E46 Expansion Tank Cracked

[planta]

Last night, a fellow forumer dropped by with the water indicator light at the meter turned on but temperature was still normal. E46 318 2.0 2002 M-Sport

Turned off the engine and opened the bonet and you can immediately hear the sound .... ppsssssssssssssssss..... coming from the expansion tank. Immediately we saw water on the engine under cover and water spraying out from the expansion tank... sudah cracked la...When I took these pictures, the spraying had stopped. Looked at the area inside the the marked red area, there is a crack line.

I believe you can make your own assesment and decision whether to change your expansion tank or not. First if your car is 5 years and above and never changed it, then it is a good time to change it. Secondly is to look at the indicator stick. New stick is supposed to be shining red like a lipstick. If it is only used over a few years like on my car, it is dark red.

But if it is above 5 years, it may look like this, the one that broke last night. The red color has faded and it looks like yellowish or brownish.

I tried bending it with very very little bit of pressure only and it simply broke. Sudah reput la...

I presume if your E46 expansion tank is still the one fitted by the factory, you can check on the date of your expansion tank. This is the sticker on the broken expansion tank. Date 21.10.2002

New expansion tank was fitted. http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa124/fujitsubogiken/31813.jpg11pm, SpyGames was ready to go home for his Khamis Malam Jumaat adventure... expansion tank fully loaded and ready to go... http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa124/fujitsubogiken/31814.jpghttp://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa124/fujitsubogiken/31815.jpgSo guys, check on your expansion tank... to be safe. Hope the sharing helps.planta

 

[rookie]

Once again, a very detailed and informative write-up. Keep on sharing bro planta :rock::rock:

 

[rahizwan]

bro, damage cost?

 

[Bailey]

cheap cheap one lor sumore fren fren wor hehehehe dont forget tonite yeah hehehee

 

[redbaron]

Good job planta.

 

[thsaw99]

great job and thanx for sharing!

 

[astroboy]

bro, damage cost?

Damage as in needing to trouble planta at night or damage as in missing on the evening's outing or damage as in other components caused by the crack expansion tank?.. or just the money spend on the expansion tank replacement?

If its the last, planta has made it clear that he will not review because its not fair to other workshops.

Come, let's go ask the M-sport owner. Nice Alpine White M-sport with OEM projector HID!!

 

[Mouse]

good info, thanks for sharing

 

[rahizwan]

Damage as in needing to trouble planta at night or damage as in missing on the evening's outing or damage as in other components caused by the crack expansion tank?.. or just the money spend on the expansion tank replacement?

If its the last, planta has made it clear that he will not review because its not fair to other workshops.

Come, let's go ask the M-sport owner. Nice Alpine White M-sport with OEM projector HID!!

bro, u r too smart on putting words la... to trouble Planta at nite shud be no prob wit him as long u $$$ him, but if u go at nite for FOC then only consider TROUBLE..hehehe!! cheers!

anyway, gudjob Planta!!

 

[affan66]

which is why I replaced my radiator, hoses, thermostat, waterpump and expansion tank 30 minutes after I got my car keys from the dealer!!!!

 

[planta]

bro, u r too smart on putting words la... to trouble Planta at nite shud be no prob wit him as long u $$$ him, but if u go at nite for FOC then only consider TROUBLE..hehehe!! cheers!

anyway, gudjob Planta!!

Thanks bro for the compliments...

But then to clarify... how much would I earn changing these stuff at 9pm to 11pm at night for a friend. Not much la. I even went down to Nilai last 2 weeks to rescue this car, did it FOC. So the money is not the motivating factor. I don't take advantage of such situation coz this is not how I make my living. I do not actually have to do this work to live. Considering it is on Khamis Malam Jumaat, it is actually a sacrifice for friends and for the love of BMW.

Why I do this? The satisfied feeling to complete the job and help a fellow BMW driver... priceless. Doing it coz I love it, I am a grease monkey.

How much does all this cost? Don't ask la.. the intention is to share the technical knowledge and experience and let you guys see for yourselves what it means by respective maintenance or technical issues so that you can increase your loving and caring for you steel / aluminium wife...

Have a good weekend guys. :wink: and take car of your wives...:top:

planta

 

[acidburn]

Good Job Planta,

I will ensure your paycheck increase by 15 percent for the fiscal year 2007 performance.
If u come for the next upcoming TT, I will top up another 5 percent to compensate 2008 petrol hike up that scheduled to increase by 40 cents per litre.

P/s : Hopefully no more "Honey Moon Travel"

 

[r37720]

Now I should say planta is an official technical advisor for E46, after he ahs gone through hard time on his E46 - my ex-wife

I am still yet to send my E60 for ATF change. Want to completely lower down GB.

When is next TT?

 

[VNP]

Thanks bro for the compliments...

But then to clarify... how much would I earn changing these stuff at 9pm to 11pm at night for a friend. Not much la. I even went down to Nilai last 2 weeks to rescue this car, did it FOC. So the money is not the motivating factor. I don't take advantage of such situation coz this is not how I make my living. I do not actually have to do this work to live. Considering it is on Khamis Malam Jumaat, it is actually a sacrifice for friends and for the love of BMW.

Why I do this? The satisfied feeling to complete the job and help a fellow BMW driver... priceless. Doing it coz I love it, I am a grease monkey.

How much does all this cost? Don't ask la.. the intention is to share the technical knowledge and experience and let you guys see for yourselves what it means by respective maintenance or technical issues so that you can increase your loving and caring for you steel / aluminium wife...

Have a good weekend guys. :wink: and take car of your wives...:top:

planta

You're the man planta... sacrificing for friends and for the love for BMW.
People like you are hard to come by. Keep up the good work. Planta Boleh!

 

[SpyGames]

yea agreed with VNP

 

[afidie]

just wonder why u need a car for 'khamis malam jumaat' adventures...:rock: