[GSB]

Have you found your heater growing cold, first on one side of the car and then on the other? As long as the heater core isn’t damaged or leaking, it can be flushed. BUT… BE CAREFUL! Many YouTubers recommend pressurizing the core with a garden hose or compressed air as the first step. That could easily burst the fragile aluminum core (especially if weakened by corrosion) or blow one of the rubber o-ring seals inside the dash.
If that happens, allow me to refer you to the DIY from hell… E90 Heater Core DIY. This DIY heater core replacement is incredibly well documented, but the work is difficult and takes days - or thousands of dollars to have this done by a dealer or mechanic.

[GSB]

For most BMW E9x models and options, coolant is circulating full-time through the heater core, while the blend doors/flaps inside the car direct hot or cold air into the cabin.

A gentler and more calculated approach to flushing sediment is especially important in this engine, because of the possibility of oil contamination in the coolant.
The notoriously flimsy Oil Fiter Housing Gasket separates engine oil from coolant, both of which are pressurized in the engine. When that gasket fails (and it will), oil can leak into the cooling system, perhaps very slowly at first.
When oil reacts with coolant, it forms gelatinous blobs of sludge that collect everywhere in the system. That sludge may be relatively colorless at first, and not easily detected, but it is highly corrosive to ALL of the plastic and rubber parts in the cooling system. It also blocks passages and is exceedingly difficult to remove. I discovered that radiator flush products will not budge it. The only thing that worked successfully, was filling the cooling system with a 50/50 mix of SuperClean degreaser and distilled water, then running the car up to operating temp before draining and repeating the process several times. Gobs of sludge came out each time. I've heard mechanics recommending dishwasher detergent tablets as an alternative to degreaser.

Note that it is wise to replace all of the coolant after flushing a blocked core because contaminants may be circulating throughout the system. If oil sludge is found in the cooling system, it would be necessary to thoroughly flush the entire cooling system with degreaser first and replace any plastic parts, rubber seals or hoses affected by oil contamination. I found plastic connections so corroded that they just crumbled and fell apart, even turning into a brown, putty-like paste when rubbed between my fingers.

Always monitor the health of your oil filter housing gaskets and replace them preemptively to avoid expensive repairs!

The potential for oil in the coolant is highly relevant to the heater core flush procedure below. Several reputable mechanics recommend this method as the best procedure to treat any blocked heater core because it works first on oil/grease deposits (which bind the sediments in the core), then on corrosion/scale deposits. Only then, should the loose material be gently blasted out with controlled pressure. It worked wonders for my car and saved me a fortune.

[GSB]

• Start by draining the coolant.
• Next, remove the cabin air filter and plastic covers above the firewall in the engine bay.
• Working under the A/C condenser pipes, disconnect the coolant hoses from the heater core connections very carefully to prevent damage to the core. Have a jug or pan ready to catch escaping coolant. The top hose is connected with a powerful spring-clamp and the bottom hose with a quick-connect fitting:
  1. Silicone lubricating spray is rubber-safe and can help release these connections.
  2. Use pliers to squeeze the ends of the hose clamp together so that the clamp opens up, then slide the clamp away and twist the hose to loosen it and pull it off.
  3. On the quick-connect fitting, pull the wire latch open with a pick tool or screwdriver, then wiggle and pull the quick-connect fitting straight off without twisting.

[GSB]

• Connect a length of rubber hose to each of the core connections. I shoved some cheap 3/8” ID rubber fuel hose all the way inside each connection to create a seal.
• Next, soak, or preferably, CIRCULATE the solutions listed below to dissolve and break up the substances that are blocking the core. I ran my hoses into a deep jug with a low-pressure pond-pump inside. I filled the jug with each of the solutions and pumped through the core in BOTH directions to ensure that the solution thoroughly percolates through the muck inside. The solution simply returns to the jug to be pumped in a continuous loop.
• If the flow rate is just a trickle, give it some time, but you can also close your fist over one of the hoses and blow into it to help dislodge blockages, or at least to blow bubbles that will agitate the solution inside. However, do not pressurize with water or compressed air until later.
• During the process, check for leaks inside the car in case the core has indeed become damaged or corroded.

[GSB]

1. First, circulate a degreaser through the core at low pressure to remove oil and grease that can bind with scale to block core capillaries. I started with SuperClean degreaser mixed 50/50 with COLD water for 15 minutes in each direction, then switched to dishwashing detergent and baking soda in HOT water for a couple of hours in each direction. The color may run dark at first, but it will begin to clear.
2. Next, circulate pure vinegar (5-10% concentration) through the core at low pressure to etch away corrosion and scale for a couple of hours in each direction.
3. Now use a garden hose with a flow-control nozzle to SLOWLY and progressively increase the pressure and flow rate until the core is flowing freely in both directions. Pressurize the top of the core first (after removing all tubes/hoses from the bottom connection of the core) then pull the top tube/hose out and reverse the flow from the bottom. This will blow out any solid particulates that have sunk into the bottom of the core. A handful of blackened, heavy, sand-like scale burst out of mine, and the flow rate increased dramatically. When the core is truly clear, it should be able support the full flow of a garden hose (within reason... never over-pressurize).
4. Circulate fresh vinegar for an hour or so to treat capillaries that may have been blocked previously.
5. Circulate dishwashing soap and baking soda in HOT water for a few minutes in each direction to clean the core and neutralize every trace of acid.
6. Blow out the core and immediately fill and rinse it with fresh coolant to prevent flash-oxidation inside the core.

[GSB]

• Reconnect the coolant hoses and refill the system with fresh coolant using the process outlined below.
• Do NOT use the incorrect type of coolant! It can react with the components in this system and cause corrosion and clogging all over again. Use fresh blue BMW coolant.
• The E9x cooling system takes just under 2 gallons of coolant. One gallon of concentrated blue BMW antifreeze, when mixed 50/50 with distilled water as directed by BMW, will fill the empty cooling system with a little to spare.
• Remove the fill cap and bleed screw from the expansion tank, fill the tank until coolant emerges from the bleed hole with no bubbles, then tighten the bleed screw carefully and begin the automated bleeding process as follows:
  1. To avoid depleting the battery, connect a 10A battery charger to the jump start terminals in the engine compartment.
  2. Turn on the ignition without touching the brake or clutch (so the engine doesn't start).
  3. Crank the heaters to max.
  4. Set the blower to the lowest speed.
  5. Press the gas/accelerator pedal to the floor for 10 seconds.
  6. The electric water pump will begin cycling on and off for 12 minutes.
  7. Once the bleeding process is complete, check the coolant level and top up if necessary.
• NOTE: Opening or closing a car door may shut off the ignition and interrupt the bleeding process. Simply check that the battery charger is properly connected and restart the procedure by turning on the ignition (without starting the engine) and holding down the gas pedal again.
• When complete, start the engine to check for leaks and test the heater as the engine reaches operating temperature.

[Reverend_Wrong]

While I haven't attempted this yet (and my motivation is diminishing as the weather warms), I really appreciate the detailed write up.

[GSB]

Originally Posted by Reverend_Wrong

While I haven't attempted this yet (and my motivation is diminishing as the weather warms), I really appreciate the detailed write up.

LOL! I know the feeling! I had reached the point of wearing arctic permafrost protection while driving. I managed just fine, but my passengers had to be extracted from the car with de-icer to separate them from their seats. Thankfully, by the time they had recovered, I was FAR away.

You're welcome. I hope the flush goes well for you!

[Mr Mohlake]

This is great. I am finding a little challenge while attempting this DIY. On my 2010 320i LCI, there’s a plastic ring under the metal clamp on the upper hose on the firewall of which I am not sure on how to remove.

[GSB]

Originally Posted by Mr Mohlake

This is great. I am finding a little challenge while attempting this DIY. On my 2010 320i LCI, there’s a plastic ring under the metal clamp on the upper hose on the firewall of which I am not sure on how to remove.

Hello Mr Mohlake! Plastic ring? Are you referring to the plastic connection in this picture? This is a BMW quick-connect fitting used all over the cooling system. To disconnect these, use a screwdriver to pop the wire latch upward (see red arrow), then firmly wiggle and pull the connector off the heater core connection.

[Mr Mohlake]

Thank you for the response. I’m not referring to this one you just shared. I’ll try get a picture of the one that I am referring to. It’s basically on the top hose which has the metal fastener. So it sits under the metal fastener and it doesn’t have any kind of screw on it or a place to loosen it.

[GSB]

Originally Posted by Mr Mohlake

Thank you for the response. I’m not referring to this one you just shared. I’ll try get a picture of the one that I am referring to. It’s basically on the top hose which has the metal fastener. So it sits under the metal fastener and it doesn’t have any kind of screw on it or a place to loosen it.

Maybe the LCI has a different fitting? I wouldn't know.

[leif20]

GSB

On page 1, do the red and blue arrows refer to the hot and cold lines?

As far as I am aware, the hot line is actually from the bottom of the heat exchanger (the one you put the blue arrow for).

[GSB]

Originally Posted by leif20

GSB

On page 1, do the red and blue arrows refer to the hot and cold lines?

As far as I am aware, the hot line is actually from the bottom of the heat exchanger (the one you put the blue arrow for).

No, my arrows were not color-coded to represent the hot and "cold" side of the cooling system. Temperature is pretty much the same, in and out of the heater core.

Your "hot/cold" diagram is actually slightly inaccurate. The entire length of pipe 23, returns HOT coolant, both from the heater core and from the expansion tank, to the thermostat. Pipe 18 is on the "cold" side of the cooling system.

But you are correct, flow direction is IN at the bottom of the heater core, and OUT at the top of the heater core.

[GSB]

Here's a more accurate coolant-temp plus flow-direction diagram for the N54 manual-shift engine. The basic N52 coolant flow is the same. Note that electrical operation of the pump and thermostat will determine the temperature of pipes #1, #3 and #7, depicted in purple...

[sepling]

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say this method of clearing the heater core worked great for me but I did do a few things differently.

I did buy an amazon fountain/aquarium pump and found that 5/8 OD vinyl tubing fit perfectly in the ID of the heater core hoses and sealed perfectly with a few wraps of masking tape on the OD of the vinyl hose. 1/2" barbed hose fittings on the pump were perfect for the vinyl tube. My pump came with three different size barbed hose fitting and the smallest was 1/2".

One thing I also did differently was zip tie a funnel to the wire handle of the bucket I used to submerge the pump. I put a harbor freight disposable paper/mesh paint filter inside the funnel and always placed the vinyl tube with the water exiting the heater core into the funnel/filter. This way you catch all the particulates coming out and can monitor your process as you catch less and less. Depending on how fast I was running the pump, it did look like the pump was pulling some of the sandy particulate I had flushed out and recirculating it into the heater core again so the paint filter funnel system eliminated that risk and gave me a way to see when the particulate seemed to be clearing up.

I used CLR instead of vinegar so my process was:

1. Water on low pressure back and forth for maybe ten minutes
2. 50/50 water/degreaser back and forth for ten minutes
3. CLR back and forth for two hours
4. Water back and forth for ten minutes
5. Coolant back and forth for five minutes
6. Reassemble, refill and enjoy the warm heater!

Again, thanks OP for the process! I hope my additions make things easier for people doing this in the future.

[GSB]

Originally Posted by sepling

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say this method of clearing the heater core worked great for me but I did do a few things differently.

I did buy an amazon fountain/aquarium pump and found that 5/8 OD vinyl tubing fit perfectly in the ID of the heater core hoses and sealed perfectly with a few wraps of masking tape on the OD of the vinyl hose. 1/2" barbed hose fittings on the pump were perfect for the vinyl tube. My pump came with three different size barbed hose fitting and the smallest was 1/2".

One thing I also did differently was zip tie a funnel to the wire handle of the bucket I used to submerge the pump. I put a harbor freight disposable paper/mesh paint filter inside the funnel and always placed the vinyl tube with the water exiting the heater core into the funnel/filter. This way you catch all the particulates coming out and can monitor your process as you catch less and less. Depending on how fast I was running the pump, it did look like the pump was pulling some of the sandy particulate I had flushed out and recirculating it into the heater core again so the paint filter funnel system eliminated that risk and gave me a way to see when the particulate seemed to be clearing up.

I used CLR instead of vinegar so my process was:

1. Water on low pressure back and forth for maybe ten minutes
2. 50/50 water/degreaser back and forth for ten minutes
3. CLR back and forth for two hours
4. Water back and forth for ten minutes
5. Coolant back and forth for five minutes
6. Reassemble, refill and enjoy the warm heater!

Again, thanks OP for the process! I hope my additions make things easier for people doing this in the future.

Nice! Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it went well for you. Cool idea with the filter. During your step #4, did you also pressurize gradually with a garden hose? I found that some of the loosened particulates were so heavy that the low-pressure pump alone could not blast them out.

[leif20]

Thanks for the additional information GSB and sepling!

I hope to do this on the weekend. Info about the fish pump would be helpful - what GPH, variable speed, etc?

[GSB]

Originally Posted by leif20

Thanks for the additional information GSB and sepling!

I hope to do this on the weekend. Info about the fish pump would be helpful - what GPH, variable speed, etc?

Here's the pump I used: Fountain Pump, 400GPH Submersible, Durable 25W Outdoor Water Pump with 6.5ft Power Cord, 3 Nozzles for Aquarium, Pond, Fish Tank, Water Pump Hydroponics, Backyard Fountain. It has a twistable shutter on the side to throttle the flow rate, but just set it to max. Output is low pressure.

[leif20]

Originally Posted by GSB

Here's the pump I used: Fountain Pump, 400GPH Submersible, Durable 25W Outdoor Water Pump with 6.5ft Power Cord, 3 Nozzles for Aquarium, Pond, Fish Tank, Water Pump Hydroponics, Backyard Fountain. It has a twistable shutter on the side to throttle the flow rate, but just set it to max. Output is low pressure.

I was able to do this over the weekend. It was a pain to disconnect the lower and upper hoses from the heater core, the clearance is so minimal. I use vinyl tubing from Home Depot, 5/8 outer diameter. I purchased a similar pump from Amazon. No oily sludge came out, but A lot of debris and scale came out initially. Towards the end after a couple hours, it was running with no obstruction and clear. However I still dont have the right amount of heat on the passenger side. I know for sure I have a cooling system issue but still can’t track it down. I can get hot air out of the vents if the coolant is above 90c, but running the blower fan causes the coolant temp to drop rapidly. I’m pretty sure there’s no obstructions in the heater core since the flushing went as expected in both directions.

[GSB]

Originally Posted by leif20

I was able to do this over the weekend. It was a pain to disconnect the lower and upper hoses from the heater core, the clearance is so minimal. I use vinyl tubing from Home Depot, 5/8 outer diameter. I purchased a similar pump from Amazon. No oily sludge came out, but A lot of debris and scale came out initially. Towards the end after a couple hours, it was running with no obstruction and clear. However I still dont have the right amount of heat on the passenger side. I know for sure I have a cooling system issue but still can’t track it down. I can get hot air out of the vents if the coolant is above 90c, but running the blower fan causes the coolant temp to drop rapidly. I’m pretty sure there’s no obstructions in the heater core since the flushing went as expected in both directions.

One possibility is that the top half of the core is clear, but sediment may still exist in the bottom half (or quarter). Though partially blocked, the core could still support the full flow of a low-pressure pump.

Did you connect a garden hose nozzle and gradually increase the pressure until it was running fully open? When the core is truly clear, it should be able support the full flow of a garden hose (within reason... don't over-pressurize). It took a higher pressure than the pump could provide to blast the heavy sediment out of my core. Pressurize the top of the core first before reversing the flow from the bottom.

[leif20]

Originally Posted by GSB

One possibility is that the top half of the core is clear, but sediment may still exist in the bottom half (or quarter). Though partially blocked, the core could still support the full flow of a low-pressure pump.

Did you connect a garden hose nozzle and gradually increase the pressure until it was running fully open? When the core is truly clear, it should be able support the full flow of a garden hose (within reason... don't over-pressurize). It took a higher pressure than the pump could provide to blast the heavy sediment out of my core. Pressurize the top of the core first before reversing the flow from the bottom.

You know I was just thinking that. Driver's side heat is ok but passenger is tepid. I am sure there are still blockages in the core. I would expect no temperature deltas if the core was operating correctly. I did NOT fully pressurize but I did use maybe 1/3rd the pressure of the garden hose. I was anxious and worried to blow out the heater core and render my car undrivable. Garden hose pressure is 40-80psi? I am worried this will burst the heater, given typical coolant system pressures are 15psi ish.

I might speed up the process and repeat. Given i've already done it once, I don't think I need to run vinegar again for 2 hours. Maybe CLR for an hour. How much should I open the hose? I do have a regulator at the barb so i can carefully control the flow there.