How to PROPERLY Bleed an E46 BMW Cooling System

The E46 Drift Car build continues! There are a lot of questions and discussion regarding the proper way to bleed an E46 cooling system. In 59 seconds - I lay out step by step the proper way to bleed the E46 cooling system.

[@csgmikes4822]

Good video demonstration. To the point and informative

[@LaRosa.Racing]

Some quick tips: It’s not a bad idea to run the car with the cap off after you have followed these steps. That will allow any stubborn air bubbles to rise. I do want to point out if you do this correctly there should be minimal air bubbles if any when you turn the car on. After your first drive - let the car cool and check the fluid.

[@borjablanco916]

Hello which cap?

[@aaronwall4802]

@@borjablanco916 the reservoir cap Brody ☝️

[@herrbrahms]

The part about getting the nose of the car up high is critical. I thought I did a good job bleeding my system, only to have the engine needle go way past the middle on my shakedown run. I had to drive home a 1/4 mile at a time, stopping in between to let the needle return to the middle before another mad dash and coast. Once I got home, I parked nose up on a very steep hill and re-bled. The problem vanished.

[@lootzhimbeyohimbe6346]

Ok, this technique will work only if your bmw is equipped with the secondary water pump, which is electric. You will hear the pump working and also see coolant circulation as you look into the expansion tank with only the ignition on. Not all will have an electric pump, for example an e53 having the same m54 engine as the e46 will definitely have a secondary electric pump to help circulate the rear climate controls. I have both vehicles and my e46 vert with m54 does not have the electric pump, my x5 e53 does have the pump.

[@robertpeters1497]

i hear bubbling an hissing noise comming from expansion tank after a drive, i dont have any coolant lost or milky oil so i think its just air pockets in my tank i need to bleed out

[@aaronwall4802]

@Larosadrift can I do it with water first it takes a lot of coolant I can just mix it

[@LaRosa.Racing]

I would mix it using a half gallon of distilled water (emptying half into another container),

[@ceelowww_]

Needa definitely do this my e46 my coolant light appears and disappears don’t know if it’s the sensor or it’s just not filled

[@LaRosa.Racing]

Doesn’t hurt to try - could be a sensor too.

[@Jackman781]

Same thing happening to me. Only happens in traffic or idling. Did this solve your issue?

[@ceelowww_]

@@Jackman781 yeah this did actually! 😂 the car used up a good quart of coolant I would say

[@wellokayyes1266]

​@@ceelowww_ Just be careful! The same thing happened to me, thought it was a sensor. Next thing I'm at a gas pump and my expansion tank busts dumping coolant all over the ground. Got home before it engine overheated. The buoy was broken inside the tank, but nearly hopefully all of it was removed when replaced. I then replaced thermostat, water pump, and radiator last weekend did all the work myself. Having trouble getting the line to circulate now it's just been such a journey. But I'm so close! Going to try jacking driver side a little higher tomorrow and hopefully get the line moving, my only other guess is if there is a clog somewhere. It was circulating after the water pump was replaced.

[@eastsideofthetracks8311]

Probably a leak make sure you take care of it I had the same issue and my car over heated expansion tank and hoses gave out

[@aaronwall4802]

What if the heat isn’t working please respond soon I replace coolant tank and didn’t bleed correctly coolant hose is swelling but I replaced it and now I have to bleed again

[@LaRosa.Racing]

Repeat the process. Try running with the cap off until the car gets hot as well. Sometimes the system will burp itself this way. Remember to make sure the front left of the car is jacked up (the high point).

[@marcuscolman4239]

Revving the engine around 3 to 4 times with the cap off helped push out the stubborn pockets of air as I had the same issue, the heat then came straight away.

[@jaciobe]

​@LaRosaDrift so ots safe to run tne car with the resovoir cap off?? I'm doing my radiator on my e53 x5 soon. Should be same process I think

[@mikeault7]

I see to jack the driver side and I see why Duh . I seen elsewhere to jack passanger side and it dont work . Thank You

[@HaleySVG666]

This technic only works if u got ClimateControl without CC u need to start the car > let it idle when its around working temp 90 - 100 degree celsius ( depends what thermostat u have some cars run 80 degree or lower thermostats ) , rest is the same

[@arnolduk123]

This video skips one very important step and that is to remove the excess water from the expansion tank so the level float is set correctly in the middle from the top of the tank. Be prepared to have your expansion tank explode of you over fill it! The very reason it is called an expansion tank is to allow the water to expand within the tank so make sure the tank is half full at most.

[@stewfly9227]

I removed alot of coolant with a syringe after doing this bleed process... didnt know how to measure correct amount in expansion tank due to the brittle float being already snapped off( was time for a new tank anyway) but just to get by for the time being I guessed how much to remove and a couple mile trip was enough to spring a micro leak in the expansion tank. probs didnt syringe enough after the bleed process. terrible this video leaves that out so be warned.

[@isilder]

Step 1. Buy a funnel for $1.99 exactly,no more,no less

[@cancerlaunched]

After doing a cooling system overhaul on my e46, I test drove the car and the temp gauge needle was a hair over the center line. couldnt figure out why. After watching this video and doing his proper bleeding steps I went on another test run and now its dead center. thanks

[@LaRosa.Racing]

Great to hear!