97 Z3 Engine Cooling Issues

[matt_1997_Z3]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but erupting coolant is often a head gasket or cracked head. My Zed was doing it and the head was cracked

Start your engine up from cold with the cap off and look for exhaust gas coming from the expansion tank. Do a compression test too.

What's the temp gauge doing?

I hope it's not of of these nasties but I've had this with a few cars and it's often tended to be the gasket.

I wouldn't describe it as erupting coolant. Right after I bought it I noticed that after any rain, I would get a rough start and often a code "misfire in cylinder 3". When exploring that issue a mechanic mentioned that I had a coolant leak somewhere. We couldn't tell but the dried spatter was pretty much all over.

 

[matt_1997_Z3]

Just been through the same thing with 1.9 97 Z3. Plastic water fittings on the back of the motor. As the connections to the rubber pipes cracked. Did a full replacement of all the plastic fittings and hoses. Amazing how brittle the plastics were.

yeah, lots of brittle plastic parts.

 

[Daspete]

I wouldn't describe it as erupting coolant. Right after I bought it I noticed that after any rain, I would get a rough start and often a code "misfire in cylinder 3". When exploring that issue a mechanic mentioned that I had a coolant leak somewhere. We couldn't tell but the dried spatter was pretty much all over.

If it's coming out the cap then that's pressure in the System caused by exhaust gases but if it's else where it's probably a spent seal or cracked flange.