M50 coolant help...please

[IDWA]

So I need advice on replacing a coolant hose. I had a crack in the hose that connects to the water pump right below the oil filter and heads back under the intake. Hopefully that makes sense to someone. My roommate and I disconnected the end connecting to the water pump since the crack was right there, tried to just cut off the small section with the crack in it and hook it back up so I could take it to my work and work on it there but it didn't seem long enough and was too much of a pain in the ass.

I have a 1993 325IS with an M50 engine.

Anyone have experience with this situation? Price for replacement hose and best place to get it? Where does the hose terminate and what do I have to tear apart to get to it?

[Manolito]

I am not familiar with your car, it sounds to me like the hose you are describing is a very specialized 4-way hose that was unique to the earlier e36s. PITA. That lists for $90 at the dealer and $60 on line.

You will want to get the BMW branded hose or at least a known brand like Meyle or ContiTech, cause you won't want to do this again soon.

To get your hands and tools to the heater valve, you will probably have to pull the air inlet plenum off your firewall. When I did that, I had to stand in the engine compartment and jerk so hard that I nearly flew out backwards on my head when it broke free from the firewall.

If there is any chance that you need a fresh intake manifold gasket, do yourself a favor and remove the intake manifold now. Then you can get to all the hose connections a lot easier. I removed my oil filter to reach under the manifold, but it was tough going with big hands.