Upper radiator hose blown! Other damage?

[jj540]

I was driving home (one hour away from home) and noticed what looked like smoke out of my rear view mirror. Then the smell of coolant came into the cabin! I pulled over right away and shut down the motor. The temp needle did not move from the center position.

I opened the hood and my upper radiator hose split in half....Coolant and hose debis all over. I was lucky enough to get a tow truck driver with an EXACT upper raditor hose (as he has a BMW too!). We replaced the hose and filled it with coolant/water.

On the way home the "check coolant" light came on and the temp needle rose to the 3/4 several a few times....It then went back to the middle position after a few seconds(I got pretty scared). I just took it easy and got the car home!

Could there be other damage...or just not enough coolant? What would cause the temp needle to jump to the 3/4 mark, then back to the center position?

Thanks for the help!

JJ

[chivas]

[jj540]

[chivas]

i actually did mine with no air when the motor was cold and i openned the expansion tank and pumped the upper hose. you'll see the water go up and down. keep pumping it (squeezing the hose) and you'll hear water starting to flow. you'll also notice the water go up and down in the tank. i just keep adding water until it didn't take anymore.

when my buddy blew my rear hose on the way down to balitmore and the motor was hot, we just let it run and openned the bleeder (but did not remove) screw. waited until all the air to come and out openned the expansion tank. buddy who owned lots of BMW's said the M62 is a self bleeding system so once all the air comes out (you'll get some antifreeze, etc that'll come with the air), just open the expansion tank and fill and run for a whlie and repeat until all water comes out of the bleeder and no air.

[rmedure]

Do a search here for a more comprehensive cooling system bleed procedure.
Cheers!
Robert


'99 540i sport, 6 spd
3.15 differential
Stop Tech front big brake kit, SS lines
Eibach front/rear sway bars
Dinan strut tower brace
Hamman HM2 18" wheels w/Potenza SO3 tires
Rogue Engineering short shifter
Zionsville Autosport aluminum radiator
Resonator delete
ACS exhaust
ACS front & rear body kits
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Homelink (lighted)
Icelink w/ID tag display
35% titanium tint

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[jj540]

I heard it the 540 has a self bleed system, it that correct? As long as you see coolant streaming into the expansion tank (with cap open).

[chivas]

yes, it's a self bleeding system.