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. The leak is slow - dropped to an inch from the top up tank in 2 months or more.

I now have noticed damp under both from car mats, worse on the passenger side and when the vent to the rear seats is 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 & Bentley manuals] the car is 1992 and does not warrant going into a BMW 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.

I think it's time for the car to go. It has given me 6 years trouble free service except for exhaust and brake pipes. The mechanic friend who used to service the BMW's has moved away.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

It is most probably a broken heater core or a plastic ipe from the firewall to the heater core.
Don't panic.
First of all: does your car have aircon or only heater system?
If no aircon, very easy to change, if the system is Siemens.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/143292/
In case of aircon it becomes more complicated, but doable DIY, because the delaer will charge you an terrible amount for the hours.
In old times people removed the dash complete, that is no longer required.

This we have done in 4-6 hours
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/427855/
and more
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/328048
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/454565/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/451343/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/327622/

temporary fix
Isolate cabin heater from engine cooling
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/459398/

Just use the search on Bimmerboard E32 forum and type in heater core and you have enough info

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shogun

It is most probably a broken heater core or a plastic ipe from the firewall to the heater core.
Don't panic.
First of all: does your car have aircon or only heater system?
If no aircon, very easy to change, if the system is Siemens.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/143292/
In case of aircon it becomes more complicated, but doable DIY, because the delaer will charge you an terrible amount for the hours.
In old times people removed the dash complete, that is no longer required.

This we have done in 4-6 hours
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/427855/
and more
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/328048
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/454565/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/451343/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/327622/

temporary fix
Isolate cabin heater from engine cooling
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/459398/

Just use the search on Bimmerboard E32 forum and type in heater core and you have enough info

---

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

The car does not have air con.

What about a modern radiator sealer, I do not intend to keep the vehicle long term. Doe to the MPG and the cost of road tax etc - I have 12 months MOT I would be best to sell it now.

If I remove the heater hoses will i loose coolant?

If I remove the screw at the bottom of the radiator will some water be allowed out to allow the sealer to go in, via the expansion tank or will the thermostat stop this. The leak is only small as i say down 1.5 inches in the expansion tank in 2 months. But blowing full during the winter months has sent some coolant along the rear ventilation duct.

thanks for the reply

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shogun

It is most probably a broken heater core or a plastic ipe from the firewall to the heater core.
Don't panic.
First of all: does your car have aircon or only heater system?
If no aircon, very easy to change, if the system is Siemens.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/143292/

---

Hi

This is a RHD vehicle.

Also how do I find out if it is a Siemens unit?

Thanks

I like the url - 30 minutes seems very short time for me - more like 3 hours!

Try to talk to the chaps on the good U.K. E32 boards
http://www.the7seriesregister.co.uk/
http://www.bmw7resource.co.uk/forum/
I would not use any sealer, the heater vlaves can be plugged and also other small channels in the engine, that is probably a crack.
After you removed the control panel, you can see the sticker behind the control panel and on the heater system, either Behr or Siemens sticker, with part numbers.
On the U.K. boards there is a link where you get special discount from a U.K. company.

Quote:

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The leak is only small as i say down 1.5 inches in the expansion tank in 2 months

---

Then it might be only the expansion tank, the smell could come in. Ask on the U.K. boards if someone has a spare one, they have a for sale and wanted section.