Rattle/squeak from front of engine

[SvenG]

We're about to buy a 1997 2.8 Z3 with som 140k mi (in the US).

It looks stunning but obviously has some wear that we expect to have to deal with over time.

One thing that I suspect will need some attention in the near future has to do with a slight rattle and squeaking that I'd guess comes either from the fan-clutch or possibly the water pump. We are completely new to this car so we thought we'd ask those of you who know if you have any hints about how we should start to pinpoint the problem and then where we can find new water-pumps or fan clutches or whatever replacement parts we might need.

We're also wondering if shop manuals are available ?

Many thanks,



-Sven

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England.

 

[Grumps]

Hi from Mansfield UK. If your delving into the water system i'd just do the lot as all the parts can fail easily. Replace the fan clutch, pump, belts, fan and pullies. It's not very expensive and gives good piece of mind. Did my 2.8 a couple of years ago and all is well.

 

[Cooper]

We're about to buy a 1997 2.8 Z3 with som 140k mi (in the US).

It looks stunning but obviously has some wear that we expect to have to deal with over time.

One thing that I suspect will need some attention in the near future has to do with a slight rattle and squeaking that I'd guess comes either from the fan-clutch or possibly the water pump. We are completely new to this car so we thought we'd ask those of you who know if you have any hints about how we should start to pinpoint the problem and then where we can find new water-pumps or fan clutches or whatever replacement parts we might need.

We're also wondering if shop manuals are available ?

Many thanks,-Sven

Look Here @spurs fan in a coupe just advertised these! https://zroadster.org/threads/loads-of-z3-oem-manuals-handbooks-and-literature.21640/#post-367382

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

 

[SvenG]

Good morning and thanks for the welcomes,

to the forum from West Cumbria, England.

Look Here @spurs fan in a coupe just advertised these! https://zroadster.org/threads/loads-of-z3-oem-manuals-handbooks-and-literature.21640/#post-367382

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

Look forward to enjoying this not so little sportscar and I'm sure we'll have lots of questions along the way.


-Sven

 

[SvenG]

Hi from Florida (right now),

Hi from Mansfield UK. If your delving into the water system i'd just do the lot as all the parts can fail easily. Replace the fan clutch, pump, belts, fan and pullies. It's not very expensive and gives good piece of mind. Did my 2.8 a couple of years ago and all is well.

Did you do the work yourself or did you have the dealer do it ? "Not very expensive" and BMW service seem like contradictions

If you did it yourself, where did you get the parts and instructions ?

Thanks !


-Sven

 

[hard top]

Did you do the work yourself or did you have the dealer do it ?

Think probably Big Ears (@t-tony) did it for him?

 

[andyglym]

Hi from Florida (right now),



Did you do the work yourself or did you have the dealer do it ? "Not very expensive" and BMW service seem like contradictions

If you did it yourself, where did you get the parts and instructions ?

Thanks !


-Sven

This link is a good source of info, many good clips on YouTube also

ttps://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/tech_main_Z3.htm

 

[SvenG]

This link is a good source of info, many good clips on YouTube also

ttps://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/tech_main_Z3.htm

Excellent ! That will keep me busy for a while !

Thanks,



-Sven

 

[Grumps]

Think probably Big Ears (@t-tony) did it for him?

Yes Tony did it with @Brian4 so no labour charges. Off head i think the parts were around £150 all in but I was kindly donated the fan clutch from @Antm72. The rest of the parts came from euro carparts.

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[Shelly]

 

[mwpe]

Hi and welcome from Surrey, I replaced my water water pump Thermostat and Idler pully last year, it is not a difficult job but if you do not want to do it yourself, I would avoid main dealers.

 

[Mazza]

Hi and welcome to the forum

This manual has a great deal of info in it and is published by Bentley in Massachusettes

Bit on the expensive side, but in my opinion, worth having

 

[mrscalex]

The 'light'/80:20 version of an overhaul in that area is water pump, thermostat, o-rings in hoses and coolant change only. That can be done in an hour or two at home unless you are unlucky and break a seized bolt.

But the full job would be idler pulley, viscous fan and belt. Which doesn't take that much longer but starts costing quite a lot more money. Especially for the viscous fan - don't buy cheap there, well on any of the bits.

While I routinely change a water pump and thermostat I don't do the idler pulley or viscous fan unless I think I need to. The idler pulley is easy to test with the belt off anyway. If it spins nicely by hand it's fine.

Of course the light version of the job may not resolve the noise. And even the full job might not. It depends where it's coming from. You're better off tracking that down first. You might be able to do that by ear and listening carefully. Just be careful with a fan spinning round that can appear invisible!

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Have a look at the link below for a guide to loads of jobs on all models

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/tech_main_Z3.htm

 

[Alan W]

CHANGE THE WATER PUMP ASAP.. the bearing in my 2.8 collapsed causing the shaft to bend and the fan took out the radiator, shroud and one of the pulleys.. did the job myself and replaced all pulleys, fan, shroud belts, upgraded thermostat and water pump.. everything except the viscous coupling which escaped damage and was fine.. all parts, some of which I got trade, came to almost £600 and it was a fiddly job in places..

 

[Mint]

I was lucky when my water pump let go. No damage to anything else

 

[mrscalex]

The water pump bearings seized on my Seat Alhambra, locked up the timing belt, shredded it and took out the cylinder head.

I bought it from a main dealer at 60k who said the water pump had recently been changed with the belt. It went at 119k 2 years later, 2 weeks before it was going to be routinely changed with the belt again. I strongly suspect the dealer told a complete lie. If the water pump on an Alhambra is changed every 60k with the belt that shouldn't happen.

Moral of the story. For the sake of £60 for a thermostat and water pump (and that's for decent Behr/Mahle & Meyle parts respectively) and 1-2 hours of your time, always change them.