So many things wrong with my car

T

Total7

Member
Water pump on my car is gone, awaiting parts and should be fitted by mid week, ordered a Brake light off ebay as well.

The brakes are noisy, engine is leaking, glove box is broken, third light is broken, steering needs a look at, gear box makes a slight popping sound, bumper needs a respray.

Having read this forum, most of these are common faults and an easy fix but it all adds up :? . I’ll be very busy for the next few months. A new undercover tray should get rid of some of the creaks and squeaks and it’s broken as well

A valve head cover gasket should sort out the oil leak I’m guessing. Just concerned about the gear box noises.

I don’t even know where to start, having paid around 1200 under the market value for the car I’m still thinking it was an ok deal. I’ll know sooner or later.
 
Engine and gearbox sounds worrying! I'd look into those before you pour too much into it! But if all is good then sounds like you've got a nice little project on your hands! :)
 
Sorry to hear about the faults, hope you get these sorted

I've changed the head gasket cover, and used this guide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlBby98Kg-w

bought the gasket maker from halfords for £5
 
sounds like a good project and at least you didn't pay top money for it?
whats up with the glovebox? I have an e85 2005 one , not sure if any parts from that fit your glovebox?
 
jasono said:
sounds like a good project and at least you didn't pay top money for it?
whats up with the glovebox? I have an e85 2005 one , not sure if any parts from that fit your glovebox?
Click to expand...

Pins or screw missing in the back, not the front latch issues l
 
Well you've certainly got a bit of a list going there!

Just so you know the YouTube video link is for swapping the valve cover gasket on a pre-facelift with the M54 engine, but you've got a facelift with the N52 engine.

On your car the bolts securing the cover are single-use aluminium ones so will need to be replaced.

Good luck getting it all sorted. :thumbsup:
 
Good luck with all the work that needs to be done. I agree with the above, concentrate on the major mechanical work to make sure the car is fundamentally ok before ploughing money into relative cosmetics.
 
Mr Tidy said:
Well you've certainly got a bit of a list going there!

Just so you know the YouTube video link is for swapping the valve cover gasket on a pre-facelift with the M54 engine, but you've got a facelift with the N52 engine.

On your car the bolts securing the cover are single-use aluminium ones so will need to be replaced.

Good luck getting it all sorted. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Ahh sorry mate though it was the M54, my bad
 
UPDATE

New water pump arrived from Germany :D had it fitted by Specialist not far from me.

Pick up the car, drove about 70% of the way home and noticed the temp gauge slowing kreeping up again :? Great... just great!! luckily it went only as high as 3/4 then back down to normal. Unluckily the radiator/water light comes on. Maybe they didn’t add enough coolant or air in the system. I’m around 500 metres from home so I just drive and park up. let the car cool before trying to add more coolant.

I notice water around the cap and some on the undertray. Let’s assume the mechanic spilled a bit. Top up around 1L of water. Dry everything up and off for s test drive. Kept an eagle eye on the temp gauge, went up to half way and stayed there. Before long the needle started to move but just slightly higher than normal then back to the middle. This was a lot better than before but certainly there is a huge issue here. Pop the hood and there is fresh coolant on the undertray again and down the side of the tank. Certainly wasn’t the mechanic spilling :headbang:
Off to the garrage again.

After a bit of discussion ( nice guys tbh ) and 3 of them examing, it’s the Thermostat. It’s closed. There are no leaks anywhere nor is the expansion tank cracked. Why I didn’t have the stat and pump done together is my fault :headbang: I leave the car and walk home. One of the guys Even drops me home in his gorgeous M X5...

I’ll pick up the car after work tomorrow. Let’s see what else is wrong with it now...

Slight positive, the popping sound from the gearbox, turns out it’s not the gear box but brake related. Could be many things and I’m sure it’ll be a pain in the backside to sort out.
 
I should add, originally I asked them to change the pump and provided the pump. After I left they checked the codes and it showed water pump. They assumed I knew what I was talking about and just did what I asked.

I asked if I just had them change a perfectly good pump, well that pump was certainly on its last legs. The stat not working put pressure on the pump and it burnt out a lot faster than it should have.
 
I'd advise against putting too much water into the system, as this will upset the ratio and could be exasperating your overheating issue?
 
Hang on, you say you are seeing fresh coolant on your undertray each time so do you mean the stat housing is cracked? I don't blame you for not changing the stat - they are extremely reliable in general. I've never heard of a single one failing.

You issue sounds much more like an airlock in the coolant to me. Are you sure they used the correct bleed procedure for an N52 (ignition on and press accelerator to floor for 10 secs - it then starts an automatic 15 min self bleed procedure).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom