How to Replace BMW E46 Expansion Tank 

Thanks ...your explanation is to the point. I was asked $600 to exchange the bad reservoir. After watching your diy I muster the courage...I did it. You save me 600 dollars. Thanks!

Pro Tip: Plug the coolant level sensor on the bottom of the expansion tank in BEFORE you press the tank into place. You'll have a hell of a time doing it after, especially if you still have the original vent tube connected to your alternator in the way. Notice he shows you every step, but jump cut edited this one out...

After checking 20 videos this is the best one to see what you're doing because the other guys hold the camera in their hand you have somebody filming you that's better

I was thinking of springing for the local dealer to swap this out. After watching this video I'm sure I have all the tools and it looks like it might take an hour. One of the service consultants at the local BMW dealer said - "Look, it's a simple repair" Go on youtube and there's probably a hundred videos on swapping the expansion tank. Just do it yourself, because we are going to charge a diagnostic, which is $230 to begin with. He said you can find parts just as good as this dodgy part on eBay and save yourself probably $500-700. Yours was the top video and I'm about 99% sure I'll be able to do this job in short time. Thank you. If I get this done for under a couple hundred I should probably take him a 6 pack. Thanks agai!

That is why I love looking for you when I repair anything on my BMW you are so detailed about everything that you do because that little sensor was destroyed underneath my expansion tank and I had no idea what it was but as soon as I watch your video you explain everything and now I am worry free thank you so much keep posting videos for us newbies to learn and save us some money

DUDE! I had the hardest time finding someone to explain the coolant "REFILL PROCEDURE". You knocked-out 2-Birds with 1-video!

Thanks for spending the time to put this video together....very helpful!

Best vid on RU-vid for this DIY. I had to use a spark plug extension to pry up the old tank from its mount while wiggling. Thanks!

Thank you. This video helped me a lot. I did this to my 318i with the m43 engine. Something to note with this engine is that there is some hose connected to the air filter box. Instead of disconnecting it, I just put the bottom half of the air box up on the top of the suspension and held it there with an s hook. That was I didn't have to disconnect anything unnecessary

Great video, this helped me with my 2004 Z4. You are one of the few who mentioned the need to run the heater during the bleed process, so thx!👍

Good job, Jason! Perfect instructions without unnecessary vulgarities and wasted time of other guys. Thank you! You ROCK!

man your channel has been a lifesaver since owning an m54

your videos have saved me so much money but more importantly have taught me how to work on my car. i always recommend your vids to my friends that own bmws. your doing the lords work bro keep it up

Thanks! Great video. I am changing my expansion tank on a 2006 325ci tomorrow and this really helps. I love working on cars especially my own. Look forward to seeing more videos.

I like that you get right to the point and don’t waist time

Hey same here.....mine was stuck tight. Tried levering off of the radiator support panel with a tyre leaver but still wouldn't budge. I thought I would bust something for sure. Had a bright idea and got a thin piece of wood like a wooden rule and put it down with the end on the bottom fitting that is jammed into the bottom of the tank and gently gave it 20 -30 taps with a hammer and it seemed to loosen it as it came out quite easily then and didn't break anything. Also had problems getting the top double fitting back onto the new tank.....wouldn't go on far enough to get the clip to insert and hold.....found there was a small piece of broken off tank in the small fitting preventing it from going right on......managed to fish it out with some angle circlip pliers. Great video :-) always come here for diy advice..... simple straight forward and condensed :-) keep up the great work.

The best video I've seen on replacing the expansion tank. It's almost identical on my E53 X5 (and X3 I believe?) I was going to do the job myself but I'm now doubting my ability to do it, quite a few things to possibly go wrong! Great video dude!

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO. 2004 330ci . Subscribed. By far the best vid I found to help guide me thru the process.

I want to thank you for this video. You made this DIY easy and you did it without requiring fan and shroud removal! it was easy to follow and explained perfectly. Thanks so much for posting this video.

Great job, crystal clear video and easy to follow instructions!

Saved me a $200 install fee on a $46 part. Thank you so much

Hey man great video! You saved us a great deal, on the road from Maryland to Florida, keep up the great work!

Dude you are one of the best bmw professional online I like your work it’s clean and straight Can you please put link for the parts so we can buy them online thank you

Great video, I would add that it's sometimes easier to access the retainer clip and coolant level sensor from the bottom and also to reconnect the sensor plug before reinstalling the expansion tank

Thank you brother 💯 percent perfect in 10 minutes ready 👌

Having a manual saved me money for the first time, too bad that 60 is going into other repairs😪 bmw’s man.

Thanks for the vid and the advice on the oil cooler thermostat....ordered a new one when i ordered the new expansion tank just incase and yes it did snap in half!!! But thanks to your advice I was prepared. Not too bad a job to do, although like others have said the tank didnt come off as easily as yours seemed to, but with a little wiggling and pulling it came off in the end!!!

Thank you! My ATF thermostat broke off clean-nothing to grab on to. Had to drill a pilot hole in top, insert screw, pull out with pliers.

Great video, clear, concise, helpful. cheers!

Very clear instructions on how to complete this diy. Thank you

very helpful, walked me through the few tricky parts of this easy job, thank you!

Auto Trans Oil Cooler Thermostat. Who knew??!! I live in Alaska, (not Anchorage, the real, middle of nowhere, Alaska), and getting parts means ordering them and waiting at least week. You just saved me a ton of time, thanks!

Thanks for the more than good explanation. And, of course, the sharing in order to watch it by the own eyes. Greetings from The Netherlands.

Thankyou for this, it is very clear and the best I could find- by a long shot! Its great to find someone who is a good mechanic and great vidoegrapher and presenter. I have been taping up my tank, now it is mostly tape but I have the parts and will have a go. I love my old bmw like a retired workhorse, it is sad I know... Can you please do a vid on fixing back window? I tried fixing mine but then it got stuck partially open again, thanks!

Thanks very much. Massively appreciate all the unique positives you created, which others highlighted. Wish you all the best on future endeavors!

Incredibly detailed video. Thank you for sharing

This video really helped me replace my expansion tank on my 330ci. Thank you

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You make a great instructor!

Thank you so much for the video. I have the same problem happening with my car. Will use your video as a guide. Much appreciated.

Great video! Very thorough and some good tips.

Great tutorial, massive help man, thanks!

Amazing how yours popped out so easy. Mine was HARD

You are awesome! Thanks for the education and for helping me save a bunch of money.

This was super helpful. Thank you

have to do this in x3 and radiator may just be this part leaking some were around that area gonna find out tomorrow thanks for the video and ECS is in my town I know the owner good guy

Very well explained Thankyou.

hello, tanks for your videos. Help me a lot with my olds 316i and 320i !

Very helpfull, thanks, i did it to my 318i E46

Great video, watched a few, yours was thorough 😊

Thanks my dude 🤙🏽🤙🏽 helped out a lot

thank you for mentioning about the oil cooler thermostat breaking. Mine broke and was freaking out lmao

Excellent video quality and detail of explanation. This is why I love RU-vid. +1

Really useful video thank you, just bought a 330ci and it has a slight coolant leak coming from the bottom of the tank 👍

Excellent video. Please can you do bmw e46 replacing rear wheel bearing? I'm going to do this with a special tool. But when I remove the half driveaxle shaft with e14, is there something I need to be aware of?

I watched vlog #15 till #34 today and then i found out it stopt hahaha, great stuff. Love the videos. i'm cathing up/ soon hopefully an owner of a 330xi E46 Touring Greetings from the Netherlands

This video help me a lot thank you so much

Excellent. I did not know any of that until now! Terry UK

thanks dude. very good video.

Great video! Very informative and you covered everything I needed. Thanks for pointing out how to bleed the system and that this may cause the heater to not work.

Awesome video, thanks

Thanks, fot the info and training...

Good video. I definitely believe in replacing the low quality plastic parts with an aluminum upgrade and OEM rubber hoses with the high quality silicone ones (if available) is a must to increase reliability to make ownership easy as possible.

Your awesome Bro keep making BMW e46 videos

AWESOME STUFF!

Thank you man!

Thanks for this video. It helped a lot. But the oil cooler thermostat for the auto transmission did break in half like you mentioned. It was late Sunday so I didn’t replace it. It’s currently missing with everything hooked back up. What’s the disadvantage of not replacing it?

Great Job - thanks!

OF COURSE my automatic transmission oil cooler thermostat was broken like you said. Would've been nice if removal/install of that part was included in this video. Didn't see instructions in your linked video. Thanks again

Excellent video...

Evan a shop life, Best online mechanics to answer your questions in their vids.

thanks buddy..well said

thank you for thre articulate help

huge help thx

great video! It would be nice to have those thermostats and sensors identified so we don't have to look for them all over... it would help a great deal...

Thanks my guy. Done

Good video @ShopLifeTV - I recently did my system excluding the return hose that goes to the expansion tank. It's never mentioned in the cooling overhaul guides - is that because it doesn't usually go bad?

Thanks bro 🔥💪🏼

Good job!!

Great video

Thank you..n many BLESSINGS

Great Video

Good tip thank you

5:29 That looked too easy.. when I did mine, omg it was the hardest part of the diy. It just won't come out. I had to struggle with it for 45 minutes or so, trying to pry the tank out..etc Great video as always

thank you very much!

Thank you 🙏

the expansion tank is very hard to pull out but it just takes about 10 minuets of maneuvering and lifting and eventually it will break free, also it is hard to push back in but eventually it will work

What is the sensor that you said needed to be replaced if it was an automatic? I have an 04 330ci and the expansion tank cracked today, so i'm going to replace it tomorrow. Thanks and great video.

hey there is 2 holes on the bottom beside the sensor. One of the holes if for the thermostat that breaks, but what about the other hole? I saw a video of a guy that seemed to remove one more hose than u. Maybe his was a manual? Does the automatic car only have the top hoses (radiator and the tank) and the one on the bottom? and of course the pin and the sensor to dissconect? or does it have another hose? Ik its kinda years later, but hopefully some1 will answer! Thanks

Thank you so much for being the only one who helped me do this. QUESTION: there is (what looks like) a piece of styrofoam at the bottom of the red straw in my new coolant tank, do I leave that in? I just installed it to look down and see it in there. Is that packaging or is it part of the coolant tank and should I leave it in there? Please help, thank you

also for your shop check out IMC and worldpac for parts on European cars

Nice guide man! But just one question? I have the same expansion tank for my 318i but i don't have that bottom hose? They butchered some rubber cap on it. but am not sure where i have to connect that bottom hose, i have a constant leakage problem when i have to make long distance trips. Could you perhaps show where that bottom hose should be ending on the engine?

Did you bleed the system with your car jacked at front?

I was wondering what the automatic transmission thermostat thing was. thank you

you are great very much understand your work and explain how you do

Thank you.

Excellent video like everybody says! Thank you. It would help much if you could have also demonstrated how to take/remove the AT oil cooler thermostat off, and show the broken one vs the replacement. Yours broken right? Below your video, there is an ad for a thermostat for $15.79 from AutohausAZ. It's a simple thermostat that an off brand should last for a few years. What symptom will the display show when the AT thermostat is broken or is bad?

I have a question I did everything right but it's still leaking from somewhere at the bottom. I think it's from the heater core thing that connects to the mounting plate it has o rings around all 3 things do I need to change them ?

Thanks bro

I did like you said in video, but after i had been bleeding with the screw open for a while, the screw broke in half when i tried to fasted it. Now half is stuck in the hose and the other half is in my hand. Is there a way to get it out or do I need to get a new hose?

Should my aux water pump be running when I do this? Or is it only when the car is off? I can't get it to turn on, but I'm not too worried if it'll bleed just fine with the engine running.