So, I’m sitting in traffic this morning and my car starts overheating. I pull over, kill engine and wait thirty minutes. Start car, pop hood and take a look. My radiator fan is not moving… ten minutes go by and the engine temp warning comes on again. Stop engine, wait thirty minutes and I take it to a nearby auto repair shop three miles up the road. They attach the computer, diagnose yes it’s the radiator fan.
No parts local so they have to order it. “No one makes an aftermarket part so you need to order directly from BMW.”. OK, how much is the part? $700+. Wow, really? It’s an electric fan that sits in front of the radiator. “Well, that’s the price, I can’t get it any cheaper.” With labor, it would be $950+ and the part can’t be here until Friday.
OK, let me shop around and see if I can find a better price.
Ten minutes of internet searching and I find a direct OEM replacement for $290, next day shipping from California was $45.
When I looked at the car to see how difficult the replacement would be, it turned out rather simple. I was able to remove the broken part today in about 45 minutes. No special tools required, no disconnecting the radiator. Pretty much one fastener and the shroud sits in a molded frame connected to radiator. The part will be here tomorrow afternoon and I’ll have fixed my own car for $335. It pays to not only get second opinions, but to also do a little research yourself. I saved myself about $650 today. It’ll end up with about two hours of my labor.
Always give me a shout with the BMW stuff. I’ve got links to parts databases and suppliers like you wouldn’t believe.
Also, cooling systems are considered a preventative maintenance item on most BMWs - yeah, the whole system. Radiator, plastic reservoir, water pump, fan, etc - all best to replace at various intervals depending on model than wait for any of it to fail.
None of the parts are particularly difficult to replace/service, but getting the parts themselves at a decent price is most of the problem.
I have a buddy with a Benz that has no dipstick for checking the oil. I asked where it was and how did he check it. He told me it has to go to a dealer for that. I think if it was mine I’d take the plastic cover off the engine and keep it in the trunk. That way I could check the oil and if it needs to go to a shop just put the cover back on. Then again I wouldn’t own a car or truck that costs as much as a house.
Capntang, you may be able to help me then. Im driving an older 7 series (2001 740iL) and the air conditioning only blows at one temperature at two speeds. When I turn on the windshield defroster, the temperature selection works fine, but other than that its just whatever the car thinks is comfortable for the day. Any diagnosis? I did some of my own research and came back with the regulating thermometers are just screwed up, but ive been told that’s not it.
I have a buddy with a Benz that has no dipstick for checking the oil. I asked where it was and how did he check it. He told me it has to go to a dealer for that. I think if it was mine I’d take the plastic cover off the engine and keep it in the trunk. That way I could check the oil and if it needs to go to a shop just put the cover back on. Then again I wouldn’t own a car or truck that costs as much as a house.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
Lots of manufactures are going to things like that. All new Ford Trucks have no way to check the transmission oil. Only a tranined Ford Tech can check the transmission fluid. or so the manual says. Also most vehicles now have the fuel filter mounted inside the fuel tank. Where there is money to be made, manufacturing will find a way to try to prevent the “shade tree” mechanic from taking it away from the dealers service departments.
Capntang, you may be able to help me then. Im driving an older 7 series (2001 740iL) and the air conditioning only blows at one temperature at two speeds. When I turn on the windshield defroster, the temperature selection works fine, but other than that its just whatever the car thinks is comfortable for the day. Any diagnosis? I did some of my own research and came back with the regulating thermometers are just screwed up, but ive been told that’s not it.
Reel-Boy
Most of my specific knowledge is of the E39 5-series and E92 3-series at the moment, but…
Off the top of my head, and certainly where I’d start - possibly the FSR. If the climate control system is at all similar to the E39 5-series of the same year, it’s a common failure that can cause all kinds of issues. The original part as been superseded by a redesigned model.
…and pay attention to the links included in the last post. Read through them all and see if symptoms match. Yours is not an E39 as referenced in some of those links (the 2001 7-series would be an E38), but the part may be similar.
For all BMW parts diagrams, bookmark http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do - best to search by VIN, but nearly everything is listed there. You can find current part numbers and then go shop the various suppliers.
This is good info as my buddy takes his Bmmmr to the dealer for every repair - his famous line, “that will be 1K”. Every repair avg’s 1k, and he has a ton of things go wrong.
I will pass this along to him… right now non of his windows work, only 2 doors power locks work, and he has to climb out of the passanger door as the drivers door wont open.
A Benz checks the oil electronically so you don’t have to get dirty. You do it on the dash.
I am a huge DIY’er. I bought a 12 year old Benz with 100k miles for a song. People said I would be paying over $800 a month in repairs. Stupid people. You don’t take your car to a dealer or a shop that will rob you. A lot of money can be saved by getting a little dirty.
In the past year I have put 40k miles on my car and done over $4000 worth of maintenance and repairs in my driveway for about $800.
My car gets 28 mpg and tows my boat and my brood comfortably. I call it the truckster.
I laugh at people that have to drive newer cars and/or are too stupid to fix something themselves. And no it isn’t a matter of if they have the money, because being stupid with money no matter how much you have is not an excuse.
Gauges and CD player went out on my 2003 Chevy LS 1500.
Dealer wanted $900 to fix.
Googled the problem-lots of good info-easy to remove both parts-sent them away for repair-cost $400.
“Watch what we do, not what we say.” John Mitchell
Sea Hunt Triton 202
Yammy 150
or so the manual says. Also most vehicles now have the fuel filter mounted inside the fuel tank. Where there is money to be made, manufacturing will find a way to try to prevent the “shade tree” mechanic from taking it away from the dealers service departments.