temperture meter

[bmw_m3power]

my temperture meter dosen't go over the blue block, it stay right on the end of the blue block after I was on the highway for 2 or 3 hours.

is this normal?

[Mach 5]

No this is not normal. It should read halfway, usually straight up and down vertically. Sounds like you may have a thermostat that could be stuck open, or a guage that is reading incorrectly. Check the resistance on the temperature sending unit to see if it is within spec. If it is drain the coolant and replace the thermostat. If the waterpump is the origional plastic impeller one, since the coolant is drained you might think about replacing it also.
Ben

[bmw_m3power]

that will only happen when I turn on the heater , if the heater is off then it will read half way.

[bimmerbill]

turning on the heat will cool donw your engine in effect

i second the vote for a thermostat

i just replaced mine about 2 weeks ago for the same problem . . . takes a long time for the engine to heat up, cools down on the highway, turning down the heat raised the engine temp.

[El Presidente]

I would check it out when I had the time. Running cold is better than running hot, just take it easy on the engine.

[bmw_m3power]

can I replace the thermostat myself?
if I can, can anyone tell me how to do it?
what is the other thing I have to do to take easy on the engine?(or other thing I have to watch out for)

[bimmerbill]

remove radiator with hoses
manuver shroud out of the way
use swivel sockets and japanese fingers to get by your fan
remove thermostat housing
replace the thermostat and reassemble

note: the fan should be removed (by the book), however it is not nessecary with the right tools

[dutchbmw]

think it is the thermostat or the temperature sensor...........

[bmw_m3power]

wow,I don't thing I can to that myself.
what if I didn't replace the thermostat for let's say 3-4 month will the car still be ok?
I just spend $530 on ball joins and I still need to replace my rear brake and everything
so I am broke. do anyone know how much is to replace the thermostat?

[bimmerjac]

I just replaced the thermostat in an e39 because the two plate one from early 97 finally bit the dust. It continually stayed open and the temp would hardly exit the blue.

Total time for replacement was 1.5 hours but I could not have done it without the water pump tool. $20.99 for the thermostat, $1.01 for the housing gasket, and $30.00 for the water pump tool and 32mm wrench.

One thing I am not sure of is the proper procedure for venting the coolant after completion. Does anyone have ideas on doing this without an expansion tank pressure tool or do I actually need one?

[bimmerbill]

on my e36 i just filled the coolant and ran the car with the coolant bleeder open til the car reached operating temp. giving the engine a few good revs willl help during the procedure also.

[bmw_m3power]

I still can't do it myself, do you guys think it could be the temperture causing this to happen?
I live in MA USA and is really cold here is below 0 degrees.

the reason I ask that is because I stop driving my bimmer, I am afraid is going to break the engine or something, that happen to me before with my Lexus and I have to replace the engine so I really don't want that to happen again, so I drove my cousins car and his car is an acura, it do the samething although the acura dosen't have the blue block but the meter is not even in half way is kinda close. so my friend told me it could be the weather in MA because is so cold up here.

for the guys who replace their thermostat where are you guys live? is the weather very cold in the place you live?

if you live in texas and your temp meter do that then I got no question but if not then
I don't know what to say.

the question stand still what if I didn't change the thermostat(I leave it along) for 3-5 month and keep driving what will happen?

[mikester328]

I go to college in Boone NC, (in the mountains) and even when I'm driving for 2 hours it never goes out of the blue area. Once I hit a decent tempurture (around 40) it'll start to move out of the blue area. I'm pretty sure it's the outside temp.

[bimmerjac]

Bimmerbill - thanks for the reply.

That is what I did and all seems well but I read in the TIS about a coolant presure tool and was not sure if I had to use it or 'could' use it.

Bimmer m3power -

I live in upstate New York and today it barely made it above +1 and my temp reading held steady in the middle of the guage. The summer before last I was in Boston when it was 100+ and my temp reading was in the middle of the guage. My recomendation is to repace the faulty thermostat as soon as possible because the fact that it is not working properly is concerning. It is true that a cool engine is not as bad as an overheated one but failure to replace it could cause excessive wear otherwise why would we need them.... right?

Does your local BMWCCA have anyone with the tools and the talent?

[NVSBMW]

MINE DOES THE SAME SHIT DPENDING ON HOW I DRIVE...FOR INSTANCE ON A HIGHWAY IT WILL GO TOWARD THE BLUE IF IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IT WILL GO TO THE MIDDLE...THE MORE I USE THE GEARS THE MORE HOTTER IT GETS IF IM JUST CRUISING ON A LONG STREET IT WILL SLOWLY GO TOWARDS THE BLUE LIKE A QUATER....