2 hour wait for AA

[mrscalex]

All fixable, but what a pain....

Don't know if this will help, but Autodoc are doing 27% discount today.

I wouldn't rush. Autodoc are like Eurocarparts and always having a sale. That said they are consistently cheap and have a huge choice of different brands. But they are not the most reliable supplier and P&P is uneconomical from Germany unless you are spending enough.

 

[Dalek]

It may be even slightly worse again. Make sure you take control of the spring fitted. Assuming it's still on factory springs, Sport fitment is -15mm. There are no aftermarket parts. Only BMW. Front springs are about £85 ea from BMW. And preferably replaced in pairs.

Other options are change springs all round and lower by a further 15mm (-30mm fitment). Or have a pair of regular aftermarket springs that will increase the front of the car by 15mm. Don't do that on one side only otherwise you will affect handling - exactly why you shouldn't let the garage pick. They may well tell you they put in your reg and it's the right part but I can tell you know with all certainty it won't be because you have a Sport. Every single parts catalogue I've ever checked does not know about Sport fitment and I've checked dozens.

While the strut(s) are apart they should check the shocks have good rebound and the top mounts are okay. If they are original factory shocks it will be a big surprise if they are in good order.

The good news is all of this is fairly light on labour. It's the parts bill that stacks up.

Thanks Robert, I have passed on your comments. The mechanic was aware of the springs issue, he has come across it before.

 

[ktnez99]

Sorry to hear of this @Dalek
I had the same happen to my car a few years back with the water pump going, the fan flew off into the radiator and I was very lucky that the radiator didn’t need replacing. I was a driving along fine one moment and then the next, no power and I instantly pulled over. Coincidentally, we were discussing this at last Saturday’s ZedShed.

It is all fixable and it could have been worse which I know is no consolation but to be expected with our 20 years plus old cars.

Lovely colour, btw.

 

[Grumps]

If memory serves @Grumps ( I think) had a pretty major water pump failure out on a forum cruise.

Close Steve. It threw 3 fan blades off so as Tony has already said got it over to his and we and @Brian4 rebuilt the cooling system. Been spot on since.

 

[t-tony]

I remember Gaz having a similar problem too IIRC.

Tony.

 

[Mint]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Paul. She'll be good as new when she comes out of hospital

 

[mwpe]

I changed the water pump, belt, tensioner and thermostat on mine at about 104,000 miles as a precaution. All the old parts were as good as new but on my E46 the water pump bearings failed at about 71,000.

 

[t-tony]

We were discussing this last Saturday at the Shed Mike and although it is sensible to keep an eye on these items you can't really put a mileage on where things "should" be changed.
Your cars are testament to that.

Tony.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

Sorry to hear of your problems Paul but as has been said it could have been a lot worse, wonder when the spring broke and damaged the tyre ? Geoff

 

[GZed]

Well the water pump was my other immediate thought. A lucky escape as they can do a lot of damage sometimes, even on a Z3. On some cars like my old Alhambra it’s terminal as it runs off the timing belt.

This is why water pump replacement should be high up the list of any owner. I suspect if yours was plastic it may even have been original? Have to say anyone with an original water pump on a 20 year old car is sitting on a time bomb. Would suggest replacement every 4 or 5 years maybe.

Don’t forget to get the thermostat changed while you are in there. And use decent makes. Not Eurocarparts chocolate teapots.

Thanks @mrscalex for this ‘time bomb’ warning, and your subsequent reccs for quality replacements. Something I’ll definitely have to check (and probably add!) to my ever expanding winter overhaul list.
PS - is it obvious to tell just by looking whether the pump is plastic or not, or are you referring to the impeller?

PPS How difficult is it to change the pump & stat? In Haynes manual terms I’d rate myself as just about ok with some ‘three spanner’ jobs, but definitely not confident enough to mess about with timing belts and the like. As for computers, electronics and diagnostics, well that’s a completely alien world to me...

 

[t-tony]

Thanks @mrscalex for this ‘time bomb’ warning, and your subsequent reccs for quality replacements. Something I’ll definitely have to check (and probably add!) to my ever expanding winter overhaul list.
PS - is it obvious to tell just by looking whether the pump is plastic or not, or are you referring to the impeller?

PPS How difficult is it to change the pump & stat? In Haynes manual terms I’d rate myself as just about ok with some ‘three spanner’ jobs, but definitely not confident enough to mess about with timing belts and the like. As for computers, electronics and diagnostics, well that’s a completely alien world to me...

Search these jobs on YouTube. You may surprised what is on there and how simple a lot of jobs are.

Tony

 

[Mazza]

Hi @GZed this may help, taken from Bentleys manual. ( I assume that a 2.8lt is one of these engines listed ....I only have a 4 pot M44 which is slightly different)

 

[mrscalex]

Thanks @mrscalex for this ‘time bomb’ warning, and your subsequent reccs for quality replacements. Something I’ll definitely have to check (and probably add!) to my ever expanding winter overhaul list.
PS - is it obvious to tell just by looking whether the pump is plastic or not, or are you referring to the impeller?

PPS How difficult is it to change the pump & stat? In Haynes manual terms I’d rate myself as just about ok with some ‘three spanner’ jobs, but definitely not confident enough to mess about with timing belts and the like. As for computers, electronics and diagnostics, well that’s a completely alien world to me...

I would say a firm 3 spanner job and no more complex. It’s not to say things can’t go wrong. Occasionally a pump bolt will shear off but there are precautions you can take @t-tony is the expert with naughty bolts but essentially tap it before you start and do the bolts up fractionally before loosening. Some people have problems with getting air out. But probability of these issues is relatively low compared to a pump seizing.

If you don’t know the history of the pump I would change it anyway. No need to worry if it’s plastic blades or not.

 

[mrscalex]

And most of us on here wouldn’t fancy doing a timing belt. Thankfully not a concern with these engines.

As for diagnostics. It’s a needless fear in my view. A simple hand-held reader is easy to use and in many cases will lead you straight to the issue. To be honest it’s a bit frustrating when people post their engine is running funny etc and does anyone have any ideas. The answer is always the same - plug a reader in and give us the codes.

 

[Dalek]

Ouch.....

 

[mrscalex]

That is one epic spring failure. Are they sure something else didn't give as it ended up where it did?

One way or another I feel you are a lucky man and have a lucky car.

 

[Dalek]

That is one epic spring failure. Are they sure something else didn't give as it ended up where it did?

One way or another I feel you are a lucky man and have a lucky car.

I have asked for a thorough check of all the suspension parts, both front and back.
I certainly feel lucky. Thank goodness I wasn’t in the 3rd lane on the motorway when it let go!

 

[mrscalex]

Honestly dude, so lucky - buy yourself a lottery ticket quick!

The water pump and spring aren’t I would imagine related?

You were a hairs breadth away from a blow out, that’s if the suspension letting going didn’t derail you.

 

[mrscalex]

I have asked for a thorough check of all the suspension parts, both front and back.
I certainly feel lucky. Thank goodness I wasn’t in the 3rd lane on the motorway when it let go!

The trouble is you can’t always see or easily test suspension components.

That bust spring could have passed an inspection a week ago. And probably would.

Might be time to play safe and have new shocks/springs all round? Yeah I know - money, money.

 

[Dalek]

The trouble is you can’t always see or easily test suspension components.

That bust spring could have passed an inspection a week ago. And probably would.

Might be time to play safe and have new shocks/springs all round? Yeah I know - money, money.

I have already asked for a quote to replace the shocks and rear springs as, like you, had come to the conclusion that as it is all the same age I could be pushing my luck.