160k and pondering...

[purplecty]

I just replaced my compressor and drier and refilled system with 680g of freon and 8.5oz of oil and works fine. Used oem compressor from a 120k mile car and a behr drier from fcpeuro.com...

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[kouks]

^This. I did the same thing on my e34 rebuild project and that thing has way colder air than any of my other cars, a 246,000 mile old system running like a clock.

[shenofjo]

Getting my parts for the ac repair. It was only $78 for a nissen's ac condenser from fcpeuro... and the only brand available... having the system already evacuated, should i go ahead and replace the condenser myself? Shop wanted $200 for labor.

[kouks]

If you know how and have the time, why not, otherwise let them do it to avoid the pain. You replaced the compressor also? Recharge and should be on your way.

[shenofjo]

dropped the car off today for its AC work. no warranty but not spending 3k either so will see how it holds up next week!

[shenofjo]

the saga continues!! shop goofed around with another car for a few days and today sees my 3.5 year old Behr radiator bulging at the bottom! the car has been driving great and had not lost any coolant for years until more recently with decent drop. i check the coolant temp often and its always 97-102'C with my 95'C thermostat. something made my radiator bulge out at the bottom and then took the coolant with it. Im thinking do the fuel / oil test on the coolant and vice versa, pressure test the coolant system, what else do you guys recommend?

[SPEED750]

I did the $187 AC rebuild on my 95 740il. That was the cost of the kit off amazon with no core charge. I did flush my system and it didn't hurt. Took about 3 hours of install then off to my buddies shop for a vacuum down and recharge. Found the how to video on this sight.

- - - Updated - - -

Just saw your last post, I also replaced my radiator 2 weeks ago. I'm an internet shopping freak. Ebay radiator for $58 and 90 minutes. My problem was solved. Of course I also replaced the plastic thermostat housing with an aluminum one $14.

[shenofjo]

Guys, game over. This headlift is the end of the straw for me. Anyone interested in buying this as a parts car let me know.

[shenofjo]

had some time to read what the mechanic wrote on the email and also on the phone. here's whats on the table. no driving symptoms i can associate with the headlift. fuel/oil test on coolant negative. pressure tested the system with a slow pressure release and no visual of coolant leak.

known problems and associated symptoms:
rear intake manifold block off plate from dinan has vacuum leak that causes intermittent cold start misfires
power steering hoses leaking and needs to top off power steering fluid
AC compressor off the car and need replacement

already bought parts for all above work!!!

what other possibilities could it be? valley pan gasket? trying to rationalize the situation and assess it before doing something i regret

[951Dreams]

had some time to read what the mechanic wrote on the email and also on the phone. here's whats on the table. no driving symptoms i can associate with the headlift. fuel/oil test on coolant negative. pressure tested the system with a slow pressure release and no visual of coolant leak.

known problems and associated symptoms:
rear intake manifold block off plate from dinan has vacuum leak that causes intermittent cold start misfires
power steering hoses leaking and needs to top off power steering fluid
AC compressor off the car and need replacement

already bought parts for all above work!!!

what other possibilities could it be? valley pan gasket? trying to rationalize the situation and assess it before doing something i regret

Headlift? Sorry, I'm not following....

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[shenofjo]

Mechanic suspects cylinder head lift on heavy load. Which creates excess pressure to the cooling system and bulging radiator and consuming coolant. Maybe we just caught it early so no other driving symptoms or may be something else causing the problem... he suggests leak down and compression teat but says cylinder head lift might still have good test results...

[Timm]

The coolant pressure is regulated by the expansion cap - it has a pressure-relief valve built into it. So, no matter what causes pressure in the cooling system nothing should bulge or burst before the cap expresses excess pressure - time for a new cap I reckon!

[shenofjo]

You are just yanking my chain!! Ive been so torn! You are talking about the cap on top of the reeservoir?

[shenofjo]

just went to pick up the car. had my neighbor car enthusiast drive the car back while i followed him. first of all, the coolant level is full but does look like a slight hint of oil. will look to chemical test it. i followed him as he drove and hammered from 60 to 85 and rpm went to 4k as he said afterwards, and no sign of any smoke at all. ktemp he said was at 95-99 and that was at 98'F outside today in Sacramento. he said it drove great! Ill look at this next week...

[951Dreams]

Hmmm.. Headlift is a new one for me.... He's thinking the gasket is shot and somehow the head is "lifting up" slightly letting air into the coolant channels?? Am I understanding correctly?

I've had the heads off of at least 8 different cars personally. The only way I could see what I described above happening is if the head gasket was shot and the head has "settled" a bit lower onto the gasket. I could see then when pressures were at their highest the head could "lift" but were talking extremely small amounts here. There is almost nothing bolted on an engine more securely and tight than a head. Except maybe the crank bolt.

But either way, if your getting oil in your water then it's a blown head gasket for sure. That can also cause coolant issues including air/pressure in the cooling system. But like stated your radiator cap should let that out if gets too much. HG are a weird beast, you can get many different problems depending on where it blew. It can leak just oil into the water, water into the oil, or both (no smoke). It can let water into your combustion chambers (smoke). Or it can let combustion gasses into your water. Or the crankcase. But I think you've tested for that, right? Exhaust in the water?

[shenofjo]

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...et_Removal.htm

found this... looks like it would be pretty much everything there is to take apart along with TCG... this car would end up being my 2nd project car while my supra becomes my daily... dont think i will get the ok to put baby seat in the back seat of the supra... haha. how many hours is this job for someone doing this for the first time?