leaking heater matrix

[dave barker]

Hi guys,
Have an e34 525 m20 engine, when the heater blower motor is put on you get a cloud of steam and smell of anti freeze billow into the car, i thought at first it was oil dropping onto the exhaust, but this has been cured. I have now put in a barrs leak in the hope that it will cure it, but if it should not how hard / difficult is it to replace the heater matrix. Does the dashboard have to come out or can it be done just from the footwell? Any help very gratefully received.

Regards

Dave

[Joestancampiano]

is not a fun job. Check out this link and good luck.
Joe


http://www.homeofsbc.com/Fixes/Heater/heater.htm

[shogun]

above link does not work anymore, here is a new one
*DIY E34 heater core R&R (IHKA content) - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

[632 Regal]

Barrs leak will in most cases clog the heater valve screens. They have some stop leak stuff that is approved for (I believe 2004 and up) Cadillac vehicles that also have small porous screens. Do not recall the name but it comes in big tablets that I crushed up and added to my system with pretty good results. Resembles powdered wood, my car took 2 tabs and held fine for a few years. Needs a couple more since I flushed the system last summer. Works good in comparison to a proper repair which seems to be quite involved.