Quick Questions

[LemonHunter 583]

As a rule, once they get below 1.5V per cell (there are 6 cells), they will never recover, even .  Though they will hold charge, they won’t have any amps and any draw will drop the volts, below 1V per cell is proper f**ked.  There is a machine that can shock charge them to try dislodge the calcification, but it’s hit and miss.  I’ll spare you the chemistry lesson.

I get trade at YHI, but not sure if I can get you one near you and freight would be a bitch.

[gjm 3258]

4 hours ago, EUROLESS said:

As a rule, once they get below 1.5V per cell (there are 6 cells), they will never recover, even .  Though they will hold charge, they won’t have any amps and any draw will drop the volts, below 1V per cell is proper f**ked.  There is a machine that can shock charge them to try dislodge the calcification, but it’s hit and miss.  I’ll spare you the chemistry lesson.

I get trade at YHI, but not sure if I can get you one near you and freight would be a bitch.

I thought that might be the case, but it was worth asking. I've typically worked on the theory that anything under 10V is done.

Edited July 8, 2018 by gjm

[gjm 3258]

OK - next question.

While the battery is out of the car, reducing the likelihood of an airbag going off, I've been investigating the lack of ability to open the passenger door from the outside. (It works fine from inside the car.)

Please see here: 

Any thoughts on the simplest way to resolve this?

[gjm 3258]

E36 M43 automativ vs E46 M43TU automatic...

What are the differences in gearboxes? Would a later M43TU bolt up to the gearbox in an E36?

Thinking ahead a bit... ?

(No - not looking for a SxxByy conversion! )

[BM WORLD 1283]

37 minutes ago, gjm said:

E36 M43 automativ vs E46 M43TU automatic...

What are the differences in gearboxes? Would a later M43TU bolt up to the gearbox in an E36?

Thinking ahead a bit... ?

(No - not looking for a SxxByy conversion! )

bolt up yes , electrically work ,NO

[gjm 3258]

11 minutes ago, BM WORLD said:

bolt up yes , electrically work ,NO

I suspected that might be the case.

Pity.

 

[orchardlaser 4]

Hi,

Can anyone please help me in telling me what kind of coolant i am suposed to use? I want to do a radiator  flush as there is only water in the radiator system at the moment and would like to put coolant in.. I have heard BMW's need a very particular kind of coolant? any advise greatly appreciated thanks!

 

Vehicle itself is:

 Make: BMW

Model: 318iS 

Generation: E36

Year: 1996 

 

[gjm 3258]

34 minutes ago, orchardlaser said:

Can anyone please help me in telling me what kind of coolant i am suposed to use? I want to do a radiator  flush as there is only water in the radiator system at the moment and would like to put coolant in.. I have heard BMW's need a very particular kind of coolant? any advise greatly appreciated

I've been using 'green' coolant in all our cars. I don't think the E36 (or E46, for that matter) is particularly picky about coolant - just make sure that whatever you buy is a good quality. Most decent coolants will state on the packaging that they are suitable for BMW, Mercedes, VW, etc.

I seem to be becoming a bit of a Penrite fanboy these days - I've been using this:

[zero 1162]

48 minutes ago, gjm said:

I've been using 'green' coolant in all our cars. I don't think the E36 (or E46, for that matter) is particularly picky about coolant - just make sure that whatever you buy is a good quality. Most decent coolants will state on the packaging that they are suitable for BMW, Mercedes, VW, etc.

I seem to be becoming a bit of a Penrite fanboy these days - I've been using this:

Graham, that is wrong.

The incorrect coolant damages the aluminium parts it comes in contact with.

Always use the blue bmw stuff.

[M3AN 4016]

I remain sceptical about the "only use BMW coolant" message.

It stands to reason that there are millions of BMWs out there that aren't using BMW coolant and aren't falling apart as a result.

But I'm a bit of a fence sitter also, I use BMW coolant in the M3 and regular green coolant in the 328.

 

[gjm 3258]

1 hour ago, zero said:

Graham, that is wrong.

The incorrect coolant damages the aluminium parts it comes in contact with.

Always use the blue bmw stuff.

Fair comment. Applies to iron block/ally head cars too? I'll confess - I'm a bit concerned now! The 500SE has ally heads!

1 hour ago, M3AN said:

I remain sceptical about the "only use BMW coolant" message.

It stands to reason that there are millions of BMWs out there that aren't using BMW coolant and aren't falling apart as a result.

But I'm a bit of a fence sitter also, I use BMW coolant in the M3 and regular green coolant in the 328.

I've not had any problems using it in Mercedes, Audi, BMW and others... Doesn't mean I won't.

[qube 3570]

a bit of bmw blue coolant + distilled water and away you go.

[aja540i 1906]

some of the newer cars with electric water pumps need special coolant, but in an older car any antifreeze is better than none. I use the BMW stuff because its not much more expensive and why not!

[M3AN 4016]

2 hours ago, aja540i said:

...I use the BMW stuff because its not much more expensive...

Not sure what you're comparing it to but it's 400% more expensive than the green stuff from various brands. Yep, four times the price.

Edited August 14, 2018 by M3AN

[gjm 3258]

6 minutes ago, M3AN said:

Not sure what you're comparing it to but it's 400% more expensive than the green stuff from various brands. Yep, four times the price.

That's before those of us in sticksville have to drive 50km to find a dealer to buy it from!

 

[aja540i 1906]

34 minutes ago, M3AN said:

Not sure what you're comparing it to but it's 400% more expensive than the green stuff from various brands. Yep, four times the price.

The BMW stuff is pre-mixed, if you use the other stuff you have to factor in the cost of the water to mix with it!!

[gjm 3258]

Still, or sparkling?

[aja540i 1906]

2 minutes ago, gjm said:

Still, or sparkling?

Sparkling for the M5, still for everything else!!

[Jacko 2154]

Anyone know if the PDC sensors on an E8/9x are coded for specific canbus addresses, or if they are a simple sensor that plugs into the loom and that assigns which position its in. Im wondering if Ive switch two around, or have a dicky/dirty connector. 

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

They are only different front and rear. Plug A play. If you turn ignition on with one disconnected it will throw a fault code. Clear fault codes and recheck in live data if fault persists to determine where the fault is

[Jacko 2154]

2 hours ago, B.M.W Ltd said:

They are only different front and rear. Plug A play. If you turn ignition on with one disconnected it will throw a fault code. Clear fault codes and recheck in live data if fault persists to determine where the fault is

Sweet, must be a dirty connector. I cleaned them all out with contact cleaner but suspect it probably blew dirt back down into the plug. Throws codes for front left and front right

 

[Jacko 2154]

Fixed itself overnight, clever bmw. 

[KwS 2425]

On 8/14/2018 at 12:26 PM, zero said:

Graham, that is wrong.

The incorrect coolant damages the aluminium parts it comes in contact with.

Always use the blue bmw stuff.

Sounds like a load of crap to me. Lots of cars running aluminium parts on green coolant, for many many years with no issues. Why is BMW any different? Hell, my Rovers are all alloy engines, copper core radiator, steel coolant pipes.... all on green coolant, and the only issue they have is with the steel pipes corroding due to shitty design and metal.

I understand on the newer cars they need the BMW unicorn piss to lubricate the coolant pump or something, but older models should be fine.

[zero 1162]

26 minutes ago, KwS said:

Sounds like a load of crap to me. Lots of cars running aluminium parts on green coolant, for many many years with no issues. Why is BMW any different? Hell, my Rovers are all alloy engines, copper core radiator, steel coolant pipes.... all on green coolant, and the only issue they have is with the steel pipes corroding due to shitty design and metal.

I understand on the newer cars they need the BMW unicorn piss to lubricate the coolant pump or something, but older models should be fine.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Its up to you if you want to risk your car.

[Gaz 1060]

On 8/14/2018 at 7:03 PM, M3AN said:

Not sure what you're comparing it to but it's 400% more expensive than the green stuff from various brands. Yep, four times the price.

Unless you are paying $5 a litre for your coolant. Bmw stuff is like $25 for 1.5litres and then 50/50 mix it with water 

On 8/14/2018 at 7:39 PM, aja540i said:

The BMW stuff is pre-mixed, if you use the other stuff you have to factor in the cost of the water to mix with it!!

 

No it's not, still have to mix it 50/50 with water