First problem with zed, over heating!

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:29 pm

Hello, I've had my E86 since July 2016 and I've just experienced my first breakdown! I decided to enjoy the great weather and go up the Lakes for drive and due to the heavy traffic around Windermere my Zed started to overheat! The red light on the temperature gauge was only for about 30 seconds and smoke started to come from my bonnet! not a nice sight or feeling!!! so I quickly did a U turn to get the car moving again and the temperature gauge began to get back to normal again, but unfortunately the coolant warning was now displayed on my dash. I drove to the nearest garage, 11 miles away and allowed the engine to fully cool down and topped it up with coolant and the car was fine again for about 15 miles and then the coolant light was then displayed on the dash again and the temperature started getting to the red zone, so I pulled over and rang the recovery services. The fresh new coolant was now on the floor under my Zed!

whilst, waiting for the recover services I began researching the forum and this seems to be a common problem? thermostat? water pump or radiator?

the joys of owning a 9+ year old car!

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:33 pm

Hi, your n52 engine uses an electric water pump and they seem to be on thin ice after about 70k miles.
Don't go to a dealer as the pumps can be had for half price elsewhere-easy diy job (check hoses, tanks first before buying pump)

Rob

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:37 pm

Thanks Rob. Mine only has 54K on the clock and a full service history.

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:48 pm

Thermostat housing is a very common failure.

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:50 pm

Thanks Raymond

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:31 pm

Keep an eye on temps post-fix, as running an engine hot for any length of time can cause irreparable damage- head gasket failure, warped heads etc.
Suggest investing in Carly Pro app and obd dongle- this will enable you to monitor and log temps in realtime for analysis onthefly and after driving.

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:48 pm

Thanks Chris

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:55 pm

Expansion tank is another common one. Take off the engine undertray, seven 8mms screws, and look underneath to see where the fluid is coming from

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:56 pm

Thanks again

Rufus59 · Post by **Rufus59** » Sun Mar 26, 2017 12:12 am

Expansion tank went on my e85 too, very common problem in z4s and some 3 series too

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sun Mar 26, 2017 12:48 am

Sorry to hear that OP.

Sounds like the electric water pump has had enough of life - the pump on my first E86 did that at 9 years and 60K miles (partly why I decided to sell it)!

I went to my local BMW indy and an OEM pump was £500 - ECP quoted £340 for the pump, but I have nowhere to work on it so with a new thermostat and labour I got a bill to make my eyes water!

Hope you can sort a fix at a reasonable price.

AFAIK the expansion tank/banana radiator issues tended to afflict pre-facelift models with the M54 engine - did all that with my E46, but it's a much cheaper fix!

Looking back I should have got over it - which is why when I agreed to sell mine I went out and bought another!

Once you have your E86 fixed and go for another drive hopefully you will realise how good they are!

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 8:46 pm

The local garage rang me today and said my cooling fan assembly needs to be replaced, £600 fitted. What's your thoughts? They said my electric water pump was working fine

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:45 pm

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticle ... cement.htm Two hour job.
http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/radiato ... oCKtrw_wcB fan is £280 so you could fit it yourself

Lee.stagg3 · Post by **Lee.stagg3** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 5:49 pm

Raymond, thanks for the info. Lee

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:25 pm

As above £600 is too much to replace a fan. The fan for my ///M was around £400 fitted, 18 months ago. Shop around or fit it your self. How does a failed fan cause you to lose coolant, unless you were boiling it of, which would worry me a little.

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