Expansion tank, too strong for my own good

O

olsonn

Active member
Can anybody here help me, was replacing my expansion tank this afternoon, lovely day for it. disconnected all the hoses sensors etc, but couldn't get it to move. Thought I would give it an hour, then went back and did my best hulk impression. Pulled as hard as I could and away it came, only problem is the piece its attached too at the bottom, snapped in half above the blue screw. Does anybody have a part number and if possible a name for this part

Thanks again
 
There's no screw at the bottom of my expansion reservoir that holds it tight, and there also shouldn't be according to TIS or realoem.

But there is a clamp that should be pulled out for an inch or so. And then pull and move the tank slightly away from the radiator. It's a pig of a job because you have to have a firm grip/pull but not so firm that you brake anything....
My tip: try to spray penetrating lube in between the couplings, hoping that it reaches the silicone seals. Those are the ones that make the couplings/expansion tank stuck.
I've had it off 3 times now, but every time it has to come off again (mostly during some mods or so) I still struggle, even though fitting it again with some silicone grease on the seals helps (to some degree).


If something on the bottom mount broke, you can replace the complete bottom mount, but part numbers vary with specific spec cars, so you'd have to give much more info on that, or look up the part yourself in realoem.
 
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq18/olsonn60/IMG_0481%202_zpsk3g4lvuh.jpg

The offending part, off my Z4 E85 2004, 2.5 manual
 
Hope this helps http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT32-EUR-07-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=17_0143
 
It's the mounting plate. When I ordered my tank the BMW tech advised me to order one as well as BMW themselves smash 9 out of 10 of them when they do the job!

I think I could have spent an extra 3 hours on the job lost a lot more skin and saved the original part but because I had the part I just deliberately sacrificed it and made the job 10 times easier.
 
I must admit I wish I had just done that at the very beginning, hands are cut and scratched to bits, off to the stealers this afternoon to see how much they want for one, cant imagine it being cheap LOL
 
olsonn said:
hands are cut and scratched to bits,
Click to expand...

Use mechanics gloves when you work on plastic parts on the car. The plastic parts always have the sharpest edges.

With all these O ring couplings its the trick to start it going. Usually you have to use a large screwdriver or some other tool to get some leverage somewhere by prying it in some smal space and carefully wiggeling/turning it. Once the o-rings have moved, they're more loose.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom