1. Home
  2. BMW Cars and SUVs
  3. 730, M30 E32 1992 heater - water leak

730, M30 E32 1992 heater - water leak

730, M30 E32 1992 heater - water leak

Hi

Looking for advice.

I have a water leak into the car from the heater. It can have only started a couple of months ago when I topped up the coolant. A thing i do not normally have to do.

I now have noticed damp under both from mats, worse on the passenger side and the vent to the rear seats when opened water can be heard and I have drawn some off today with a tube and it is coolant. I am not really a DIY car mechanic [but do have a haynes manual] the car is 1992 and does not warrant going into a garage which is 80 miles away.

I feel that the heater radiator has sprung a small leak and over time has collected in the area. I am wondering if a radiator leak sealer would stop it - would there be any harm in trying. I only do about 1000 miles per year and only local. Would this be easy to check by taking out the glove box?

Any advice would be appreciated. Even if this is a short fix - that would be ok - i could clean the carpets etc. Over 2 months the water level has dropped by about 1.5" down the filler but not brought up an alarm.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Reply to
Marchant
Loading thread data ...

"Marchant" wrote

Replacing the heater core in 5-series of this vintage is a difficult and lengthy task. I suspect that it's similar in a 7-series. Additionally, if you have the two-temperature-zone system, there are two radiators to replace.

The sealer is not recommended. It might work, it might gum up the heater control valve (or other valves), it might not work. And it might ruin the corrosion-protection values of the coolant.

FloydR

Reply to
Floyd Rogers

If you can live without the heater, just bypass the heater all together. Its a *hell* of a job to change.

Reply to
TPr

This is precisely what has happened... and taking out the glove box is probably not enough. I have not done an E32, but the 5-series cars of that era are a horrible nightmare to get the dashboard apart on.

You can TRY the Bar's Leaks brand sealer.... what you want is the kind with the grey plastic pebbles, not the other sort. There is a chance that it will temporarily fix the problem.

There is also a chance that it will clog up your water pump too. For the most part, the modern plastic sealers are a lot less apt to do damage than the older kapok, but they still are not completely harmless.

Find a local mechanic that you trust, who has a lot of time. This is not a job that requires sophisticated techniques and troubleshooting skills, but it's a job that requires a whole lot of work to get the thing apart and back together. You want a blacksmith grade mechanic, not an expert diagnostician. The glop in the system might fix it, but if you intend on driving this thing forever (and you should be able to do that), you really want to repair it right. Even though it's a hell of a lot of time involved.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

I think the car has reached almost the end of it's life for me. It has to go and if this will quick fix - I think i would be happy.

I will have to think - this leakage into the car has to stop.

Thanks for your reply.

Reply to
Marchant

MM what a suggestion?

Any idea of the best way to do this?

I see from the handbook there are 3 hoses?

Would you think this is a better solution that the radiator hole cure liquid?

Thanks for the reply

Reply to
Marchant

Hi Scott,

No I have decided to get rid of this car as my step son, who used to repair the BMW's [3 2*530 and one 730] has moved on.

The stuff I have purchased is called carlube. it says it repairs leaking radiators fast and stays active to seal future leaks. It will not harm hoses or gaskets. It's made by Tetrosyl ltd. Bury, Lancs.UK

This car has given me 6 years of trouble free motoring, except for brake pipes and an exhaust. It's done 130,000 miles but is getting clobbered with high petrol costs and road car tax.

Thanks

Reply to
Marchant

There should be a line going through the firewall into the heater, and one coming out of the heater. Connect them together.

If you live in Florida, but not if you live in Saskatchewan.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Thanks - I will look tomorrow.

Kind Regards

Reply to
Marchant

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.