Cooling Problems

[Tornado]

Just aquired my new toy, had been fine for a few short drives, in and around the driveway during servicing, and major clean (3/4 days).

Anyway! Topped up the antifreeze and didn't quite put that cap back on tight enough....drove 12 miles, car pissed all the fluid out, being in a rush, i opened the cap before it had cooled properly, and then the rest of the coolant rushed out!

After letting the car cool again, refilling, squeezing all of the air pockets out of the hozes, and bleeding the rad, the car warms up to 50% gauge temp, then as you give it some revs, or drive it for 30 seconds, the gauge goes up faster and faster to the red... car has not been in red for more than 10/20 seconds at most.

Now... The TOP hoze to the radiator gets really hot, and the bottom hoze stays cold... the radiator is cold, my thoughts are that the heat has somehow got the thermostat stuck, and it won't open any more, i.e no radiator cooling. But with no radiator, on a cool day, would the temperate cruise to 50% over 5 mins, and then get up to red within another 90seconds... ?!

This is my first post, I hope of many, have got every tool under the sun, and a BMW dealership at the ready, so hopefully you can help me out! Its driving me crazy not being able to drive it, I've only had it 5 days!

Thanks all!

Richard

[Speedy-325is]

if u r mechanically inclined, pull off the thermostat housing, its 3? bolts
what yr/make/model?

u should b able 2 pull the housing out between the fan blades if u flex the a bit (no they wont break if u r careful)

remove thermo. tie dental floss to top. put in HOT WATER. SEE IF IT OPENS UP.

if not, replace it with new. (also replace housing & thermo. gasket)
is so, replace it anyway. you already have it out.

i recommend u install a lower temp thermostat. stock in my car is @90deg. i put in a 70deg and my car runs cooler/nicer. good luck tell me how it goes

Mark