e36 318iS hints tips and assistance:)

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:15 pm

ok so i was looking for a replacement for my scab 9-3..

went out looking today and bought an e36 318iS.i know its the darkside,but better than the scab.

its mot'd til Nov and seems to drive well..

has a couple of issues though-I'd appreciate advice on the following.

1. Car is very misty inside,I'm thinking heater matrix valve-are they easy to change?

2. Will e46 front discs fit it?i have some new ones lying about,and the car could do with new ones.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:42 pm

i dunno the answer to either of your questions but i've owned my 'is' for over 2 years now and its fantastic it gets generally abused all the time and it just seems to lap it up
there not the fastest car on the road by a long shot but get on a nice twisty road and keep the revs above 4k and you'll be amazed at how capable a car they are

Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:28 pm

thanks for your post:)

I'm hoping that if i can solve those issues she'll make a decent daily driver.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:40 pm

Neil - does the car have climate control?

Sounds like the heater core/ matrix is leaking? ie, the coolant IS getting through the control valve, but then leaking inside the car.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:44 pm

grantfk10 wrote:Neil - does the car have climate control?

Sounds like the heater core/ matrix is leaking? ie, the coolant IS getting through the control valve, but then leaking inside the car.

Hi grant, no climate-only 3dials for fan/temp and position.

is it easy enough to remove the matrix?
if so whats the order?glovebox out and then remove and replace?

Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:58 am

Sorry, I've done just about everything apart from the matrix, Neil.

Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:37 pm

With regard to the misting issue it might just be that the scuttle area is clogged with leaf litter etc. You can access the area relatively simply by removing the trim (and the wipers if it's a coupÃ©). There are a couple of drains in the area around the heater fan that can get clogged and lead to the car misting up. Are the carpets wet in the front footwells? If not I wouldn't think the heater matrix is at fault.

There's a good thread on one of the other forums about this, I'll have a quick look for it and post it up...

EDIT: Here's the article I was on about - CLICKY. Maybe worth a look before you go tearing stuff out to get to the heater matrix.

With regard to the E46 discs; I'm not sure but I think 330 discs can be fitted. But I don't know much about it. The 'e36coupe' forum is a good source of info if you're not already signed-up.

Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:10 pm

aj_mckay wrote:With regard to the misting issue it might just be that the scuttle area is clogged with leaf litter etc. You can access the area relatively simply by removing the trim (and the wipers if it's a coupÃ©). There are a couple of drains in the area around the heater fan that can get clogged and lead to the car misting up. Are the carpets wet in the front footwells? If not I wouldn't think the heater matrix is at fault.

There's a good thread on one of the other forums about this, I'll have a quick look for it and post it up...

EDIT: Here's the article I was on about - CLICKY. Maybe worth a look before you go tearing stuff out to get to the heater matrix.

With regard to the E46 discs; I'm not sure but I think 330 discs can be fitted. But I don't know much about it. The 'e36coupe' forum is a good source of info if you're not already signed-up.

Thanks for the informative post!

Thanks to Grant as well- no doubt i'll find something for you to advise on

I do have tell tale wetness in the passenger footwell-I'll check the vents, but I'm inclined to think that it is heater matrix related..

thanks for the guide link

Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:09 pm

Does it have AC? Does that work? Mine had the misty problem as well but the AC didn't work.

TBH after I changed the pollen filter and cleaned the glass on the inside (and the rest of the interior) it was fine after that...

I liked mine, just don't slam the doors shut by pushing on the glass - always push the metal.

Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:10 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:Does it have AC? Does that work? Mine had the misty problem as well but the AC didn't work.

TBH after I changed the pollen filter and cleaned the glass on the inside (and the rest of the interior) it was fine after that...

I liked mine, just don't slam the doors shut by pushing on the glass - always push the metal.

No AC Gwyn, so all the more powah from the mighty m44

Its looking like it might be the matris as I'm not getting any heat from the vents. going to try bleeding it again tonight.