Hopefully your problem is solved with the changes made. This is very interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out in the end. Good luck, JIM
Brrrrrrrr.... It's cold in here!
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Luck it would appear hasn't quite been on my side unfortunately. I picked my car up around 45 minutes ago and drove the 2 miles or so back home. Two miles isn't perhaps sufficient to give it a good test but from what I can make out - the heating problem (lack of) remains.
In terms of what caused the temperature to shoot upwards it would appear that one of the plastic retaining clips inside the thermostat housing had broken, allowing the thermostat to move somewhat. It had twisted slightly and as a result, could no longer properly open - thus restricting the coolant flow. The water pump was diagnosed as being fine by the mechanic so it wasn't changed despite my request.
What is of most concern now though is that apparently, spontaneously while the car was at the garage, the stitching for the lower half of the roof fabric (which attaches to the lower edge of the rear window) just rotted and now happily flaps about allowing rain to run straight through.
Feeling pretty deflated at the moment to be honest. If it isn't possible to get the heater working properly (which for me is an essential), then I'm going to have to sell and cut my losses. The issue with the roof just complicates things at the moment.
Roof issue aside I don't understand why he wouldn't change the water pump at your request, seems strange.
Tony.
Tony.
Understand your despondency but any decent mechanic should be able to work through this and fix it. As I understand it you went to him to `fix your heating problem' and he has not done that so take it back and don't pay labour charges for repeat work.............Feeling pretty deflated at the moment to be honest. If it isn't possible to get the heater working properly (which for me is an essential), then I'm going to have to sell and cut my losses. The issue with the roof just complicates things at the moment.
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Yes you're right. At the moment my car is sitting on my driveway covered in a tarpaulin to prevent rain from pouring in. I have to say this seems very odd indeed. I took the car there a few days ago and had no problem with the roof. Now having picked it up today, somehow from about half way up each window and right along the bottom, the window has come away from the fabric and all I'm left with is broken stitching. It almost looks as though someone either leant their body weight against it or tried to push the car - pressing against the soft top and ended up going straight through.
This just keeps getting worse! I know your pain, the same happened to my rear window between England and my driveway. I was planning on changing the colour of the top but hoped putting a new zip in would buy me time. The stitching was rotten so ended up cutting the window out. Have been driving it with no window and am so thankful the heater works so well. Good luck, I'm really interested in what the outcome will be! JIM
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Had an estimate for re - stitching the rear window. It was £270 plus VAT. A replacement is £625 plus VAT. I think that I may just be able to do it myself so I may give that a try and if it fails, consider which of the options above is most appropriate. At the same time I think I'll probably order a water pump and then try to find someone who is prepared to accept some of my money in exchange for fitting it ;-)
On the subject of the heating again. This issue seems to be mentioned quite a lot on some other forums. It appears to be very common with many saying that the stock BMW water pump doesn't push enough coolant around at idle - hence the issue of the heat going cool. Some people have opted for a "high flow" water pump which is quite pricey when compared to the original but offers 20% more coolant circulation than other aftermarket ones and TWICE (if you believe it) the circulation of the genuine BMW part!
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- Sep 5, 2014
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Well gentlemen - I have another update. After visiting Amazon's website and placing an order for a "Speedy stitcher", I enlisted my wife;s help and between us, in just over an hour we (me working on the inside and her on the outside of the car) we were able to save ourselves the £270 + VAT by re stitching the lower half of the window to the fabric. The thread that it came with seems thicker and more durable than was on there originally and I expect that it'll give us around another six months out of this hood. Unfortunately on our hood the zip seemed to be stuck, otherwise the job could quite easily have been carried out by one of us in around 90 mins I'd say.
I then took the car for a spin. Whilst there is marginal improvement, the temp when going along the motorway is warm (not hot) and when idling it cools down again. As the temp isn't hot when sitting on 2,500 - 3,000 rpm (only warm) I'm now starting to think that perhaps instead of water pump, I need to look in the direction of the heater matrix. I do know that the radiator is not original and if the original needed to be changed at some point - assuming it didn't get a stone through it or something then perhaps if the matrix is original, it too may be in need of changing.
Anyone ever changed one and if so, how difficult was it?
Thanks.
PS... Just checked with BMW. The heater matrix is £312.78 plus VAT. I'm going to have to carefully consider what to do next I think.
I then took the car for a spin. Whilst there is marginal improvement, the temp when going along the motorway is warm (not hot) and when idling it cools down again. As the temp isn't hot when sitting on 2,500 - 3,000 rpm (only warm) I'm now starting to think that perhaps instead of water pump, I need to look in the direction of the heater matrix. I do know that the radiator is not original and if the original needed to be changed at some point - assuming it didn't get a stone through it or something then perhaps if the matrix is original, it too may be in need of changing.
Anyone ever changed one and if so, how difficult was it?
Thanks.
PS... Just checked with BMW. The heater matrix is £312.78 plus VAT. I'm going to have to carefully consider what to do next I think.
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Congrat for the hood.
I did the same (with my wife's help), I didn't suggest you because I didn't know how decided you were!
Our work it's still resisting after 4 years!
Regarding the heating: now, having a brand new thermostat it's clear it keeps the hot antifreeze inside the engine. It's also clear the coolant flow in the matrix is bad , from some reason. As you say, I'll look there.
But never replaced a matrix. Take a look on Pelican; could be similar for more than one BMW model's.
I'm happy you didn't gave up and feel more optimistic right now!
I did the same (with my wife's help), I didn't suggest you because I didn't know how decided you were!
Our work it's still resisting after 4 years!Regarding the heating: now, having a brand new thermostat it's clear it keeps the hot antifreeze inside the engine. It's also clear the coolant flow in the matrix is bad , from some reason. As you say, I'll look there.
But never replaced a matrix. Take a look on Pelican; could be similar for more than one BMW model's.
I'm happy you didn't gave up and feel more optimistic right now!
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Thank you for your comments. To be honest at some points over the past week or so I have found myself wondering if I should just sell the Z but every time I look at it I just can't get over how stylish these cars look - they look incredible and I know that if I did sell, any other car I bought would just feel a bit... well... boring to look at!Congrat for the hood.
I did the same (with my wife's help), I didn't suggest you because I didn't know how decided you were!
Regarding the heating: now, having a brand new thermostat it's clear it keeps the hot antifreeze inside the engine. It's also clear the coolant flow in the matrix is bad , from some reason. As you say, I'll look there.
But never replaced a matrix. Take a look on Pelican; could be similar for more than one BMW model's.
I'm happy you didn't gave up and feel more optimistic right now!
Add that thought to the fact that if you sold your Z and went and bought another or a different car altogether you would be starting from scratch all over again. You have made some progress with this car and put in more than a bit of effort aided by your wife,please don't give up on it but rely on us members to help you get where you want to be. HTH.
Tony.
Tony.
Z
zedonist
Guest
Andy, happy to help again if you decide to do yourself, I am busy though for the next 3 weeks as will be out the country, so could be a hollow offer unless you can wait?
Rich
Rich
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- Sep 5, 2014
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Thanks for the offer - you've been far too kind as it is. My wife was just saying that other day that I need to get in touch with you and let us take you guys out to lunch!
Don't forget my offer of assistance to you whenever you need an extra pair of hands either!
Hi Rich, is this your Canada trip? If so let me know if you can make it here. Beer's in the fridge and can probably rustle up some moose steaks/ roasts! If not, maybe next time?? JIM
Z
zedonist
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Hi Jim, unfortunately no, this is to Genoa in Italy, beer sounds great though, can you post?
Sorry, illegal in Canada!! My wife was a postmaster and had to destroy two large boxes of liquor a while back when she discovered it wasn't replacement furnace parts as listed. Broke my heart as it was my favorite brand of whiskey. JIM
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zedonist
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Send the furnace parts please