Expert: Josh Fields - 7/4/2006

Question
My 1994 325ic ran hot and crack the overflow tank the car shut of in my drive way is this ok and does it shut it self off when this happens I have a friend with the same car and I remember replacing his tank some time ago byt the difference is he had not left my drive way and their fore the car had not had a chance to get very hot., can i just replace the tank and thermostat and the car be ok


Answer
Kevin,
 If the tank cracked, and lost all the coolant, causing the engine to run hot... then yes you can replace the tank and be fine (providing the engine wasn't damaged).

 If the tank cracked because the engine was running hot already, then you need to fix the root problem before attempting to drive the car any distance.

 I have little experience with the E36 (1992-1998 3-series), but I assume the engine management shut the engine off before it had a chance to damage its self.

 Hope this helps,
 Josh