[Gaspo]

Hello! I'm about to change the thermostat on my 320d -09. And I wounder if someone could help me throw the bleeding procedure of the coolant system. It's a mechanical water pump. I know some E90/91 have the electrical and that procedure is to bleed the system is very easy.

Hope someone can help. Thx!

[feuer]

Raise the front end, run the engine to operating temperature, shut down the engine and let the air out via the bleeding screw on the expansion tank. Add coolant if needed when engine cools off.

[noah.s]

Originally Posted by feuer

Raise the front end, run the engine to operating temperature, shut down the engine and let the air out via the bleeding screw on the expansion tank. Add coolant if needed when engine cools off.

No, this is not the way to do it.
Follow this,
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=495950

[feuer]

Originally Posted by noah.s

No, this is not the way to do it.
Follow this,
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=495950

How will that work on mechanical pump? Please educate us.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by noah.s

No, this is not the way to do it.
Follow this,
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=495950

OP specifically stated that he does not have an electric water pump and you are giving him directions on how to bleed with an electric water pump.

[noah.s]

Wow I don't know how I missed that. My bad guys!

[Gaspo]

Originally Posted by feuer

Raise the front end, run the engine to operating temperature, shut down the engine and let the air out via the bleeding screw on the expansion tank. Add coolant if needed when engine cools off.

Ok just to check:-) so when I have filled up with coolant ,i fill it up to normal level? I start the car run it to operating temperature. Only problem is that it's a diesel and it takes AGES to get to operating temp on idle :-). I've seen so many videos on e46 and and some other models. Were they use different methods. Some sets the climate control to max heat and low fan and fill coolant until it comes out frome the bleeding screw. Then they keep filling until no bubbles comes out frome it?? Someone fills up to the very top of the tank and then gets the car to operating temp. Then when the car is still on they open the bleeding screw a bit and lets fluid blow out. And when it's not white fluid flushing out it's done??

Sorry for poor English?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Sobeus

Ok just to check:-) so when I have filled up with coolant ,i fill it up to normal level? I start the car run it to operating temperature. Only problem is that it's a diesel and it takes AGES to get to operating temp on idle :-). I've seen so many videos on e46 and and some other models. Were they use different methods. Some sets the climate control to max heat and low fan and fill coolant until it comes out frome the bleeding screw. Then they keep filling until no bubbles comes out frome it?? Someone fills up to the very top of the tank and then gets the car to operating temp. Then when the car is still on they open the bleeding screw a bit and lets fluid blow out. And when it's not white fluid flushing out it's done??

Sorry for poor English?

Climate control to max heat and low fan will not help with air pockets. Come on now! Don't take ages! Is diesel and diesel is cheap. But if you are so impatient just keep it revved up a little.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by Sobeus

Ok just to check:-) so when I have filled up with coolant ,i fill it up to normal level? I start the car run it to operating temperature. Only problem is that it's a diesel and it takes AGES to get to operating temp on idle :-). I've seen so many videos on e46 and and some other models. Were they use different methods. Some sets the climate control to max heat and low fan and fill coolant until it comes out frome the bleeding screw. Then they keep filling until no bubbles comes out frome it?? Someone fills up to the very top of the tank and then gets the car to operating temp. Then when the car is still on they open the bleeding screw a bit and lets fluid blow out. And when it's not white fluid flushing out it's done??

Sorry for poor English?

it is normal for cars to take forever to come up to operating temp. it is known with gasoline engines as well, especially our BMW's which have an insane amount of oil which obviously needs to be all warmed up in order to come up to temp.

dont bother idling to warm up, that would probably take almost an hour and not good for your car at all. just drive around for 20 minutes.

[YasF80_SLO]

Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52

it is normal for cars to take forever to come up to operating temp. it is known with gasoline engines as well, especially our BMW's which have an insane amount of oil which obviously needs to be all warmed up in order to come up to temp.

dont bother idling to warm up, that would probably take almost an hour and not good for your car at all. just drive around for 20 minutes.

+1 on this, I go start the car in the morning and come back inside and eat some food or something, the days when it idles for 10-15Minutes the oil gauge isnt even up over 160 the days when it idles for 5, same thing, just give it 5 minutes in the mornings, anything more then that isnt beneficial AFAIK.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by 2013_E92

+1 on this, I go start the car in the morning and come back inside and eat some food or something, the days when it idles for 10-15Minutes the oil gauge isnt even up over 160 the days when it idles for 5, same thing, just give it 5 minutes in the mornings, anything more then that isnt beneficial AFAIK.

"go eat food or something" god, im about to appreciate your post just for writing that.

Honestly, its best not to idle your engine at all when it is cold. when you first start your engine, not only is the metal not fully expanded (pistons not fully seated) but the cold air cannot be efficiently used yet this meaning your ECU dumps a ton of fuel into the mixture to keep it running. its a waste of fuel yes, but its also very inefficient and simply not good for your engine at all. the best thing to do is drive off right away.

a cold start rpm (1100RPM or whatever) isnt even to warm up the engine. its to heat up the cats as quickly as possible so they can efficiently operate.

[ctuna]

Most people here do not have diesels or 4 cylinder cars.
So you need to look up the procedure.
On the gas 6 cylinders there is and electric water pump
that has a purge procedure that runs on the battery don't
know if this is true of the diesels or older 4 cylinders.

[Gaspo]

Originally Posted by feuer

Climate control to max heat and low fan will not help with air pockets. Come on now! Don't take ages! Is diesel and diesel is cheap. But if you are so impatient just keep it revved up a little.

:-) im not thinking in the cost! Just that its a fact that it wont reach operating temp on idle.

I just wounder if its that easy as you write. I haven't seen that advice anywhere. Sorry for asking but I have to be sure. Don't you just relise the pressure with that method. You could just open the cap gently to relise the pressure.

[BMW_fun]

Guys, here are the official BMW instructions from ISTA:
Open the expansion tank cap;
Open the bleeding screws (on EGR thermostat, coolant returning pipe, screw near expansion tank);
Turn on ignition;
Set the interior heater on maximum temperature and lowest speed;
Fill the coolant to expansion tank;
Screw in bleeding screws when coolant without air bubbles starts to emerge at these points, or when the expansion tank will be at maximum level;
Make sure coolant is at maximum in expansion tank;
Start the engine and let it idle for 5 minutes. Watch the expansion tank and add coolant if needed;
Close the coolant expansion tank cap. Rev the engine up to 2500revs/minute a few times;
Open the expansion tank again and let the engine idle for 5 minutes more;
Add coolant to maximum and close the expansion tank.

That's all! Also, I am always checking the coolant level next morning on cold engine and top up if needed.

[Gaspo]

Originally Posted by BMW_fun

Guys, here are the official BMW instructions from ISTA:
Open the expansion tank cap;
Open the bleeding screws (on EGR thermostat, coolant returning pipe, screw near expansion tank);
Turn on ignition;
Set the interior heater on maximum temperature and lowest speed;
Fill the coolant to expansion tank;
Screw in bleeding screws when coolant without air bubbles starts to emerge at these points, or when the expansion tank will be at maximum level;
Make sure coolant is at maximum in expansion tank;
Start the engine and let it idle for 5 minutes. Watch the expansion tank and add coolant if needed;
Close the coolant expansion tank cap. Rev the engine up to 2500revs/minute a few times;
Open the expansion tank again and let the engine idle for 5 minutes more;
Add coolant to maximum and close the expansion tank.

That's all! Also, I am always checking the coolant level next morning on cold engine and top up if needed.

Thx! I only have the bleeding screw on top of the expansion tank. I will fill up to when it indicates max level. I think if I fill up to the bleeding screw it's almost over full.

[BMW_fun]

Yes, You should fill up coolant until it starts to run from bleeding screw. Then screw in bleeder screw and continue filling coolant till it will be at max in expansion tank. Then start the engine end follow the procedure

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by Sobeus

Thx! I only have the bleeding screw on top of the expansion tank. I will fill up to when it indicates max level. I think if I fill up to the bleeding screw it's almost over full.

Do not fill coolant in the tank all the way to the bleeding screw.

You misunderstood what was being discussed.

These cooling systems are self venting, and many people are still confused about that.

Fill coolant and observe the floating fill level indicator. Fill to max. Run car with heat on max and observe the coolant level. If level drops add more coolant. Close coolant tank cap and you're done.

You don't need to bleed anything as the whole tank is designed to take out air from the system, hence the overflow hose that connects to it from the top.

Cheers.

[feuer]

I don't know why people got caught up on this idle thing. Nobody is telling him to idle extensively! He is not doing it everyday and multiple time per day to be detrimental. So please stop posting about it. As I told him let idle and if needed rev it up. If you can't get you car to operating temperature especially while statationary then you shouldn't have been doing the thermostat replacment yourself and ahd had the car dropped off at the mechanic shop where guess what? > they won't drive it around for 20-30 minutes as said above.

[Gaspo]

Originally Posted by feuer

I don't know why people got caught up on this idle thing. Nobody is telling him to idle extensively! He is not doing it everyday and multiple time per day to be detrimental. So please stop posting about it. As I told him let idle and if needed rev it up. If you can't get you car to operating temperature especially while statationary then you shouldn't have been doing the thermostat replacment yourself and ahd had the car dropped off at the mechanic shop where guess what? > they won't drive it around for 20-30 minutes as said above.

Its a diesel!! Please guide me to a mechanic that can get the car to operating temp on idle cold engine. just after you have flushed the system. It takes TIME!! And no I haven't changed the thermostat yet!

[Gaspo]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Do not fill coolant in the tank all the way to the bleeding screw.

You misunderstood what was being discussed.

These cooling systems are self venting, and many people are still confused about that.

Fill coolant and observe the floating fill level indicator. Fill to max. Run car with heat on max and observe the coolant level. If level drops add more coolant. Close coolant tank cap and you're done.

You don't need to bleed anything as the whole tank is designed to take out air from the system, hence the overflow hose that connects to it from the top.

Cheers.

I wrote:I will fill up to when it indicates max level. I think if I fill up to the bleeding screw it's almost over full.
That said I will not fill up to the bleeding screw. Because the bleeding screw is at the same level at the top of the tank. It will be coolant all the way up=overfilled. In the description bmw_fun write it says either fill up to the bleeding screw or max level. So floating fill level indicator max:-)

Your description is it blower on max too? And is the process on idle stationary.

Sorry for all the questions but that's what the forums is for :-) I appreciate all help guys. And sorry for extremely swenglish :-) I'm frome Sweden :-)

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Sobeus

Its a diesel!! Please guide me to a mechanic that can get the car to operating temp on idle cold engine. just after you have flushed the system. It takes TIME!! And no I haven't changed the thermostat yet!

I'm from Macedonia, most cars, not only BMW are diesel. Like I said, if needed rev it up. I've done it, oh God, can't even tell you how many times...

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by Sobeus

I wrote:I will fill up to when it indicates max level. I think if I fill up to the bleeding screw it's almost over full.
That said I will not fill up to the bleeding screw. Because the bleeding screw is at the same level at the top of the tank. It will be coolant all the way up=overfilled. In the description bmw_fun write it says either fill up to the bleeding screw or max level. So floating fill level indicator max:-)

Your description is it blower on max too? And is the process on idle stationary.

Sorry for all the questions but that's what the forums is for :-) I appreciate all help guys. And sorry for extremely swenglish :-) I'm frome Sweden :-)

No problem, we are all here to assist each other as much as possible.

My description was referring to set the interior temperature controls to full warm and blower fan speed to low.

Process was on idle. Clearly your car would take a really long time to heat up to operating temps, so just carry out the process at idle with whatever temp you can get. At least let it idle for 10-15 mins, then observe the coolant level.

As feuer said, no shop is going to drive your car around until it heats up, so they would be doing the same thing. Also keep in mind that coolant expands when hot, so checking it while it's hot will not give you an accurate fill level. Always check coolant level when engine/coolant is cold.