Black Zed, Rio has a new heart

Ianmc

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Points
165
Location
New Forest
Model of Z
Z3 (M44)
@Jack Ratt , just for interest, did you find the reason for the high oil consumption in the original engine? I have a M52 engine in a E36 323i vert, 138K miles and doesn't use a drop of oil.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
@Jack Ratt , just for interest, did you find the reason for the high oil consumption in the original engine? I have a M52 engine in a E36 323i vert, 138K miles and doesn't use a drop of oil.
Yes, it was the result of a blown head gasket. My radiator failed, was holed or something and I lost the coolant so engine boiled up and stopped, although it didn't seize. It happened very quickly, the running temp was normal until it gave way without warning. I was travelling on the motorway through Belgium near Brugge at the time.
I replaced the head gasket, had the head skimmed etc, (it had warped by nearly half a mil) and there was slight damage to pistons 5 and 6 that turned out to be much worse than I initially thought. The engine ran ok, emissions were ok, passed it's MOT but drank oil. When I drove to Bristol from Truro, 170 miles, I put 3 litres of oil in on route.
 

Ianmc

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Points
165
Location
New Forest
Model of Z
Z3 (M44)
For what it's worth (maybe not much), I have found that radiators on a number of Z3s and E36s that I have owned have all failed at or around the 20 year mark. For £100 or so, replacing the rad has to be a preventative maintenance measure if not known to be done on a given car, especially given possible consequences as @Jack Ratt has experienced.:thumbsup:
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
@Ianmc My failed radiator has cost me around £2500 on the current car, then factor in the £3500 I paid for a replacement car, which I still have, then you could add what it cost RAC to bring my car back from Brugge to Cornwall, the hire car to get home from Belgium and other odds and sods and it adds up to a big lump of money
 

Synclare

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Points
147
Location
Staffordshire
Model of Z
1.9
I have seen the plastic end tanks on these modern rads simply split, cheap cost saving like a lot of things - throw away world. Brass and copper rads being a thing of the past apart from those still in use including those on my cars.
 

Jjim

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Points
168
Location
Mansfield
Model of Z
1.9 Roadster
Good info about the radiator replacement. Any recommendations on brands or suppliers?

@Jack Ratt glad to hear the old Z3 is back in service :thumbsup:
 

Sean d

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Points
201
Location
Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
This was the rad in the 2.8, it was looking a bit sad for istsel as you can see the sagging at the bottom so it was binned and a new one fitted, great to hear you sorted the car pal
IMG-20180731-WA0011.jpg
 

Lee

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
M Power
#ZedShed
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Points
213
Location
Basingstoke
Model of Z
Z4 Coupe 3.0si
Finally she’s back :) I remember the moment well when your engine went. Us three behind all got showered with oil. I was asleep with my feet out the window, my socks got dirty =))

I’m just in the middle of changing Sams 2.2 to a 2.8tu with some S50 tweaks. Somthing we might offer in the shed :D

Hope to see you at some more meets this year.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Yeah, I'll be making an appearence
 

mwpe

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
178
Location
Camberley
Model of Z
3.0
Finally she’s back :) I remember the moment well when your engine went. Us three behind all got showered with oil. I was asleep with my feet out the window, my socks got dirty =))
.


I still haven't worked out where all that oil came from, when we stopped, there was oil everywhere but no sign of coolant trouble.
 

Lee

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
M Power
#ZedShed
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Points
213
Location
Basingstoke
Model of Z
Z4 Coupe 3.0si
In jacks write up i thought he said something about one of the CCV lines.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
In jacks write up i thought he said something about one of the CCV lines.
My initial thought at the time of the incident was CCV failure because the oil was running down the side of the engine block right behind the CCV but when I stripped the car there was a hole in the radiator, and it was a big hole, as if the internal pressure just blew it open. This is why there wasn't any water anywhere, it just leaked out making my engine overheat and warped the head.
The CCV was still in good condition, was not blocked and was not the cause of the failure.
 
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Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Points
222
Location
Stafford
Model of Z
2.2 Sport Individual
...Us three behind all got showered with oil...
I was immediately behind and had a windscreen covered in oil. It happened very fast, probably 5 seconds between me saying 'there's a bit of smoke coming out of Garry's Zed' to a full scale oil slick:oops:.
 

Ianmc

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Points
165
Location
New Forest
Model of Z
Z3 (M44)
If the vanos lets go, you loose oil quickly, runs at 1800 PSI :(
 

miller1098

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Points
196
Location
Carno,Welsh Wales
Model of Z
M
Just caught up with this lol .lucky we were in front of you that day lol but it could of been any one of us.almost 18 months later happy you’ve got sorted :)
 
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