Mess under the intake

[T La]

hey, i'm looking to fix my vac leaks! but i was wondering if anyone has made a FULL detailed write up (step by step) with pictures of the process. 've ordered the gaskets and coolant pipe but i'm not sure about the rest of the hose parts i need.

help a noob plz?

[TooTall90]

have you checked M42club.com? that site should give you all teh info you need and then some.

[Simon S]

This thread on m42club was my main source of guidance:
The mess under the intake - which, by your thread title, leads me to believe you've already read it.

I go into detail in my Zen thread - but the information is scattered between a myriad of other 'mini' projects.

X. Cup mirrors. Squirrel. Engine bay.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828188&postcount=10

XI. Engine bay. Trunk.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828190&postcount=11

XII. Coolant system. Front sway bar. Drive shaft.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828192&postcount=12

Don't worry about being confused or over-loaded when you start. Just begin removing things one step at a time. As things are taken apart, it starts making sense.

[T La]

This thread on m42club was my main source of guidance:
The mess under the intake - which, by your thread title, leads me to believe you've already read it.

I go into detail in my Zen thread - but the information is scattered between a myriad of other 'mini' projects.

X. Cup mirrors. Squirrel. Engine bay.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828188&postcount=10

XI. Engine bay. Trunk.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828190&postcount=11

XII. Coolant system. Front sway bar. Drive shaft.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828192&postcount=12

Don't worry about being confused or over-loaded when you start. Just begin removing things one step at a time. As things are taken apart, it starts making sense.

yeeah i had already read that. but it looks like you replaced more hoses than it states in the thread and i don't know which ones to order... some go oem others go with generic hoses? hhaha.

i'm trying not to confuse myself, i ordered everything that thread says to order but it says nothing about the hoses themselves!

[Simon S]

yeeah i had already read that. but it looks like you replaced more hoses than it states in the thread and i don't know which ones to order... some go oem others go with generic hoses? hhaha.

You're not alone. There are indeed discrepancies and differences of procedure there. One of these days, I want to put a 'm42 hose mess' thread together for r3vers. M42club is great but there isn't much traffic..

i ordered everything that thread says to order but it says nothing about the hoses themselves!

You'll be in good shape. That's what I did as well. Again - rest assured. Take your time and think about where what came from where as things are taken apart. When you do this - everything becomes simple and self-explanatory. If it helps - you'll find that most all of the parts only go in one way - so it's almost hard to mess up. Taking pictures as you go can be a good idea.

I've been helping people out via pm - feel free to shoot any questions you may have my way. Happy to help.

[T La]

Alright, i trust you! thanks for the help. im guessing i should drain my coolant before replacing the plactic pipe? i want to flush it anyway since my engine is running a little hot.

EDIT: i was just looking in my engine bay and found two hose clamps sitting on the tranny! :roll: good thing i'll be getting in there tomrow!

[Simon S]

im guessing i should drain my coolant before replacing the plactic pipe? i want to flush it anyway since my engine is running a little hot.

Answering here is a little painful. Why? Because doing things right usually takes more time and money than most people (including myself) initially estimate.

Knee-jerk answer to you question involves another issue. Essentially, if one is to tear off the intake system to fully address vacuum leaks and coolant hose maintenance (in your case, the ‘coolant pipe’)(a good thing to replace) – then it would be in best interest to replace ALL coolant hoses. This entails the necessity of draining coolant – no two ways about it. The old hoses, themselves, shouldn’t have much ‘crap’ in them – so I advise to just drain the fluid, get new hoses and w/e installed, then run a flush prior to installation of proper (again, $, BMW/blue) coolant. Bleed, etc.

[ck_taft325is]

If it's any consolation, I did the medusa nightmare under the intake in 16 degree weather, freezing my hands off. I got a bit overwhelmed half way through, but like Simon S. said, if you keep calm and think about where each individual hose goes, you'll be just fine. I ended up with only 3 hoses myself. And my advice, having done it in freezing temperatures?, do it when it's warmer or keep all your replacement hoses in a good warm area. Makes squeezing on the ICV hose so, so much easier when it's pliable.

[blalor]

Alternative

I found a workable solution for the hose that goes from the plastic coolant junction on the block to the head:



It's hose #18 in this diagram, part number 11531714636:


It's a little bit short, but doesn't collapse or kink when connected. The hose does push up against the coolant temp sensor connector, hence the loose zip-tie to keep the hose under it.

I replaced all of my hoses about a year ago, but decided to try this mod because I think I've got a vacuum leak.

[spiDmang]

for me, i removed the upper portion of the manifold, and when i got to the heater hoses for the heater plate on the throttle body, i capped them off (essentially rendering the heater plate useless)

As for the vacuum hoses, get 19/32" vacuum hose ( i got about 5ft and then just measured and cut to desirable lengths). and the diagram goes as follows...

valve cover to bottom of throttle body
&
ICV to bottom of intake


Good luck!!

[blalor]

That 19/32" hose is proving difficult to find.

[aworthybrother]

So which one is found to be proven more effective,"capping off" or use a "bypass hose"? Ive read that most cap found in the autoparts store tend to get brittle overtime?

Also, i can still use the items # 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 as a vaccum hose from icv to intake boot to keep it oem and no chances of collapsing?

[- jay]

I was in the same boat as the OP, I just did a little more research but I kid you not once you take it all apart it's much easier to understand. I needed to fix a coolant leak that ended up being the hose #11 in the diagram blalor posted, it was old and it basically broke off. I would recommend replacing the plastic coolant pipe and o-ring while you're under there, mine was still in good condition, but its better to be safe than sorry, just make sure you give it a good push so it sits flush with the engine. After I dealt away with the mess of hoses, my car starts and idles better than before.

So which one is found to be proven more effective,"capping off" or use a "bypass hose"? Ive read that most cap found in the autoparts store tend to get brittle overtime?

Knowing that people have been capping up the coolant bypass I just bought a new 5/8 heater hose and made sure it was secure, not caring if it was a little kinked.

Also, i can still use the items # 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 as a vaccum hose from icv to intake boot to keep it oem and no chances of collapsing?

I bought a 19/32 vacuum hose from napa and no problems whatsoever, It's really up to you if you want to go oem, but I just went with a new aftermarket hose and no problems so far.

That 19/32" hose is proving difficult to find.

The 19/32 vacuum I was able to get at napa.

[bradnic]

thread resurrection....

anyone had problems after they've bypassed the throttle body heating stuff? I certainly understand that the hose setup is a complete complex mess, and that it's easier to troubleshoot vacuum and coolant links by getting rid of it. At this stage all the original hoses are toast anyway so there's no doubt alot of hoses that need replacing.

but you're deleting a sub-system that warms the throttle housing and some of the vacuum lines. we live in a cold climate so that's not too appealing. plus I'm an OEM+ snob so I like to keep things as designed.

PO for our 318is deleted everything when he turboed the M42. I built a custom exhaust for her and replaced the turbo, but the damn thing was never reliable - coolant leaks, oil leaks, exhaust smoke.... Ended up yanking everything and have been taking her back to stock.

I lucked out last summer and found another 318is with all the stock bits intact including the heat plates around the throttle housing (21 and 24 in the drawing). I just went ahead and ordered replacement hoses for the stock setup, plus a bracket that holds 21 in place. Will let you know how it goes

[bradnic]

By the way the old m42club links dont work anymore.
mess under the intake thread here