My radiator exploded yesterday whilst waiting for an MOT. Would you believe it. Totally heartbroken but am hoping a new radiator and thermostat will suffice. Reading various articles I won’t rest easy until I know the full extent of the damage.
Radiator Explosion
- Thread starter Low Rider
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Looks more like the plastic filler/top up tank has blown apart, these are a known weak point on BMW's they either develop splits or holes or as in your case blows apart. The plastic just ages and becomes brittle, mine developed a small hole in its side, spotted it before it got bigger and failed completely. Replacements on ebay and on Autodoc think I paid around £20 for my replacement. Its fairly easy to change takes longer to refill and bleed the system.
My 1999 1.8 Z3 parts details on Realoem site here, use your Vin Number to check whats fitted to yours on the first page.
My 1999 1.8 Z3 parts details on Realoem site here, use your Vin Number to check whats fitted to yours on the first page.
Last edited:
Wow. Is this something that we owners of 20+ year old Z's need to think about?
Thinking about it, the thermostat housing on mine exploded for no reason a few years ago.
As @colb said. It's gotta be age. They just weren't designed to last this long. Maybe the boffins are designing plastics that don't last a gazillion years and now it doesn't last 20.
Anyway. At the price of a new one I might just replace mine anyway
Thinking about it, the thermostat housing on mine exploded for no reason a few years ago.
As @colb said. It's gotta be age. They just weren't designed to last this long. Maybe the boffins are designing plastics that don't last a gazillion years and now it doesn't last 20.
Anyway. At the price of a new one I might just replace mine anyway
Thank you that’s invaluable advice
My experience is that BMW rads (Z3/E36) last for about 20 years and then fail, sometimes dramatically. Any rad beyond that is on borrowed time!
Yes, that seems to be true and is a fact every Z3 owner should be aware. Shame I hadn’t joined the forum years ago as I would have been more vigilant. But if she can be fixed with just a new radiator I will be more than happy. Had visions of more major repairs. 