BMW 3 of the E46 series

since 1998 release

Repair and operation of the car


BMW 3 of the E46 series
+ BMW 3 Cars (E46)
+ Current leaving and service
+ Engine
- Cooling systems, heating
   - Engine cooling system
      Replacement of cooling liquid
      Check of a thermoswitch
      Check of the cooling system under pressure
      Connection and separation of the quick disconnect coupling
      Removal and installation of the thermostat
      Removal and installation of a fan / casing of the fan
      Removal and installation of the fan with the viscous coupling
      Removal and installation of a radiator
      Removal and installation of the pump of cooling liquid
   + Heater and conditioner of air of salon
+ Power supply systems, injection and release
+ Electric equipment of the engine
+ RKPP and transmission line
+ Automatic transmission
+ Coupling and power shafts
+ Brake system
+ Suspension bracket and steering
+ Body
+ Onboard electric equipment
+ Schemes of electric equipment


Check of the cooling system under pressure

Tightness of system and operation of the safety valve in a cover of a radiator can be checked by means of the special tool, for example, of HAZET 4800/9.

At the hot engine before opening of a broad tank put on it a thick rag to exclude emission of hot liquid and vapors that can lead to a burn. The cover can be opened only at a temperature of liquid below +90 °C.


1 Check the level of cooling liquid.
2 Check, whether dry all accessions of hoses. If necessary wipe them.

3 Install on a jellied branch pipe on a radiator the tool for check of pressure-1-. Create the manual pump of the tool pressure of 1.5 bars and wait 2 min.


4 Created pressure can fall within 2 min. no more, than to 0.1 bars. If pressure falls further, reveal a leak place in system. At pressure raising liquid follows through a leak place. Condense a leak place.
5 If pressure falls without liquid loss, the place of leak can be in the engine, for example, defective sealing laying of a head of cylinders or a crack in the case can be such place.
6 If pressure keeps though in the course of the movement of the car loss of cooling liquid takes place, start the engine and let's it work on single turns. The manual pump create pressure about 1 bar and check visually a radiator. Localize leakage and condense.
7 Stop the engine. Slowly turn off a connecting element, having removed pressure in the cooling system.

Valve check of a stopper

8 Screw a stopper-2-on the tool for check-1-.


9 Create the manual pump of the tool pressure. The stopper has to be tight. The safety valve in a stopper has to open only with a pressure of 1.0 bars (Model 320d: 1.4 bar). Otherwise replace a stopper.
10 Create vacuum in a stopper. At vacuum of 0.1 bars the vacuum valve in a stopper of a radiator has to open.
11 in the presence of damages of a rubber ring to a stopper replace it. Screw a stopper.