e30: radiator popped!

[selespeed]

today is an unfortunately day for me. while driving home stuck in a traffic jam, the radiator suddenly popped and the steam came out from the front. it was a loud pop. subsequently water temp. raced upwars to the red zone. i pulled over and found out the release screw had broken. cooled down for a few minutes but drove 5 minutes away to a mobil station to check. fill up with water but didn't seem to fill up. close examination found that the radiator had leaked at the bottom somewhere next to the expansion tank. so left the car in the mobil station and took a bus home. i have been contemplating to get a new radiator but since i am only 10 minutes away from the famous junkyard, it's worth the while to get a used one. furthermore, there is a service workshop in the mobil/esso station i can ask the mechanic to install. is it worth changing to a used radiator? sigh! since may, i have been spending money like crazy, so many leaks, all kinds of leaks. BMW memang banyak makan wang. how true! thanks.

 

[fabianyee]

I think the car merajuk with u cos you always say alfa reliable...

Btw, depending on the damage, I know there's 1 radiator specialist in Old Klang Road which repairs/overhaul radiator. If it's the plastic side casing which is broken, it can be changed.

 

[Jules]

i guess if u want keep car......a new one is a good insurance for long term driving peace.

 

[selespeed]

i guess if u want keep car......a new one is a good insurance for long term driving peace.

yeah agreed. but i don't forsee keeping the car for long. probably a year or less. a new one is extremely expensive. but if a used one is a lot less, i am willing to risk getting one.

 

[selespeed]

I think the car merajuk with u cos you always say alfa reliable...

Btw, depending on the damage, I know there's 1 radiator specialist in Old Klang Road which repairs/overhaul radiator. If it's the plastic side casing which is broken, it can be changed.

hi sifu!

thanks for your recommendation.

i finally decided to buy a used one (since the junkyard is just 10 minutes from my stalled car). cost me $80 + tax. a new one is about 220 bucks but it is too far to get it.

after coming back with the "new" radiator, i found out that there's no mechanic in the shop to help me change it. so S^$%^*, i had to dirty my hands and ended up having to replace the radiator myself. it's "hard" work because one of the hoses refused to come out -- rubber hardened but with perseverance it had to come out. and fortunately with resident expert ersalle remote installation instructions, i was able to pull through. thanks man! you da radiator man!

the radiator comes with "warranty" too. not bad, if it's found to be leaking, they would change it no questions asked.

as for the old radiator, the leaks were all over at the bottom of the expansion tank. cracks probably due to too high built-up pressure as a result of new 88deg thermostat (prior to this, i have a "straight-through" thermostat (holes are cut around it)). the car was steamning like hot springs in front of all other cars on busy rush hour home. many were just looking in disbelief. they thought this coul d only happen to alfa! i was embarrased! had i not changed to a new thormostat, this would not have happened

thank you ersalle and meetoo for recommending me to change to 88deg thermostat and busted my trusty old radiator

thus far, it's back to rock-steady temperature with no leaks!

 

[fabianyee]

hi sifu!

thanks for your recommendation.

i finally decided to buy a used one (since the junkyard is just 10 minutes from my stalled car). cost me $80 + tax. a new one is about 220 bucks but it is too far to get it.

after coming back with the "new" radiator, i found out that there's no mechanic in the shop to help me change it. so S^$%^*, i had to dirty my hands and ended up having to replace the radiator myself. it's "hard" work because one of the hoses refused to come out -- rubber hardened but with perseverance it had to come out. and fortunately with resident expert ersalle remote installation instructions, i was able to pull through. thanks man! you da radiator man!

the radiator comes with "warranty" too. not bad, if it's found to be leaking, they would change it no questions asked.

as for the old radiator, the leaks were all over at the bottom of the expansion tank. cracks probably due to too high built-up pressure as a result of new 88deg thermostat (prior to this, i have a "straight-through" thermostat (holes are cut around it)). the car was steamning like hot springs in front of all other cars on busy rush hour home. many were just looking in disbelief. they thought this coul d only happen to alfa! i was embarrased! had i not changed to a new thormostat, this would not have happened

thank you ersalle and meetoo for recommending me to change to 88deg thermostat and busted my trusty old radiator

thus far, it's back to rock-steady temperature with no leaks!

Nothing wrong with the 88degree thermostat.. Just that your radiator is 'on the way' and may not have been caused by the change of thermostat at all..

 

[Zoggee]

talk abt that.... I just fixed my wiring problems,fixed my wheel bearings,A/C compressor hoses and getting ready to go down JB last week. Guess what...my thermostate jammed. Temperatures almost to red indicator. Change the radiator hoses and guess what now???

Niamah....A/C compressor pulak kyoak on me. I'm getting frustrated of my yellow sub la.

headaches...problems will resurface after anuder.

Selespeed...very true. This year alone I've spent almost rm4k liao.

cheh...
BMW sucks. haha...luckily company bears the repairs.

I think the newer engine M42 is better.

 

[selespeed]

talk abt that.... I just fixed my wiring problems,fixed my wheel bearings,A/C compressor hoses and getting ready to go down JB last week. Guess what...my thermostate jammed. Temperatures almost to red indicator. Change the radiator hoses and guess what now???

Niamah....A/C compressor pulak kyoak on me. I'm getting frustrated of my yellow sub la.

headaches...problems will resurface after anuder.

Selespeed...very true. This year alone I've spent almost rm4k liao.

cheh...
BMW sucks. haha...luckily company bears the repairs.

I think the newer engine M42 is better.

BMW = banyak makan wang indeed
my repairs and more yet to fix...

my repairs:

may
rm670 (A/C compressor, filter, valve) and still no real cold air

june ($320 + rm400)
june is the month of leaks - leaks, leaks everywhere and my e30 is a leaky machine...
diff leaking - oil seals to change, inner and outer axle boots to change (broken la and leaking). bought the parts but no time to change yet

brake oil leaks - drove to kl last sunday and stepped on brake pedal all the way almost getting into accidents. a few times i stepped on the brakes it's like going into vaccum and had to press a few times. went to autochild and found there is no more brake oil. leaks found in rear brake cylinder... major safety concern. problem fixed yesterday with new pump cylinders. last changed in october 2004

gear box oil leaks again. wtf? (seal to replace again? just after 2 years since last replaced? i asked two-b workshop and he said e30 is like that. got to change every 2 years inherent problem. where is the reliability, mont-o? knn my alfa doesn't leak like that!

control arm bushes cracked. so have to change but i have no time yet. i last changed in october 2004. where is the bmw reliability?

new themostat installed - just wanna see rock steady 88deg auspicious #

steering oil leaking sikit but i guess it is not serious.

july

radiator popped la.
changed new tires kumho $340 205/55/15

the more i check the car, the more problems i find. sometimes i asked if it is worth maintaining an old car. it's just taking up not just $$$$ but the time which is very unproductive.

 

[selespeed]

Nothing wrong with the 88degree thermostat.. Just that your radiator is 'on the way' and may not have been caused by the change of thermostat at all..

agreed. was just saying in jest! to those 2 radiator guys!

 

[eau-rouge]

out of curiosity,what engine r u using?

 

[selespeed]

out of curiosity,what engine r u using?

m40 la! and then thereis the inherent probloem of worn camshaft that is a known problem. sigh!

 

[anakin]

talk abt that.... I just fixed my wiring problems,fixed my wheel bearings,A/C compressor hoses and getting ready to go down JB last week. Guess what...my thermostate jammed. Temperatures almost to red indicator. Change the radiator hoses and guess what now???

Niamah....A/C compressor pulak kyoak on me. I'm getting frustrated of my yellow sub la.

headaches...problems will resurface after anuder.

Selespeed...very true. This year alone I've spent almost rm4k liao.

cheh...
BMW sucks. haha...luckily company bears the repairs.

I think the newer engine M42 is better.

Abang Zoggee...yellow sub merajuk...sebab abang nak jual dia...

 

[meetoo]

Sorry to hear about your problems seles! You have to love an old car and want to keep it as a classic, otherwise the constant repairing is very frustrating. I can't stand it, so I never keep a car more than 8 years old.

 

[ersalle]

I knew u going to open this thread Sele hehehe......aiyahhh ur radiator expired already(more than 10yrs) plastic brittle, summore that day i flushed ur radiator got rust also. Well at least finally got rid of my car,so no more worrying in the meantime unless i get another "Banyak Makan Wang" punya kereta in the future. After all, all of us here who owns E30 knows that the car is more than 15yrs old so we should be expecting all this. All the money spent is worth when its back to its original state.

 

[danzel]

certainly this is not a normal. several possibilities might happened. cap is not replaced properly after servicing. cap is damaged/worn out. bmw radiator neck is damaged/worn out. either of the last too is rare (I don't think I've ever heard of this type of problem), but possible. my suggestion would be to inspect the cap and neck for any obvious problems. if none are found, replace the coolant with bmw coolant (if necessary) and reinstall the cap. carry some water with you and monitor the situation carefully. if it doesn't happen again, the cap must not have been on correctly.

 

[tomspc]

radiatior specialst e30

I think the car merajuk with u cos you always say alfa reliable...

Btw, depending on the damage, I know there's 1 radiator specialist in Old Klang Road which repairs/overhaul radiator. If it's the plastic side casing which is broken, it can be changed.

hi fabian,
may i have the info on the radiator specialist in old klang road
my e 30 radiator - the plastic cracked , thanks for your help ya

henry

 

[fabianyee]

hi fabian,
may i have the info on the radiator specialist in old klang road
my e 30 radiator - the plastic cracked , thanks for your help ya

henry

It's where the star is...

http://www.streetdirectory.com/mala..._site=191132&nline=&viewmode=&level=5?144,287


or search http://maps.google.com with this cordinate (3.082012, 101.643823)

 

[rezzy3181]

Radiator problem I too had mine change brand new a week ago. 1st my water pump leak, had it change then my radiator as old as the car had a little leak at the clamp near the plastic container but can bare with it as my temp. never goes beyond 1/4 unless Q goes up close to !/2, well the leak are only at times not always thats way I don't bother much even drive north to south no problems so far, well when the water pump gave way (time to change) as it was about 6 to 7 years already thats when the heat goes up and make my radiator merajuk but I was lucky any serious problem I got it at home just call my Doctor he'll come and do it but when comes to radiator I don't take chances to repair and I know mine is just a little leak can be repaired but I decided to change new and I drive in peace. How come I think in this thread someone mention the new radiator cost about 200rm I got mine German made at 510rm strange and even my mechanic say I got it cheap. Fabianyee what do you comment?

 

[fabianyee]

Radiator problem I too had mine change brand new a week ago. 1st my water pump leak, had it change then my radiator as old as the car had a little leak at the clamp near the plastic container but can bare with it as my temp. never goes beyond 1/4 unless Q goes up close to !/2, well the leak are only at times not always thats way I done bother much even drive north to south no problems so far, well when the water pump gave way (time to change) as it was about 6 to 7 years already thats when the heat goes up and make my radiator merajuk but I was lucky any serious problem I got it at home just call my Doctor he'll come and do it but when come to radiator I don't take chances to repair and I know mine is just a little leak can be repaired but I decided to change new and I drive in peace. How come I think in this thread someone mention the new radiator cost about 200rm I got mine German made at 510rm strange and even my machanic say I got it cheap. Fabianyee what do you comment?

really long winded... selespeed is commuting between SG and JB so the 220 bucks he quoted could have been in SGD..

 

[rezzy3181]

really long winded... selespeed is commuting between SG and JB so the 220 bucks he quoted could have been in SGD..

Thanks Fabian