BMW e36 question

[saxoman]

Wondering if anyone has much knowledge of the engines in these cars ..
this is spawned after provisionally being offered a 318i SE on a 97 P reg with "possible" HGF. Basicly the car starts on the button and runs beautifully from what I have heard of it running ... But the coolant system over pressures very quickly and it apparently leaks near the rad somewhere also (guessing this is overspill from the coolant tank or fubared rad). There is a full head set including HG supplied with the car but I have no idea on these engines.

main points are ...

I have no idea if it's 8 valve or 16 valve (8 valve being a belt and 16 valve a chain IIRC with a weird vanos unit or something)

I am told these cars are notorious for weak coolant systems

I'm a little unsure if there are any other things than the standard rad cap, thermostat or bloked rads that can cause this issue with a BMW engine

Any advice is welcomed before I plunder cash I don't have on a lemon

[mrabody]

I don't think the four cylinders have a reputation for HGF. Sixes are better known for it, although I think some of the notoriety is down to the later M52 six cylinder have an aluminium block that turns to butter when it is overheated rending the motor scrap.

Yours is probably an SOHC designated as the 43 by BMW. Both the M43 and the M42 DOHC engine are iron block and use timing chains rather than belts.

[saxoman]

well That's nice to know it may not have HGF

[rodney]

they have a bleed screw on the rad,.

[BenzBoy]

It could well be the header tank that's split at the side of the rad. They're quite known for it, and it happened to my 318iS (16 valve) when I got it, also with an unknown overheating problem. I would definitely check that, as the split isn't always evident. All you get is water peeing everywhere from somewhere in the area, and a rising temperature needle!
I got a replacement from Euro Car Parts. Bit of a pain to fit, as you don't want to damage the rad, but about twenty quid-odd.

The bleeding takes a while. I found a how-to online and just followed that. It's amazing how much air comes out - even after you think it's all bled, another load of air will come gurgling out.

I'd say yours will be an 8 valve, but the rads are the same as far as I know.

[burnleye21]

Your engine is an m43 chain driven unit that do have cooling issues from time to time. If you think it's the rad I'd get one from the scrappers and fit that and make sure it's bled off propery through the bleed screw when you refit it? Also have you checked your water pump? Some have plastic impellers and break up after a bit, I put a cast iron one on mine and it's give me no bother. If you're still struggling message me I've had a load of these over the years

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

Many moons ago I had an e36 316 compact. The HG failed on it but the only the symptoms were it started running hot then eventually overheating. Not the same engine but it was a 4 cylinder. I had it compression tested and it confirmed it.