Guess why im watching the video 2 years after posting ... yep my heater core decided to blow and now im doing pretty much the same thing. Great stuff im having the best time of my life. FLM
So my jacking points absolutely corroded to shit, so I had a guy weld some new plates on..however he was telling me there is water getting in from somewhere as the passenger side carpets were wet. I'm sure this is the exact problem. Also for ages I loose water but I could never find where from!! I've replaced everything I.e radiator, water pump etc and still loosing water. Nice video dude, always on job!
Hey Pamo, thankfully because of ur video i had a plan where to start to look after the water leaking spot. I got so mad after months looking for it to leak. Everytime when i went with my e36 cabrio into the washing station there were no visible water leak. But when it stayed a night out in the rain my footwell was full as shit. then one day i noticed behind the dashboard a little few drops. My guess is that the reason why i newer saw it dripping straight in the footwell, is that the drainholes let a part of the water out and the spongy material behind the climabox soaked itself first of all full with water before it let it down. Thanks to you i got a way to start.
Thank you so much for this mate, I've just taken all my dash out for exactly the same issue you had. This video has been a great help. Thank you so much :)
Pure Madness brother. That was a really, really good video well done man! If my beloved 98 four-door M3 that I've had for 18 years ever has this issue I'll know how to do it much better after watching all the great detail you provided. Thank you
this is actualle somthing i have searched for. i have similar issues i have to refill the aircon every summer, watter leaking inside from the middle, i already checked the drains it was clear. Now i know the couse but cant fix it. i have not the time nor the knowledge to do this work :( edit1. i just try my luck and have startet removing everything. i m now stuck on the steering column 3:46 i cant remove this shit, the ,screw on it are round o0 ? what should i do. Edit2. Now i have the unit out. What didt you do about the aircon matrix ? Have you deleted you aircon? You didn't show how you installed it back
Once again fantastic info! I've just replaced my heater motor and was having a similar issue, poured water onto my screen and saw it leaking inside (stripped for track) a friend who's familiar with e36s recommended clearing out the drains which are clogged in your video. I completely removed the one next to the dme and there doesn't seem to be any further issue 👌
Smashing video again,nice one thanks. Always wandered about this job. Really insightful, ace. This job is on my list but fairly down there. Have a good Christmas, take it easy.
Really appreciate this video, I'm going through the same problem and the info from this video has been super helpful! Got the heater box out today and I'll be repairing my floor pan after the heater box is fixed.
Hi Pamo, if you have a spare sec I have some questions. I got the seal from bmw. Does the adhesive side go against the heater box or firewall? Also would you suggest using sealant also, If so what type? Thank you in advance, cheers!
Adhesive to the heater box.... Its just to hold the seal in place whilst you fit it. No sealant, it'll just create another layer stopping the seal from doing its job.
I had almost the exact same issue- except my heater wasn't leaking- rainwater was leaking past the rubber of the coolant 3 pipes; did you replace that by any chance?
@@ManSeeksCivic Are these for the pipes that connect through the fire wall? I want to be 100% sure I've got the right bits before starting this. Thanks for the video though, it's massively helpful!
Thanks! I did, and treated it with phosphoric acid although once wiped, there was next to nothing there. I took the opportunity to reseal the floor bung and treat any other tiny areas of concern at the same time 👍
Hey Pamo, a quick question as you are one of they few people with documented experience and knowledge of this. I have been chasing a leak in my e36, the carpet is out and even though I had the heater box frame seal replaced, with recent rain I have been observing the source over a long period of time, as more rain water is getting in. Today I cut away the sound deadening around the bulkhead/transmission tunnel, having removed the glove box to get a really good look and see the source of ingress. It is indeed not coming from the frame seal or the coolant trio of pipes (it’s definitely rainwater) but what is intriguing is it appears to be coming from an 8mm hole in the plastic heater box on the passenger side, on the underside of the ledge moulding where the pipes are internally positioned. I have videoed it as you can only see the hole from underneath. I am wondering if there is supposed to be something like a bung plugging that hole so any water that makes it into the heater box moulding is drained out elsewhere, like the a/c condensate drain. I’m intrigued by this weep hole and what it is. Any ideas or pics of when you did this disassemble. I didn’t do the frame replacement, so I wonder if a vital plug was not reinstalled correctly. Any help most welcome!
Although your description is very detailed and as clear as it could be I'm not 100% sure of the location you're referring to. That said, the ac condensate drain is the only place where liquid is designed to exit the heater box. There are no other points that water should collect internally under normal operation. The other common leak point can originate from a poor condition windscreen scuttle with water finding its way into the cabin in some very random ways. If you have a video you could try to send it to my RUclips email address and I'll have a look for you. You'll find this on my channel page.
@@ManSeeksCivic Hi Pamo thanks for the speedy reply, I know how hard it is to respond to comments and keep on top of things, so I really appreciate that! You are right, a video shows it way better and your comments are spot on. I fully understand why you are not sure what location I am on about. As I have been looking and researching this afternoon and thanks to people like yourself, it is quite clear the heater box is a nice self-contained unit that sits actually quite high in the dash, certainly higher than my actual leak. As you will see in the video, my leak is from what must be a surround or casing between the heater box and bulkhead and surrounding the coolant pipes. You will see what I mean in the video. The only caveat is the arrangement on my pipes on the passenger side doesn't match pictures I have so far seen of other e36s. Maybe on the 328i they are routed differently? Also my car had after market a/c fitted by a company at the request of my mate, the previous owner many years ago. So, maybe I have a slightly non-standard configuration although the a/c pipes seem to be a factor on the driver's side only. Either way, my hypothesis is that rain water is leaking in, possibly through the bulkhead coolant pipe gasket, frame seal or maybe just when it really is tipping it down and coming out of the weep hole instead of any other outlet BMW designed int the box, like, say, the a/c drain hole. Anyhow, I'll do as you say and edit together a little video, and who knows it may be useful to others. It will be on my personal You Tube and will be in my name. All the best, Martin
Done a few of these over the years truly a job that looks worse than it is also bmw's small parts price is ridiculous i recently replaced vanos solenoid o rings on my e39 m5 for 16 o rings and 2 paper gaskets cost a little over £120
Dude, I love your E36 and the videos you make! Saved my arse and my wallet a few times now. Unfortunately now I need to do a cooling overhaul (it seemed the last time anything was done was back in 2011). Any thought on what brand should I go for a thermostat, thermostat housing, water pump, belts & pulleys, or perhaps should I go OEM? I want to keep my Cheto going as long as I can but £220 for BMW water pump seems excessive! I would appreciate your help. P.S anything else worth checking/replacing while there?
Good aftermarket stuff is fine - Meyle, Febi etc. Belts can be checked and changed easily so just get whatever is convenient and keep an eye on them. Water pump pulley - change this if yours is plastic and if you can get an alloy thermostat housing its worth the cost. Thanks for watching 👍
@@ManSeeksCivic I can see the washer spinning, when turning the ratchet. Can’t 100% confirm the bolt is spinning, when the socket is covering it, but I’m fairly certain. I broke it loose. Can’t tighten or fully loosen now. Also didn’t show in the vid. Did you disconnect AC from engine bay or inside the pocket where the 5 bolts are? Thanks again
Thank you for being so thorough, Glad it got fixed! Going to tackle this job in the next couple of weeks. How thick was the foam you used looks between 5-8mm but that's just a camera eye, or given it's going to be squished anything 5 and above will be fine?
Just about to do this on my e36 have you got the part numbers for the o rings bud save me some time finding it, think I will also renew the matrix while I am at it
Went through the pain to do this on my E36 325TDS Touring here... www.bimmerforums.co.uk/threads/e36-heater-box-seal-replacement-to-fix-wet-passenger-footwell.40364/#post-324785 ...then discovered it was a leaking rear washer pipe that runs through the passenger foot well was the real problem.
Could you please put the OEM number of the SEAL between the heating and the coupe .. the one that you decided to make yourself. As per REALoem I see it should be this one 64118372795 but I'm not sure . I will be very thankfull if you elaborate !!!
Guess why im watching the video 2 years after posting ... yep my heater core decided to blow and now im doing pretty much the same thing. Great stuff im having the best time of my life. FLM
Keep turning those spanners and it'll be over soon.
So my jacking points absolutely corroded to shit, so I had a guy weld some new plates on..however he was telling me there is water getting in from somewhere as the passenger side carpets were wet.
I'm sure this is the exact problem. Also for ages I loose water but I could never find where from!! I've replaced everything I.e radiator, water pump etc and still loosing water.
Nice video dude, always on job!
Hey Pamo, thankfully because of ur video i had a plan where to start to look after the water leaking spot. I got so mad after months looking for it to leak. Everytime when i went with my e36 cabrio into the washing station there were no visible water leak. But when it stayed a night out in the rain my footwell was full as shit. then one day i noticed behind the dashboard a little few drops. My guess is that the reason why i newer saw it dripping straight in the footwell, is that the drainholes let a part of the water out and the spongy material behind the climabox soaked itself first of all full with water before it let it down. Thanks to you i got a way to start.
also i dont know if u still got the car, but did the waterleak stop completly in ur car?
Thank you so much for this mate, I've just taken all my dash out for exactly the same issue you had. This video has been a great help. Thank you so much :)
Pure Madness brother. That was a really, really good video well done man! If my beloved 98 four-door M3 that I've had for 18 years ever has this issue I'll know how to do it much better after watching all the great detail you provided. Thank you
Thanks 👍
this is actualle somthing i have searched for. i have similar issues i have to refill the aircon every summer, watter leaking inside from the middle, i already checked the drains it was clear. Now i know the couse but cant fix it. i have not the time nor the knowledge to do this work :(
edit1.
i just try my luck and have startet removing everything. i m now stuck on the steering column 3:46 i cant remove this shit, the ,screw on it are round o0 ? what should i do.
Edit2.
Now i have the unit out. What didt you do about the aircon matrix ? Have you deleted you aircon? You didn't show how you installed it back
Once again fantastic info! I've just replaced my heater motor and was having a similar issue, poured water onto my screen and saw it leaking inside (stripped for track) a friend who's familiar with e36s recommended clearing out the drains which are clogged in your video. I completely removed the one next to the dme and there doesn't seem to be any further issue 👌
Wow brilliant- exactly the problem I have
Smashing video again,nice one thanks. Always wandered about this job. Really insightful, ace. This job is on my list but fairly down there.
Have a good Christmas, take it easy.
Really appreciate this video, I'm going through the same problem and the info from this video has been super helpful! Got the heater box out today and I'll be repairing my floor pan after the heater box is fixed.
Thanks, it's not a fun job... But it's worth it in the end 👍
I'm pretty sure i have the same problem i will remove the carpet and do the water test. Thanks again for yet another amazing video Pamo!
Thank you and good luck 👍
Nice to see a video about heater unit, mine got problems with flaps/motors and looks likely i have to do about the same :/
Good luck marcin. Hopefully this video helps a little 👍
Really interesting! Still never wish to do this job🤣
Thanks for sharing, deffo informative.
THANK YOU! Doing this job now, just got the dash out today. This helped me out a lot! 👍🏻
Nice one Liam.
Hi Pamo, if you have a spare sec I have some questions. I got the seal from bmw. Does the adhesive side go against the heater box or firewall? Also would you suggest using sealant also, If so what type? Thank you in advance, cheers!
Adhesive to the heater box.... Its just to hold the seal in place whilst you fit it. No sealant, it'll just create another layer stopping the seal from doing its job.
Pamo cheers! I’ll be doing this over the weekend. Keep up the great work with the channel 👍🏻
Good luck sir. Thank you.
I had almost the exact same issue- except my heater wasn't leaking- rainwater was leaking past the rubber of the coolant 3 pipes; did you replace that by any chance?
Great video as always my man
Thank you sir 👍
👍Post part numbers and costs just incase anyone needs it . Good video . I’ve got two E36 so will no doubt need this at some point 😩🤦♂️
Here you go - cost in GBP
4pc smaller, 1.55 each, 64111374238
2pc larger, 0.91 each minimum order 10pc, 64118377824
Thanks bro 👊
@@ManSeeksCivic Are these for the pipes that connect through the fire wall? I want to be 100% sure I've got the right bits before starting this. Thanks for the video though, it's massively helpful!
Yeah these numbers are👍
@@ManSeeksCivic thank you so much!
Hi pamo, do the o rings need to be square? Are the ones from bm squared or just where they have been compressed for so long?? Cheers
Amazing time lapse on the interior did you clean the rust from the floor
Thanks! I did, and treated it with phosphoric acid although once wiped, there was next to nothing there. I took the opportunity to reseal the floor bung and treat any other tiny areas of concern at the same time 👍
Hey Pamo, a quick question as you are one of they few people with documented experience and knowledge of this. I have been chasing a leak in my e36, the carpet is out and even though I had the heater box frame seal replaced, with recent rain I have been observing the source over a long period of time, as more rain water is getting in. Today I cut away the sound deadening around the bulkhead/transmission tunnel, having removed the glove box to get a really good look and see the source of ingress. It is indeed not coming from the frame seal or the coolant trio of pipes (it’s definitely rainwater) but what is intriguing is it appears to be coming from an 8mm hole in the plastic heater box on the passenger side, on the underside of the ledge moulding where the pipes are internally positioned. I have videoed it as you can only see the hole from underneath. I am wondering if there is supposed to be something like a bung plugging that hole so any water that makes it into the heater box moulding is drained out elsewhere, like the a/c condensate drain. I’m intrigued by this weep hole and what it is. Any ideas or pics of when you did this disassemble. I didn’t do the frame replacement, so I wonder if a vital plug was not reinstalled correctly. Any help most welcome!
Although your description is very detailed and as clear as it could be I'm not 100% sure of the location you're referring to. That said, the ac condensate drain is the only place where liquid is designed to exit the heater box. There are no other points that water should collect internally under normal operation. The other common leak point can originate from a poor condition windscreen scuttle with water finding its way into the cabin in some very random ways. If you have a video you could try to send it to my RUclips email address and I'll have a look for you. You'll find this on my channel page.
@@ManSeeksCivic Hi Pamo thanks for the speedy reply, I know how hard it is to respond to comments and keep on top of things, so I really appreciate that! You are right, a video shows it way better and your comments are spot on. I fully understand why you are not sure what location I am on about. As I have been looking and researching this afternoon and thanks to people like yourself, it is quite clear the heater box is a nice self-contained unit that sits actually quite high in the dash, certainly higher than my actual leak. As you will see in the video, my leak is from what must be a surround or casing between the heater box and bulkhead and surrounding the coolant pipes. You will see what I mean in the video. The only caveat is the arrangement on my pipes on the passenger side doesn't match pictures I have so far seen of other e36s. Maybe on the 328i they are routed differently? Also my car had after market a/c fitted by a company at the request of my mate, the previous owner many years ago. So, maybe I have a slightly non-standard configuration although the a/c pipes seem to be a factor on the driver's side only. Either way, my hypothesis is that rain water is leaking in, possibly through the bulkhead coolant pipe gasket, frame seal or maybe just when it really is tipping it down and coming out of the weep hole instead of any other outlet BMW designed int the box, like, say, the a/c drain hole. Anyhow, I'll do as you say and edit together a little video, and who knows it may be useful to others. It will be on my personal You Tube and will be in my name. All the best, Martin
Done a few of these over the years truly a job that looks worse than it is also bmw's small parts price is ridiculous i recently replaced vanos solenoid o rings on my e39 m5 for 16 o rings and 2 paper gaskets cost a little over £120
Dude, I love your E36 and the videos you make! Saved my arse and my wallet a few times now. Unfortunately now I need to do a cooling overhaul (it seemed the last time anything was done was back in 2011). Any thought on what brand should I go for a thermostat, thermostat housing, water pump, belts & pulleys, or perhaps should I go OEM? I want to keep my Cheto going as long as I can but £220 for BMW water pump seems excessive! I would appreciate your help. P.S anything else worth checking/replacing while there?
Good aftermarket stuff is fine - Meyle, Febi etc. Belts can be checked and changed easily so just get whatever is convenient and keep an eye on them. Water pump pulley - change this if yours is plastic and if you can get an alloy thermostat housing its worth the cost. Thanks for watching 👍
Is there a “part 1” video? Just pulled my dash, need to pull all the other junk.
No good DIY’s online :(
Great work! Your videos rock!
I have a previous video on e36 interior installation. It's old but might help. Check my older videos for help 👍
@@ManSeeksCivic thanks buddy, cheers
@@ManSeeksCivic hey buddy, got all 4 bolts off that holt the heater box - the 5th holding the coolant lines is just spinning (f^ck)!
Any ideas? Thanks
Is the nut actually spinning or is it rounded?
@@ManSeeksCivic I can see the washer spinning, when turning the ratchet.
Can’t 100% confirm the bolt is spinning, when the socket is covering it, but I’m fairly certain.
I broke it loose. Can’t tighten or fully loosen now.
Also didn’t show in the vid. Did you disconnect AC from engine bay or inside the pocket where the 5 bolts are?
Thanks again
Thank you for being so thorough, Glad it got fixed! Going to tackle this job in the next couple of weeks. How thick was the foam you used looks between 5-8mm but that's just a camera eye, or given it's going to be squished anything 5 and above will be fine?
I think I used 8, but you're correct. It gets very squished. I reckon 5mm would do.
@@ManSeeksCivic Thanks Pamo!
Just about to do this on my e36 have you got the part numbers for the o rings bud save me some time finding it, think I will also renew the matrix while I am at it
I'll look them up and post back
4x 64508390602
3x 64508390603
1x 64508390601
Cheers pal
Where is ihka module located ? It seems like this iss in a secret area
Is it possible to change pipes o-rings without disassembling the dash and taking heaterbox out?
I'm afraid not. You need to be able to pull the parts apart enough to get the pipes out.
I hope to never have to do this...
I did this on my 2001 e38 740il , which it made this look easy
Went through the pain to do this on my E36 325TDS Touring here...
www.bimmerforums.co.uk/threads/e36-heater-box-seal-replacement-to-fix-wet-passenger-footwell.40364/#post-324785
...then discovered it was a leaking rear washer pipe that runs through the passenger foot well was the real problem.
I've read about this on the wagons, nightmare!
Also if you got any of that foam and o rings still I'll buy them off you
Sadly I don't have anymore. 😔
Could you please put the OEM number of the SEAL between the heating and the coupe .. the one that you decided to make yourself. As per REALoem I see it should be this one 64118372795 but I'm not sure . I will be very thankfull if you elaborate !!!
64118390433
It's literally neoprene foam with an adhesive backing.
1:33 🤢🤢
Bro, please stop random taste testing liquids on your car. That cannot be good for your body