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+--- Thread: My M3 is broken (/showthread.php?tid=6876)
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My M3 is broken - JackoliciousLegs - 01-12-2008
![[Image: m3broke.jpg]](http://www.ojacko.com/junk/m3broke.jpg)
So, I was driving up a mountain heading to Santa Cruz last night and felt the car stutter. Then I saw smoke start pouring out of the front driver's side of the hood. Pulled off immediately and checked for warnings in the car. None. Temp was ok. Popped the hood and found that my upper radiator hose had popped off. Shit, I thought. I just replaced the entire cooling system on the car. I had 50/50 mix in the the trunk along with a toolkit so I reattached the hose, filled the coolant back up, checked the temp gauge and turned it over. Ran to the front, coolant level was down a bit, so I filled it up a bit... ran back, and saw the temp gauge creeping up ever so slightly. Shit. Turned it off. That's how it ended up in the pic. I had it all worked out. I was on a steep incline and I couldn't fill the coolant reservoir enough. I had it dropped off at a BMW shop in Santa Cruz and didn't leave the key.
Got up this morning, and came back to the car. Checked coolant now that it was level, and it was down a bit. No leaks or anything under the car, so I filled it up and gave it a start. Temp was rising slowly as usual, and coolant level was staying ok. I gave it a bit of a rev to 2k to start the bleeding process. Checked the coolant again, and it was ok. Came back, temp was still below operating temp so I turned the heater on. Something smelled funny. I shut it off. Turned the heater off. Then I noticed the smoke. It was smoking *ever so slightly* from the back of the engine (kind of over the passenger's feet).
The car is waiting at the shop now for them to look at it first thing Monday morning. I can't do anything since they have the keys, but does anyone have any idea what it could be? I thought the tstat might be stuck or the water pump not working, but then the smoke... I don't know what it was from but the temp wasn't even up. Maybe something heater related? Why would that blow a coolant hose? I have no idea. Help
Car stats:
1998 M3
97k on odo
New radiator, t-stat, t-stat housing, water pump, hoses all done 3 months ago.
- Evan - 01-12-2008
im not familiar with those cars specifically, but usually the heater and heater core go through the firewall around the passenger side firewall (and are connected to the cooling system of course). You may have just popped a hose back there, or it could even be coolant still burning off.
- BLINGMW - 01-12-2008
Could be what Evan said, or could be a headgasket leaking combustion gases into coolant system? I'd (or I guess in your case, have the shop) put a cooling system pressure tester on there, start it up and see what happens. Or you can get one of those do-dads that detects combustion gases.
Keep in mind "the temp wasn't even up" on this car doesn't mean a damn thing. When my radiator neck busted and that same hose went spewing everywhere, I drove another couple miles before it was obviously overheating. Temp gauge never budged. :?
It's all part of the E36 experience! Congrats! :mrgreen:
- PDenbigh - 01-12-2008
You may be ok as the smoke might just be coolant burning off the exhaust from when the hose popped. You have to make sure its bled properly of course, because an air pocket won't transfer heat.
Best case is you got "lucky" and "only" blew a hose?
- ViPER1313 - 01-12-2008
My bet would be coolant burning off the exhaust or block. The SHO's motor engine bay looked like a sauna after I replaced a burst a coolant hose.
- Scott - 01-13-2008
ViPER1313 Wrote:My bet would be coolant burning off the exhaust or block. The SHO's motor engine bay looked like a sauna after I replaced a burst a coolant hose.
same result I got after I replaced the burst coolant hose on my Triumph
- Feersty - 01-13-2008
BLINGMW Wrote:It's all part of the E36 experience! Congrats! :mrgreen:
Sorry about that Jack. I love E36M3's but man, they sure ain't free from their issues.
- ViPER1313 - 01-14-2008
Feersty Wrote:Just like SVT's aren't free from theirs :?: Every car breaks now and again. Good luck with the repairs Jack - hope it's nothing major.BLINGMW Wrote:It's all part of the E36 experience! Congrats! :mrgreen:
Feersty Wrote:I also have an oil pan gasket leak.
Feersty Wrote:Check Engine Light was because of P133 Bank 1 O2 Sensor
Feersty Wrote:There's fluid all over my....clutch pedal. Its pretty bad, I can see it on the floor mat and the sole of my shoe slips off it at times.
- Evan - 01-14-2008
relax Adam, he wasnt saying that his focus is better than an M3.
- JackoliciousLegs - 01-14-2008
So the shop pressure tested the system, replaced the t-stat+housing, replaced the hose that blew, and flushed the system. They think it's ok now. I guess it was just a loose clamp? Wonder why it didn't happen 3 months ago right after I did the cooling system.
- CaptainHenreh - 01-14-2008
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:So the shop pressure tested the system, replaced the t-stat+housing, replaced the hose that blew, and flushed the system. They think it's ok now. I guess it was just a loose clamp? Wonder why it didn't happen 3 months ago right after I did the cooling system.
Well, it *is* a BMW.
It needed some time to lull you into a false sense of security.
- JackoliciousLegs - 01-14-2008
Hahaha.. well... what if I installed the thermostat upside down? Might that have done it?
- WRXtranceformed - 01-14-2008
Evan Wrote:relax Adam, he wasnt saying that his focus is better than an M3.
Evan, dude, this post does not have nearly enough hate!
- .RJ - 01-14-2008
WRXtranceformed Wrote:Evan Wrote:relax Adam, he wasnt saying that his focus is better than an M3.
Evan, dude, this post does not have nearly enough hate!
Dont encourage him...
- Evan - 01-14-2008
WTF? fuck you RJ, I havent hated on anyone recently until a british cockgobbler started shitting up the board and taking the internet too seriously. (which was really more mocking him than hating anyway)
- Luke - 01-14-2008
Evan Wrote:WTF? fuck you RJ, I havent hated on anyone recently until a british cockgobbler started shitting up the board and taking the internet too seriously. (which was really more mocking him than hating anyway)
Shitting up the board?
I only registered on here in ref. to the Caterham post. Since your first reply to me (along the lines of Rover engines being shit or something, like you would know!!!!) you have been nothing less than an obnoxious little cunt, why do you feel the need to do that exactly? DonÔÇÖt be surprised that when you treat people like that they generally react in a negative way.
Your attitude sucks and I can only assume you are a 20 something year old with a bit of an inferiority complex to carry on like you do? There were a ton of pricks just like you back in the day on HT, you do grow out of 'needing' forums I can assure you.
Running your mouth like you do is fairly juvenile stuff, It's a shame we will never meet so I could see if you are actually a prick or if you just have an internet persona that is a little out of control.
Have fun.
- Apoc - 01-14-2008
You're both invited to my shindig in February.
- JackoliciousLegs - 01-14-2008
ok... retract those claws ladies. Back to the matter at hand. The mild smoke after I started it back up was apparently from the valve cover gasket. The tech said it was such small leak, he wouldn't worry about it. He said that if I'd overheated, more shit would have fried. Naturally, I'm worried. I guess I'm doing a valve cover gasket...
- CaptainHenreh - 01-14-2008
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:. Naturally, I'm worried. I guess I'm doing a valve cover gasket...
I HAVE ONE.
- ScottyB - 01-14-2008
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:The tech said it was such small leak, he wouldn't worry about it.
i wouldn't either. my 1.8T had a decent (i.e. not small, it was down one whole side of the cover and it weeped out) valve cover gasket leak for over a year and it was never an issue. just looks messy.
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:He said that if I'd overheated, more shit would have fried. Naturally, I'm worried. I guess I'm doing a valve cover gasket...
what does he mean by fried shit? IMO if you would have overheated you'd have a warped head and that would either lead to funky compression or a blown head gasket.
i'd worry about your VCG after you confirm your car didn't overheat.