. As noted, no need to remove it to gain access to the WP. Even if you did remove the cover, you wouldn't gain that much room. You also sure don't want to drop anything other than clean, fresh oil in the top of that (your engine)!

Sent from my Droid Incredible

Bentley Manual?

I had a few surprises, even after consulting the manual. First off, the waterpump was located behind a pulley - there was no plate separating the pulley and the waterpump area. So I had to remove the belt to pull the entire pulley off. I found the pulley to be a replacement - it was a metal pulley. Evidently someone had been in there already... The waterpump had nothing wrong with it - and ALSO was replaced already, with the same one that I was going to put in there! Inspecting the area, I had to conclude that my leak was not from the waterpump. I did, however, notice coolant spills all around the area, though. Here is a pic of the leak (best I could get at the time):



Maybe someone has a clue where else it could be coming from? I tightened up all the bolts in the area, includung the thermostat housing (my next most likely suspect), but I haven't re-checked yet to see if it's simply something loose yet. The hoses going into the thermostat housing are not leaking either.

Yes, you do have to remove the belt and then the pulley (after removing the fan clutch and fan assembly). I would suspect the thermostat housing is leaking. It is a good idea to replace it. Most people recommend the aluminum replacement. I, personally, like to stick with the oem plastic one. That is all that is above the WP that could be leaking as far as I know.

It is a good idea to replace the entire cooling system every 1001K miles. It is one of the weakest areas on our beloved E34's.

Update (finally) - that leaking WAS the waterpump. I pulled it once and it looked like new. I replaced the thermostat and housing. Leak was still there. Took my car to a mechanic and he told me it was the water pump, and also my alternator (got inundated with coolant and blew it out). We had some issues over his prices so I told him to replace the alternator and I will replace the waterpump. When I pulled the waterpump, it looked like it had been dipped in acid - corroded and worn. Don't know how that happened after two weeks but whatever - I replaced it and the car was back to almost normal.

Originally Posted by magusat999

When I pulled the waterpump, it looked like it had been dipped in acid - corroded and worn. Don't know how that happened after two weeks but whatever - I replaced it and the car was back to almost normal.

It doesn't look like you have BMW approved coolant in there.

Did bobby talk you into using cheap green coolant in your BMW Just kidding, but it is possible to have corrosion problems with the wrong coolant.

My coolant is green. I use Prestone and have been for literally, hundreds of thousands of miles. Never an issue.

OP, a picture of the "corroded" water pump? I hope its not chocolate milk sludge... Was the old one a plastic impeller? Or a metal impeller?

Plastic


Metal



Take your oil fill cap, and look to see if you have the same "corrosion" under there. If you do, we may have some news for you.