Project M5 Cooling System

As a side effect of always working on customer’s projects, my own get ignored. Take, for example, my ’91 BMW M5. This car and I have been through good times and bad. Feeling neglected, the car decided there would be bad times in the near future. First, it did so by seeping coolant on my garage floor but only a few drips to nag me. A week later a hose clamp mysteriously destroyed itself. The next day, the engine started missing. After a month of fussing, the car had had enough. Just down the street from my home the water pump gave up and puked out all of the coolant. “Ruh-roh” I think to myself…

Lucky me, I thought ahead eight months earlier and I ordered all 17 hoses, a thermostat, gaskets, o-rings, etc.. including a new water pump. Now all I had to do was swap out some parts!

Needing a daily driver, I proceeded to rent a car: a top of the line Hyundai Accent. Bright blue. I figured at worst I’d only have to suffer three days in this car but I figured wrong. The next day the coldest weather in the last decade hit Houston and put the project on hold for a week. I decided to make use of this time and powder coat the coolant manifolds:

All said and done I think the project turned out pretty well. Everything is nice and clean, no more seeping coolant. I’d dare say the system is ready for another 100,000 miles and when I replace it then it will be much easier without busted bolts and corroded aluminum!