i come begging for help overheating - BMW Forum

jpwmotorsport · 05-10-2008, 06:52 PM

hello all new to this forum not to bmw!!!
first things first :e30 1988 m20 320I cab uk RHD..
only just bought today of a friends brother on the cheap been driving jap stuff for a while {holds head in shame}

used to have e34 and e32 but both were multi-valve so dont know much about m20 and such ...
my problem is..... overheating at stand still been through usual stuff like thermostat, air in system, compression test, but still the poor baby overheats at standstill.... was thinking fan could be issue as i am right in thinking its a viscous coupling like a m40 can anyone offer a helping hand to a man returning to the bmw fold

witeshark · 05-10-2008, 08:07 PM

I think it is the fan clutch, I went through the same issue with the M20 2.5

pinnaclebass · 05-20-2008, 11:42 PM

ya if its a hot day and ac is on at standstill, the engine temp may go past the middle. most likely because of fan clutch. have you noticed a change in power while driving?

AlpineSixAndSeven · 05-21-2008, 02:27 AM

does it over heat at highway speed? if not fan clutch

you should hear the fan spin up when the car starts getting hot

DIRTE30 · 05-21-2008, 09:29 PM

Definitly a fan clutch... just visit your local junk yard and find one that feels good. They ain't real cheap otherwise!

darkhorse737 · 05-26-2008, 11:29 PM

while i will not rule out the fan clutch as culprit; your prob sounds more like a partially clogged radiator to me. Logic being that if u have airflow (when u are not at at standstill) you are fine... fan speed at idle or at speed is more or less a constant depending on the viscosity of the internal fluid.

My way would be to turn on the A/C at idle(for added load) and watch temp. If temp rises faster that it otherwise would with the A/C off, then it is radiator ;-) if not difference... then fan clutch