 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | looove 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 0 Replies, 1,454 Views | | | |  |  |  | |  05-11-2005, 06:33 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 |  Low Temp?
Today when I was driving I noticed my Temp Gauge was staying under half for about 30minutes (while driving on the highway). Then it moved halfed way, but when I exited and stop at a red light it started to drop again. When When I got to school and got out my car it smelled like my car was running really hot.  Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks! |  |  | | 05-11-2005, 06:46 PM | #2 | | Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 61 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by Mothman Today when I was driving I noticed my Temp Gauge was staying under half for about 30minutes (while driving on the highway). Then it moved halfed way, but when I exited and stop at a red light it started to drop again. When When I got to school and got out my car it smelled like my car was running really hot. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks! | Sounds like you need to check your thermostat (it may be getting stuck). With my first car (BMW 320i), I'd have to check & or replace the thermostat because it wasn't opening/closing. Also, check your radiator hoses for leakage. Hoses wear down after time and need to be pressure checked and/or replaced. Good luck...motorwerk | | | | | 05-11-2005, 06:53 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 144 |
mine usually runs a little cool, or maybe I should say takes a long time to come up to the middle, I've never really thought much of it though, is it really something to be concerned over? | | | | | 05-11-2005, 07:25 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: madison, WI Posts: 402 |
mine will be at half in city driving but when I get on the highway it will cool back down almost into the blue or cold. __________________ Mods: clear turn signals, Silverstar headlight bulbs, k&N custom CAI, removed A/C, lightened crank pulley, painted brakes, custom clutch stop, custom strut bar, x-brace, custom solid tranny mounts, Memphis sound system, Sachs sport clutch, B&M short shifter, lightened flywheel, redline MTL ....
Emberrassing honda owners one drive at a time
http://members.cardomain.com/mghockey | | | | | 05-12-2005, 12:01 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 |
Mine is like that too. During driving in the city, my temp is usually at half, but on the freeway, it goes back down to 1/4. I thought that my temp guage was broken too.
But this is what I think. I think that it cools down because you're going faster and more cool air gets into your car...
Ever since, it didn't really cross my mind to think about it.
About the whole thing with the car smelling as if it were really hot, I think that's normal too. My car does that sometimes too. My brother's car does that burning smell too (he has an e46 323i), so after that, I thought it was pretty normal too.
(hopefully it is normal, but as of now, I think it is)
-Randy __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... 
Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker  Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels
and
99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods
Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | | | 05-12-2005, 05:19 PM | #6 | | Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 67 |
Youve got a bad thermostat. Get it replaced and your needle will stay in the middle where it should be all the time | | | | | 05-12-2005, 07:04 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 144 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by bmwpwr Youve got a bad thermostat. Get it replaced and your needle will stay in the middle where it should be all the time | How bad of a problem is that, and how much would it cost? | | | | | 05-12-2005, 08:44 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 |
Thanks for the info, I will order a new one! Outie! | | | | | 05-12-2005, 10:14 PM | #9 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 94 |
Be sure when you replace the thermostat that you bleed the cooling system...if the car is getting hot but reading cold, there's an air pocket in the system. BMW's are a PITA to bleed and sometimes it takes a few tries to get ALL of the air out. But you probably need a thermostat, too. It's a common culprit and an easy DIY fix. Good luck! | | | | | 05-12-2005, 10:35 PM | #10 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
those whose temp is going under half when you're up to cruising speed, you either have air in the system or a bad thermostat. you should get it fixed because it'll run rich when it's below normal operating temp reducing gas mileage and burning up your cat. thermostats are like $17 from pelicanparts.com, believe cca discount from dealer should be similar. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 05-13-2005, 06:19 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 |  Grrrrr
I don't know if this had anything to do with it, but yesterday I went to change my airfilter and noticed that it was not secured on tighlty. It had a 3" gap near the top left. I replaced the airfilter then secured it and drove home. When I did I noticed the Temp Gauge started acting normal. (Dang it Jiffy Lube.) Could that be the reason why I was running cold? So far it has been running normal again.  | | | | | 05-13-2005, 08:07 PM | #12 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
i wouldn't think it would as i believe the temp guage is driven off the coolant temp not air temp. possible your stuck thermostat became unstuck. keep an eye on it and if it happens again, replace thermostat. this would be my recommendation. we have some who are probably professional or near professional mechanics who may recommend something else. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 05-16-2005, 07:21 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 |
id stay thermostat...
my car was doing the same thing...running cool and such...i got a 19 dollar thermostat from some european performance shop and installed it...and it worked beautifully...
it was getting stuck, making it run rich... __________________ 1995 318ti Active
Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | | | 05-16-2005, 08:49 PM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: madison, WI Posts: 402 |
yeah, my thermostat is stuck open so I am going to bumper to bumper after school to get one __________________ Mods: clear turn signals, Silverstar headlight bulbs, k&N custom CAI, removed A/C, lightened crank pulley, painted brakes, custom clutch stop, custom strut bar, x-brace, custom solid tranny mounts, Memphis sound system, Sachs sport clutch, B&M short shifter, lightened flywheel, redline MTL ....
Emberrassing honda owners one drive at a time
http://members.cardomain.com/mghockey | | | | | 05-16-2005, 09:04 PM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 |  Change out!
Thanks for the info everyone, I changed it out and it is running normal again! | | | | | |
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