Leaking heater Matrix... advise,

[emel]

My e30 has a leak from the matrix ? took it out this morning temp gauge went off the scale and wifey told me water was running onto the carpet and her leg,this then went to steam and facial sauna status.When i got back after letting the car cool and a top up,the carpet was soaked through.Removed the console and trim
and found a leak at the lowest point on the matrix,looks a git to remove.Any advise welcome,prior to this the heater was running cold for a long time,so i'm assuming the matrix is buggered.

[gnrsoul]

check the this first same happened to me and the matrix was ok it as the gasket on the Water Valve and Inlet Pipe

[toby]

As a temporary work-around you can bypass the heater matrix by joining together the two pipes that go through the bulkhead with a piece of pipe. If you do this, mark the upper pipe so you don't mix them up when you reinstall them (after the heater matrix is fixed).

There's some stuff in the wiki about the heater matrix if you haven't seen it;
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... oubleshoot

Good luck with sorting it out.

[emel]

Thanks for the info bypassed the heater and will check the valve before i remove the matrix.Any idea where i can get
0 rings from....fleabay ? or BMW dealer.
Mike.

[Brianmoooore]

Dealer every time! Stay away from unbranded ebay rubbish, which is often more expensive than the dealer anyway.

[toby]

Very true Brian, even nuts and bolts and stuff like that are a total rip off on ebay compared to BMW.

[emel]

Thanks for the advise on the heater matrix,looking like new 0 rings now on the heater valve.
Mike.

[Brianmoooore]

Check that your radiator pressure cap has been changed under the 1997 recall.

[emel]

Hi, replaced the o rings with new ones and fitted a water valve ( used ) and still leaks,got a spare matrix so will get this fitted.Looks a real bugger to get out though.

[toby]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ting#Leaks

this may help a bit - if you hadn't seen it already

[emel]

Removed the matrix yesterday,and there was a leak and the plastic heater box it lies in was full of coolant.Replaced it with a spare from a low mileage car ( mine has done 228,000 ) plumbed it back in and no leaks so far.Taking the glove box bracket out made things a lot easier putting the servo bracket back in place.
Mike.

[Brianmoooore]

Check that your radiator pressure cap has been changed under the 1997 recall.