Preventative Maintenance Advice

[Smudgemanuk]

Below is the parts I am planning to fit to my car as preventative maintenance

Meyle Water Pump
Continental Aux Belt
Mahle Thermostat
Mahle Viscous Fan Coupling
2x Gates Radiator hoses (top and bottom) (1 and 2 in image)
1x BMW hose (3 in image)

Is there anything else I should add to this list?

Thanks Chris

 

[t-tony]

Give the viscous fan drive some serious consideration Chris. They are expensive, but, if it fails it can make the cooling fan blades shatter and shred the radiator.

Tony.

 

[DrWong]

Would avoid the Wahler thermostat as they have a known issue with leaking from the wiring connection. Ask me how I know etc, the one I put on my car had to be replaced after a few months.

Recommend getting the Mahle/Behr stat, which has been fine on my car since fitting a few years ago.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Give the viscous fan drive some serious consideration Chris. They are expensive, but, if it fails it can make the cooling fan blades shatter and shred the radiator.

Tony.

@t-tony

I have found a Mahle one for £81 on Autodoc

Is that alright?

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Would avoid the Wahler thermostat as they have a known issue with leaking from the wiring connection. Ask me how I know etc, the one I put on my car had to be replaced after a few months.

Recommend getting the Mahle/Behr stat, which has been fine on my car since fitting a few years ago.

Ok good to know

Mahle it is!

Thanks

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Is it worth replacing the air con belt as well?

 

[t-tony]

I have a new A/C belt in my cupboard you can have for the postage if you want. It’s a Gates belt IIRC.

Tony.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I have a new A/C belt in my cupboard you can have for the postage if you want. It’s a Gates belt IIRC.

Tony.

Yeah that would brilliant

Let me know what I owe you

Is an £81 mahle viscous fan couple ok?

 

[t-tony]

Yeah that would brilliant

Let me know what I owe you

Is an £81 mahle viscous fan couple ok?

I would be happy to fit a Mahle coupling Chris.. I'll go dig that belt out and let you know..

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

The belt I have is a DAYCO brand not Gates as I recalled. Part no. is 5PK907. Which denotes it is a 5 rib belt and 907mm long. It is brand new, never fitted. If you check and it's correct I'll send it. Was supplied for a 1998 2.8 Z3.

Tony.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

yeah that is the correct one

Thanks Chris

 

[t-tony]

I expect it will be around £3.50 to post it Chris. Please pm me your address and I'll get it in the post mate.

Tony.

 

[Tomk]

Got mine from here, saves you £30.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Andyboy]

I've used Meyle and Circoli pumps, both are fine.

The thermostat I'd leave if it works but I'd only use genuine BMW from the dealer.

Dayco, Continental and Gates are all good.

Viscous couplings - febi ones seem to work best. They're rebranded Behr ones iirc.

 

[Duncodin]

I've had my car nigh on 20 years so confident that all the coolant/radiator hoses and plastic bits are original. Planning on changing everything.

Looking on AutoDoc for hoses I see brands such as Meyle, Gates, Metzger and others. They all seem reasonably priced but anyone got any brand preferences? Anyone supply a whole quality hose kit?

What about the plastic pipes/flanges etc. Different brands?

Or should I just go OEM for everything?

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I have heard a lot of good things about Gates for hoses so I trusted them when buying mine

I went with metzger for a full CCV kit, as people seem to trust them too

Meyle make a very well rated water pump and people seem to like them

I had to go genuine for a few hoses but autodoc generally has most of them

Chris.

 

[t-tony]

What Chris says is good info.

Tony.