PLEASE HELP!!! My 328ci is STILL over heating! - BMW Forum

abuc42 · 11-13-2009, 08:39 PM

I have a 2000 BMW 328ci. I recently blew my radiator and I have already replaced it with a new one but it is still over heating!!! I turned it on to let the water in my radiator warm up and when I placed my hand on the top hose running from my radiator to my engine it was hot, So then I placed my hand on the bottom hose that runs from my engine back to my radiator and it was cold. Could this be because my thermostat is stuck and wont open? Please anyone with any information that could help me fix this problem it will be greatly appreciated!!!!!

witeshark · 11-13-2009, 09:07 PM

It could be the thermostat, also, are you sure all the air has been bled out?

abuc42 · 11-13-2009, 09:37 PM

How do yo do that? Haha that could very well be it because I dont know what that means or how to do it. Can you please explain? This information could be very useful and save me from buying a new thermostat hopefully.

witeshark · 11-13-2009, 09:39 PM

Try a search here or Google; I don't know the details for your car.

marti5 · 11-14-2009, 03:02 AM

I would say from what youve said its the thermostat gone.

chet31 · 11-14-2009, 11:51 PM

Try bleeding it. Run a search on it and find the procedure, it's not hard, no special tools required - and it's free.

scorpionprince · 11-17-2009, 12:28 AM

That's funny because I had the same issue last week when I did a coolant flush. I couldn't figure out the problem right away, took me a week...lol. I didn't tighten the block drain plug to recommended specs of 18lbs, probably because it a difficult location, had to use a 30 torx bit socket, and I re-used the gasket ring. Another issue was having an air pocket in the system, which will over heat until that air pocket is out.

I went to the BMW dealership and bought me a gasket ring for 38 cents and a vent screw (bleed screw) just in case for $3. I changed the coolant again, and flushed it one more time. Last time I spent $11.50 for each gallon of that orange shit from Prestone, used 2 gallons because I was losing water. I figure down the road I'm gonna have to replace that drain plug, so I bought that yellow shit from Prestone for $8 at Wal-Mart.

It's easy to get the air pocket out. This is what I did: With the car off, and the vent screw off, I started pouring a gallon of Antifreeze (pure) into the expansion tank. Then I grabbed a gallon of distilled water and started pouring that until the mixture came out the bleed screw area. A couple of bubbles came out then it poured out normally like it was spilling over. Tighten the bleed screw back on, be careful not to break it and use a big flat screw driver. I would say it took about half or 3/4 of the distilled water. Put the radiator cap back on, turned the vehicle on, turned the heat up, think it was 91, let it sit for about 10 minutes looking for leaks. Didn't overheat so I took it for a test drive, it worked out great.

dcuse32 · 12-02-2009, 12:01 PM

Hey bud its easy to do...Right at the top of the reservoir where you add the coolant you will see a plastic Philips head screw. Un screw it all the way off and keep adding coolant till it comes out of that small hole. then start it up and let it run for a bit. if i keep over heating then repeat the process. you just have air in your cooling system causing it to over heat. I had to figure this out on my own when installing a radiator in my 2000 328ci