1987 325 Cooling system leak

[plusnone]

I recently got my first BMW, a 1987 325, and love it. However, there are a few issues with it. I've never had the opportunity to learn how to repair cars, but I would like to learn. I would appreciate any help I can get from collective knowledge of this message board.

My current problem has to do with the cooling system. Two days ago, the upper radiator hose blew out, creating a 3" gash in the hose and spraying coolant all over the place. Not knowing much about cooling systems, I ended up having to pay my mechanic $70 to replace the hose, although I now know how easy the repair was.

Today, I drove into my driveway, turned off the car, and noticed that there was steam escaping the hood. I popped the hood, and traced the steam to a small (<1 inch diameter) hose located to the rear of the engine, connecting the engine to something behind the firewall. From what I've gathered by searching online, this is where the cooling system connects the hot water from the engine to the heater core:



I know how to replace the hose (pipeclamps, etc.), but I don't know how to access it. I can't fit my hand or manage to get a screwdriver or wrench between the engine and the firewall (if that's indeed what it is; I'm unsure about the terms I use) from above, and from below the transmission is in the way. The hose is located all the way to the right in the picture on this link (can't seem to get the picture to post here), and down towards the transmission:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e30/5548496-1.html

Please explain to me how best to go about fixing my problem. I don't have another $70 to spend on an overpriced mechanic, and would like to do this myself. Thank you for your help.

-plusnone

[rs4pro3]

It is hard to get to but it can be done, Hopefully your car is a manual tranny or else it's harder. If you have an engine lift you could loosen the motor/tranny mounts and move the engine forward a bit to get more room.
Try buying one of those flexible hose clamp driver's and try to get it on the clamps.

[plusnone]

Thanks for your reply. I managed to get my new (actually spliced) hose in, somehow.

I have another question: do I need to, and if so how do I, bleed the cooling system? I went to a local BMW mechanic, who wanted to charge me $250 to replace the hose and bleed the radiator. I know that it's not good to have air bubbles in the cooling system, but two days ago when the upper radiator hose ruptured, my normal mechanic, who I think is pretty knowledgeable on BMWs, didn't do anything other than let the engine run for a while with the cap to the radiator tank (water resevoir) open. What, if anything, do I need to do in order to keep my car from overheating?

Thanks for your help
-plusnone

[PeaveyBassist]

On the driver's side... bottom of radiator... In my 1987 325 there is a little blue phillips head screw. It is sord of by the bottom radiator hose. That is the bleed screw. We just slowly loosen that screw/bolt until coolant starts coming out. Once you get it loose enough to turn with your hands, slowly turn it and eventually coolant will SPEW out that hole at first, so watch your face and eyes. Make sure the bucket is big enough to catch the coolant when it comes out too. On mine it sprayed toward the back of the car first, then went straight down. Just be careful with your face. If you can... wear safety glasses.

Will

[plusnone]

Wouldn't that be for draining/flushing the entire cooling system? I need to do that as well, but not for a little while.

After searching quite a few places online, I think I figured out that the bleed screw (as opposed to a drain screw) is located on the thermostat housing, near where the radiator hoses connect. I loosened that scew, revved the engine for a while, and then tightened it when the coolant that was escaping no longer had any bubbles.

If that wasn't what I was supposed to do, please let me know. If that's all I needed to do to bleed the cooling system, then I suppose I don't need any more help at the moment.

Thank you for your responses.
-plusnone