1995 e34 540i/6 *m60b44* - Return to Some Kind of Glory

[90-E34-M5]

I think the main effect of the 'puller fan' is to push all that hot air out of the engine bay , I was getting terrible levels of heat soak on the engine bay components

I achieved a 27 deg C drop (80 deg F) in engine bay component surface temps

[marshallnoise]

I think the main effect of the 'puller fan' is to push all that hot air out of the engine bay , I was getting terrible levels of heat soak on the engine bay components

I achieved a 27 deg C drop (80 deg F) in engine bay component surface temps

I believe it. Really, the main effect of a puller fan is to draw air through the radiator. The clearing out off of the engine bay is secondary and certainly helps.

[90-E34-M5]

The good news is it worked

The 540/5 went from being a hot overheating pig in traffic to running reliably

For your 540 I'd recommend the following first steps

Use the 318 80/88 fan switch in the radiator , it will bring the front electric fan on earlier

E36 318 Double temperature switch 80/88 deg C PN 61-31-8-361-787

Consider some louvres or cooling holes on the hood

Clean the oil cooler

[90-E34-M5]

A thought ... have you changed your electric auxiliary fan ?

A common fault with these is they don't switch to high speed or are weak on the high speed setting , instant overheat

[marshallnoise]

A thought ... have you changed your electric auxiliary fan ?

A common fault with these is they don't switch to high speed or are weak on the high speed setting , instant overheat

I appreciate your help. Let me list out the things I have done to the car as far as cooling stuff.

• Brand new water pump
• 3rd thermostat
• Valley Pan gasket redone
• New o-rings for cross over pipes
• Cleaned and blew out whole engine with low pressure, high volume leaf blower
• New expansion tank
• New Mishimoto radiator
• Rear coolant manifold has been cleaned and cleared (nothing came out)
• Two new coolant temp sensors (DME and cluster)
• Volvo auxiliary fan in place of clutch fan
• 80/88c temp switch in original location hooked up to Volvo switch (turns on as advertised)
• New expansion tank cap
• New hoses
• Cleaned and function checked heater core valves
• New auxiliary water pump (checked flow is going correct direction)
• I have full heat in the interior
• Auxiliary fan is currently disabled and really shouldn't be necessary for 68 degree San Diego weather
• Car overheated with NO thermostat installed once

I have absolutely done every single thing you can possibly do to a cooling system short of pulling heads and checking for clogs in there or in the block.

A fellow at bimmerforums thinks I might have a bad brand new radiator from Mishimoto. So I have swapped it. I have yet to fill it up and test drive it, but I will report back.

[90-E34-M5]

Weird

I'd still put the auxiliary fan back into service

I've found a pusher fan failure (front fan) has a bigger effect on water temperature than a puller fan failure

[marshallnoise]

Just went out for a test drive with the original, yet functioning radiator in the car. Exact same problem.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[marshallnoise]

I am convinced that I have a blockage somewhere in the motor. With the car at operating temperature, coolant starts backing up through the expansion tank.

I have a line on a 2000 540i with bad timing chain guides. Exterior is rough save for some great looking wheels. Interior looks to be in great shape and I could snag the steering wheel (M-sport) for my car. I could sell the transmission and part out as much as I can. Then get my m60 pulled out and start on this m60b44. Its been on craigslist for about a month and he is asking $600 for it. I am going to try and work out a deal in the next day or two.

My car wouldn't start until it sat for 10 minutes and cooled off. I think the motor is cooked by now. Oh well, shit happens.

[90-E34-M5]

yes , that doesn't sound good

[jpod999]

I am convinced that I have a blockage somewhere in the motor. With the car at operating temperature, coolant starts backing up through the expansion tank.

I have a line on a 2000 540i with bad timing chain guides. Exterior is rough save for some great looking wheels. Interior looks to be in great shape and I could snag the steering wheel (M-sport) for my car. I could sell the transmission and part out as much as I can. Then get my m60 pulled out and start on this m60b44. Its been on craigslist for about a month and he is asking $600 for it. I am going to try and work out a deal in the next day or two.

My car wouldn't start until it sat for 10 minutes and cooled off. I think the motor is cooked by now. Oh well, shit happens.

Do it. M60B44 would be awesome!

[marshallnoise]

Do it. M60B44 would be awesome!

Ha thanks for the encouragement.

I have a line on just a motor for $300 up in Northridge. I have to ask myself if it's worth my time and inconvenience to part out the e39 or just grab a motor on its own. Its good use of money to buy a whole car, but not good use of my time and body. Both motors have 160K on them and the heads are still good...

Decisions, decisions.

[jpod999]

Man, it would be hard for me to say no to the $300 motor. I'm lazy and the thought of parting a whole entire car before I could get back to the car I actually want to be working on would be enough to sell me on the motor only lol.

[marshallnoise]

Man, it would be hard for me to say no to the $300 motor. I'm lazy and the thought of parting a whole entire car before I could get back to the car I actually want to be working on would be enough to sell me on the motor only lol.

That's where I am at too. The only advantage is that the automatic in the car for sale is supposed to be perfect ($$$). It has great looking Style 66s and a perfectly clean M-Sport Steering Wheel that I could use on my e34.

I would have to rent a hoist to get the motor out and I would have to rent a flat bed (if someone would let me tow with my 4Runner) and snag the car down in Chula Vista. Then I gotta park it in a crowded drive way anyway.

Ugg.

[marshallnoise]

Crap, now the guy selling the motor is not wanting to split the engine from the automatic and wants a full $600 for it. If I am going to drop $600, then I am gonna get the parts car and just be quick with pulling what I want and sending the rest to the junker.

[squidmaster]

Man, just read through this entire thread. You're a champ with this resto. Keep it up! And every e34 I've owned has had constant cooling problems..... Just seems to be the trend, especially in hotter climates.