Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
Post Reply
JJG
Joined: Sat 22 Jun, 2013 03:06
Posts: 82

  blank

Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by JJG »

Good morning
Well it started off as being good.
I started my day by deciding to start up the Z as I wanted to change to
Door mirror for my new purchase.
A quick jump start and she roared to life on the first turn.
Whilst letting the engine run I got on with the job of changing over the
Mirror.
I can't really say how long the car was running for as
I became so engrossed in what I was doing but it must have been at least a hour
maybe longer when there was a massive bang from under the bonnet a huge &
amount of steam, to be honest I can't bare to look
Could it simply be a blown hose or is it likely to be a lot more
Serious ? Any suggestions would be really helpful please.
User avatar
colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
Posts: 690

  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by colb »

Pop the bonnet and check the hoses, more than likely a blown hose or radiator sprung a leak.

Colb
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by Del »

If it is just over-heating at idle, the original fault may well be the "fan clutch" aka viscous fan coupling. As the engine gets hot the coupling is supposed to "engage", stop the fan free-wheeling and thus cool the engine. When they fail, it is common for them to cease "engaging" causing the cooling system to overheat - typically noticeable when idling in traffic jams when there is no cool air being pushed through the front of the car to compensate. :(
wonderloaf
Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 20:55
Posts: 518

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Basingstoke

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by wonderloaf »

Could it be the water pump has blown? Similar thing happened to me, the only way is to take a look!
2001 Titan Silver 2.2 Sport
User avatar
motco
Joined: Tue 18 Aug, 2009 18:12
Posts: 728

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by motco »

The water pump blowing - quite possible of course - would be silent IMHO, and this was an explosive noise. I concur with those who say it's likely to be a hose. Replacing that is fairly straightforward, but sorting the ultimate cause may be a bit harder, I have no experience of that. I would not be too gloomy OP, you're not likely to have done too much damage. Unless the heat has warped something... Cylinder head for instance. Best of Luck anyway.
User avatar
pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by pingu »

I wouldn't worry too much about destroying your car, unless the bang was a kilo of semtex :shock: .
Pingu
wonderloaf
Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 20:55
Posts: 518

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Basingstoke

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by wonderloaf »

motco wrote:The water pump blowing - quite possible of course - would be silent IMHO, and this was an explosive noise.
I disagree, when my pump went it certainly made quite a bang ... well not the actual pump but the bearings failed big time and the fan ripped the housing out and spread it around under my bonnet, and I was almost stationary when it happened. If it had happened a few minutes earlier when I was doing about...(cough)... 80+MPH on the motorway I hate to think what the damage would have been!

At the end of the day it was all fixable, it just meant spending a few pounds to do so.
2001 Titan Silver 2.2 Sport
User avatar
motco
Joined: Tue 18 Aug, 2009 18:12
Posts: 728

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by motco »

That's pretty unusual in my experience. I had Hillman Hunter and Ford Capri 2.8i both lose their waterpumps gently, quietly, and quite sneakily. The first sign in the first one was temperature rising rapidly as water loss happened, and the second dribbling a line of coloured water out from underneath the front as I filled up at a motorway services. Removing the pressure cap and occasionally stopping to top up every fifty or so miles got them both home.
peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
Posts: 963

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by peter2b »

I would go for a hose where they fail you can got a loud bang had one do that on a mini years ago didn't half make me jump
peter2b
Z3Jeremy
Joined: Sun 23 Jun, 2013 08:40
Posts: 71

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by Z3Jeremy »

hi there plastic tee piece low down to right hand side of block looking from front of car is prone to blowing, as suggested fan probably didnt cut in and kaboom!! J.
JJG
Joined: Sat 22 Jun, 2013 03:06
Posts: 82

  blank

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by JJG »

Hi guys
Thanks for your advice guys
Fortunately it was just a hose re attached and all topped up
Again.
User avatar
colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
Posts: 690

  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by colb »

Think you need to checkout if the fan is working ok as well as the thermostat must have been a reason for the hose blowing off, coukld be just a case of the hose clamp loosing it's grip but to be sure check the fan and thermostat are functioning correctly.

Colb
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
deni2s
Joined: Mon 25 Mar, 2013 22:02
Posts: 761

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Need some advice please think I have just killed my zed

Post by deni2s »

The cause might be incorrect wiring from the factory to the temp switch, which goes inside radiator and should switch on electric fan in case of coolant overheating (over 91C on low speed and over 99C on high speed). Many z3 came from factory with incorrect wiring.

Check this thread on more info: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt ... an-failure
Post Reply