Reddit reviews BETOOLL 32mm Fan Clutch Nut Wrench Water Pump Holder Removal Tool Kit For BMW E34 E39 E36 E46 E90

It probably would be easier but I dont think its worth the hassle honestly. Jack the car up and come at some things from the bottom.

I do recommend getting this tool

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017VLLQ6M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Makes removing the fan way easier and is very much worth the $18.

The other thing to pay attention to is how to get the belt back on. Its going to be tight and if you go about it the wrong way it will be off a tooth. Once you figure out the trick its super easy though.

They way I did it was to loosen the tensioner bolts as far as they would go but still hold it on. Wrap the belt around the cam, crank and oil pump first with all the slack on the underside. Use a long screw driver to push the tensioner in and use the slack on the tensioner assembly to wiggle the belt onto it. Let the tensioner out and secure it. Check your marks and then do 2 full rotations of the crank. Verify marks again and adjust as needed.

I ordered everything off amazon and did my thermostat, water pump, expansion tank, also on the automatic cars (like mine) there is another thermostat on the bottom of the expansion tank when you remove it, which most likely broke when your tank exploded

I also snapped off the drain screw/plug on the bottom of the expansion tank when switching it over...so I filled er' up with coolant, only to realize the MF'er was busted ever so slightly, so coolant was flowing through the expansion tank like taco bell does to me. So I replace that too for under $5.

This is a fairly easy job to DIY, the only thing you need to worry about is the 32MM wrench to take off the fan on the automatics, other than that, most of the tools are just the 14MM or 16MM sockets and some torx screws. If you are working on your E46 you should have a torx set, and a metric socket set. I did not do all the hoses though when I did mine as they felt and appear to be in decent condition.

[thermostat] (https://www.amazon.com/Stant-14602-Thermostat-Housing-Fahrenheit/dp/B000C822YM/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1487609776&vehicle=2003-31-176-20--1-6-6-7308-171-1-1---1-0&sr=1-1&ymm=2003%3Abmw%3A325xi)

[expansion tank thermostat that sits on bottom of expansion tank] (https://www.amazon.com/B7583-17111437362-Cooler-Thermostat-Housing/dp/B00BOIVI76/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00BOIVI76&pd_rd_r=WV5225HSC9FA4W0BJ1FB&pd_rd_w=uAVgO&pd_rd_wg=nUSHN&psc=1&refRID=WV5225HSC9FA4W0BJ1FB)

[expansion tank] (https://www.amazon.com/Radiator-Coolant-Reservoir-Expansion-Quality/dp/B008564ZQG/ref=pd_bxgy_263_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9S8V0595SD0VV6X1BPVX)

[water pump with metal impeller] (https://www.amazon.com/URO-Parts-11-527-799/dp/B0066TLWGU/ref=pd_sim_263_21?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=S1N6T6G260SVYS2YNMY1)

[32mm wrench for fan] (https://www.amazon.com/Clutch-Wrench-Water-Holder-Removal/dp/B017VLLQ6M/ref=pd_bxgy_263_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=513EA9TG3QARCWSMJ554)

So for ~$150-$160 you can re-do the cooling system, if you want to do hoses as well, you are looking at another $50-$75

If you plan on keeping the car for a while, I recommend getting this tool. It'll make next time so much easier.