e39 528i Cooling System Overhaul Parts List - Complete or Not?

[scottdodge]

I'm going to be tackling a full cooling system rebuild next weekend, and I just wanted some input to make sure I have everything. My car is a 1998 528i/5 Sport, and it's one of the early '98 models. This is preventive maintenance, as the car has 141k on it and I have no record of the cooling system being replaced.

Here's what I have on order. My thermostat was leaking pretty bad this winter, so I actually replaced that ~6 months ago, so I'll be reusing that piece.

OEM Behr Radiator
OEM Water Pump (composite impeller)
OEM Expansion Tank
OEM Radiator Cap
OEM Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses
Sachs Fan Clutch
OEM Fan Blades
2 Gallons of OEM Coolant
A/C Belt (I recently had a fresh serpentine belt installed)

I'll be renting the water pump pulley tool.

Anything else I should add while I have the car apart? Thanks in advance!

[BMWGuy325i]

Thermostat housing and gasket
Bleeder screw
Vent hose
Coolant temp sensor

[bmv528ie39]

Im in the process of doing this on my 528i also. I researched and many people recommend the Nissens radiator over Behr. Also for the bleeder screws, there are aftermarket brass ones now that work much better than the plastic ones, so i would buy those.

[av8r4aa]

Not sure about your cooling system, but on my 2000 528it, I replaced
EVERY coolant conduit there is.
That includes the 2 plastic pipes under the intake manifold.
My car has 160k and the upper plastic coolant pipe was nearly rotten through.
BMW plastic engine parts that continually do a heat up cool down cycle don't last.

The plastic coolant pipes are about 25 dollars each, but require the intake manny to
be removed. It's a drag, but where I live (Dallas) there is no room for a marginal
cooling system.

On the older 2.8 engines the pipes were metal. Those were great!

Have fun.

[cnn]

Scott,

I wrote a DIY for 1998 528i years ago:
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/199986

Poultry cord trick for re-installation of Fan Clutch:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=240143

Addendum 7 years later...
- Nissens rad is still doing well
- HEPU WP is doing well. Staty away from BMW composite WP!!!
- Reservoir: BM dealer only
- Sachs Fan Clutch is doing fine
- MTC Fan Blade cracked 1 year later, now I use only BMW Fan Blade, it costs more but it is much better.

---> You need to add:
* the pulleys to the list.
* Whaler thermostat
* BMW plastic tstat housing

[auaq]

Seems like you have covered the main components Op, as pretty much they are the ones that are notorious for breakdown.

[scottdodge]

Thanks for the input guys.

As stated previously, I already have a fresh OEM thermostat on the car which was replaced less than 6 months ago. That was a higher priority job because it was leaking quite a bit, and during the cold winters here in MN, was preventing the car from hitting full operating temperature.

Also, I have the earlier M52 (single VANOS, etc), so these parts are specific to this motor. I do have the metal hoses under the intake manifold.

So, it sounds like I also need:

- Bleeder screws (can someone link to these, or give me a part number?)
- Vent hose (again, part number?)
- Coolant temp sensor (are you sure this isn't a coolant level sensor? Part number?)
- Pulleys (what are these for? Part number?)

Thanks again!

[av8r4aa]

I shop at Autohaus Arizona.
They have all the good stuff and great prices.
anything over 50 dollar order is free shipping!

I ordered a metal pulley for the hydraulic pump and the water pump.
They were actually cheaper than the BMW plastic POS units.

Glad to hear your pipes are metal, the plastic coolant pipes are the poorest design
and BMW knew it.

Keep us informed how your project is going.

PS they also have brass bleeder plugs at Autohaus.

[DHoang]

I'll be renting the water pump pulley tool.

I don't remember having to get any wp puller when I did my '98 528.
DO you mean the thin open end wrench to hold the wp pulley while you remove the fan clutch? If so, I just used a needle nose vise grip and attached it onto one of the 4 pulley bolt head, and put an open end crescent wrench on the big nut of the fan clutch, and rotated it free (reverse thread btw..)

- - - Updated - - -

Also, some have pointed out the need to service the coolant transfer pipe (1998 is metal, 99 on up plastic). Even though '98's metal, I found out that the twin orings where the pipe fits inside the head, comes very close to leaking after 12 yrs, 95k miles of service on my '98.

I posted some pics here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...n-do-they-leak
hopefully, the link works.

[cnn]

...So, it sounds like I also need:

- Bleeder screws (can someone link to these, or give me a part number?)
- Vent hose (again, part number?)
- Coolant temp sensor (are you sure this isn't a coolant level sensor? Part number?)
- Pulleys (what are these for? Part number?)

Thanks again!

See the link I posted above. READ it!

[scottdodge]

Thanks all so much for the responses.

CNN - I'll add the bleeder crews, vent hose, pulleys, and such to the list - would you recommend doing the tensioners as well? I noticed that it was omitted from your summary of what I need.

[sperschke]

Does a vendor sell a kit to overhaul the cooling system on the various E39s? I'm about to drive 2000 miles to the desert, so want this done quick!

- - - Updated - - -

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-14...528i-530i.aspx

[auaq]

If the tensioner spins freely with little to no resistance then I wouldn't worry about it. There shouldn't be any bearing noise as well. Also, after installing back the drive belt if there seems to be good tension on there then again don't worry about it.

[nightowl490]

I'm a big fan of the Bavauto.com complete kit, it's a good price and is everything you should need. Looks like your well on your way, good project. Please keep us posted and pics would be great too!