This is me....

[FlashAir]

Thanks for this. Does the Z4 have the same electric pump as the 330Ci? So I mean, does it require the engine to be started? It's lost a load of coolant....I think that it may have got hot and fu**** the expansion tank. In the morning, will shoot off to BMW....buy antifreeze....and expansion tank and order the rocker cover gasket (that is leaking oil) and hopefully sort on Tuesday evening.

Bloody pressurised systems....my Mk2 Escort wasn't this much hassle LMAO

 

[t-tony]

As far as I'm aware the 3.0i has a standard water pump, the Si has the electrical one.

Tony.

 

[FlashAir]

Ah, okay. Well, thats that plan out of the window then!! How much air am i likely to expect? The last time I did a pressurised system, I took out the bleed screw.....filled the expansion tank...squeezed hoses where I could....overfilled the expansion tank and left it idling until the thermostat opened and allowed water through.....and LOADS of air came out at idle....spitting etc for ages. Do you leave the bleed screw outthe whole time, or leave it so it can just vent?

Sorry....couldnt find a good "Bleed your Z4 video..."....lots of E46 stuff

 

[t-tony]

Each can be different mate, but you have the right plan. Personally I would just release the bleed screw, trying to restart the screw with boiling water and steam coming out can be a bit risky.

Tony.

 

[FlashAir]

Is it just me that HATES, undoing the bleed screw and leaving the engine running...unsure how much coolant is ACTUALLY in there??!! I think i will do it with antifreeze mix (slightly stronger mix, to make up for the water I've put in).....

Thanks Tony....if it works, I might do a video on it? I mean....I couldn't find a video anywhere!! Or rather...will do a video IF i am successful!

 

[FlashAir]

SORRY....another question....when you fill the expansion tank....you do it with the bleed screw out (of course).....should you expect to see the level, with patience, fill as far as coming out of the top of the bleed screw port, before you put the screw back in a couple of turns? Then, if you have too much coolant in the expansion tank....take som out so as not to overfill? I wonder if there is a leak in the tank or something, as just checked....a bit of a hiss (to be expected) when removing the cap, but NO sign of water/coolant....so I'm guessing its going somewhere...or needs more (taking time to work around the system?)

 

[t-tony]

While filling I leave the filler cap off as the engine is running until the level ceases to drop then refit and wait for the heat to build, crack off the bleeder screw and wait till only coolant comes out before nipping it up. After allowing the system to cool and de pressurise, remove the filler cap and top up to level.

Tony

 

[FlashAir]

Ah right. So fill it up....start it up, idle it....as level drops, keep topping up and THEN refit the cap and open the bleed valve a few turns? Will have a look tomorrow....off to Halfords for De Ionised water, BMW for Antifreeze and Eurocarparts for the rocker cover gasket and expansion tank (just in case!)

 

[John 66]

Hi from Harlow Essex

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland

 

[FlashAir]

Hi John and Stevo ^^^^

 

[FlashAir]

Evening all!!! So...went and got an expansion tank today (can do no harm to change that weak point)....rocker cover gasket....deionised water and BMW antifreeze...all ready for tomorrow and fitting it all.

Decided to "burp" the air out after last nights disaster and all seemed good. Topped off with water whilst idling (cap off and bleed screw open) and once the air had stopped, did the cap up and did the bleed screw up too. Went for a drive...hey presto, hot air...gauge bang on in the middle.

And.....

I wish I could leave it there. But, being a gorgeous day, sent my missus off to the train station in it....roof down etc....and ten minutes later, she reappeared!! Bloody low coolant light came on...........and then after she turned around to come home....it went off again??? She drove it back and b******* off in a huff in the Range Rover....running late!!! I can't check the level till its cooled right down....but am guessing either low level (due to an air lock??) or dodgy sensor, if it comes and goes (again...I guess could be caused by an air lock????).

Thoughts...?! Be glad to get it to bits tomorrow night and do it on a ramp....and have a good poke about underneath etc. Cant see any signs of a leak and the gauge is fine and plenty of hot air....

 

[Nodzed]

 

[FlashAir]

Thanks Nodzed ^^^ ...... Lovely Roadsters!

 

[FlashAir]

For anyone watching this.....looks like I may have made progress....

So....rocker cover gasket! Changed this. The old one came off....and I was able to snap it! Yes....SO brittle, you could actually snap it into pieces. The leak was from there, that I could tell and, was a definite good move to sort due to it being in such a "non sealing" state! I used some silicon gasket sealant into the channel, before installing the new one. Seems fine now. WELL WORTH DOING, if your car is a similar vintage. The heat seems to knacker the rubber up. I have to say, I'm amazed there aren't more issues with the plastic rocker cover (? Maybe there is?!)

Coolant leak. Well, bugger me...this turned out to be very interesting. So, took the old expansion tank off, as I wasn't convinced that this wasn't leaking when hot. VERY difficult to tell and as we all know, you tend to see leaks easier, once you add the right amount of antifreeze...and that is an EXPENSIVE way to find leaks. So, changed the bottle....and the cap (as I suspect that it was the biggest problem for my leak). I got the car up in the air on the ramp and underneath, found a GREAT potential nightmare. Will try to post pictures of the Banana Radiator?!

So...I replaced that for good measure. Amazing it hadn't let go. So, added all new antifreeze from Bimmer, de-ionised water, new rad, new bottle and new cap...! The electronically controlled thermostat caught me out for a while as there was no heat, but thats because it was modulating the hot water as and when required i guess. After a drive it was fine. However....I noticed some coolant on return to the shop. Blasted it with brake cleaner and an airline and went out again. Interestingly, a bit more. Suspected the top hose/assembly....gave it a wiggle, with no obvious leak? Realised I was still getting some coolant from the new (aftermarket!) cap. Went and got one from Bimmer....swapped it last night after it had cooled. Went for a drive and all seems good and level is good. Also swapped the coolant level sensor too....whilst I was there!!

So....added some oil (pot rocker gasket leak) and now....will smoke about in it a bit before I start on mods. First up...wheels...then exhaust...or maybe the other way around?!

 

[FRANKIE]

Greetings y'all,

So.....been looking and hunting for a fun Roadster. I really wanted a Boxster....but the dreaded IMS issues on earlier cars, give me the horrors and later ones are too much money. No...I'm not a Porsche snob or something, but I wanted to try another Marque other than Beemer.......I'm a lifelong Beemer lover and have owned 2 x E46 M3's (one was a vert SMG, the other a tin top manual and VERY special), a 330Ci Clubsport, an E36 Alpina (should never have sold it), an E28 535i, E30 530i, E38 530d, E60 535d.....to be honest, the list goes on and on.....and so, I decided to buy a 3.0l Z4 as I'd never owned one and those engines are just so good.

Theres been some on here for sale on AutoTrader and "PistonBrokes" that are just AMAZING, but I just wanted a cheap ish car that I could use over winter, get on top of, modify and enjoy next Summer.....and I just bought one on auction, without seeing it, as its quite close. It's an 04plate, 3.0 SE, with Sat Nav, Cruise, Black Leather and Metallic grey. 110k miles I think, with an Auto box (keep the missus happy) and 11 stamps in the book.....and I haven't seen it yet. First thing I did, was post this!!!!

Am I being a mug? Whats the most common issues (can already see the wheels are a bit s**t and tyres are cheap n nasty....so they will get swapped)? I need to go over it before parting with the cash. How can I tell if they are Xenon headlights or not (I'm guessing they are Halogen projector jobs)? Lastly....think I will need a nice sounding exhaust to start with.....recommendations gladly accepted!!!! Saw a guy on here that mods your box and sends back by post....am I right? NEED TO DO THIS!! My Clubsport never sounded good enough

Glad to be here folks

Welcome to the forum from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey............Frankie

 

[FlashAir]

Ha....I'll be in Morristown in a couple of weeks! Thanks mate

 

[gookah]

Guys.....HELP!!!! Fast!!!!! PLEASE!!!

So...car seems okay all over....a few bits and bobs....but..... STINKS of burning oil and can see smoke. No burning oil smell out of the exhaust. I think it’s a rocker cover gasket leak or something....as you open bonnet, look to the left as you look from the front, and smoke coming out of the left side....like it’s leaking on the exhaust, around by the big heat shield. We all think it’s just an easy leak/gasket fix?? Def burning oil/leaking on exhaust smell and not using it in the engine.

Oil is clean (regularly topped up???) and no mayo in thebheader tank etc. No smoke on start up, only steam. Steering good. Great spec it seems and even the roof works (though issue with window drop....more later). Gonna drive it some more now....

Just done the same gasket on the wife's Z4. £19, came with the spark plug gaskets and new rubber grommets for the cover bolts. I had the same smoke from the engine side as the oil was seeping onto the exhaust. The worst bit is the gaskets get brittle with the heat, and you have to be careful when removing them, especially the spark plug gaskets as they can break and fall into the valve spring areas. I shoved clean cloths down there before getting the old gaskets off, so any bits that broke up I could hoover out, before removing the cloths.
Refitting was simple