Issues after changing thermostat, M44 1998 318ti

[liweih21]

Hi,

Recently got a 98 318ti, 110k, apparently no maintance been done yet.

I noticed the infamous, when driving on highway, the temp gauga go from middle to cold.

After reading here, I tried to change thermostat. I bought a $30 generic one from ebay.

Unfortunately, I did not drain the coolant just pull the thermostat off, put the genric one on.

Tried to bled a few times, seems to work now.

The coolant I use is the preston one from walmart.

Currently both hoses that comes out of the thermostat is very hot after driving a while - is that normal?

also, the temp guage is a little over the middle, a little more than the usually a little more over the middle, is that normal?

any suggestions?
should I buy a brand new Thermostat or does that matter?
is the BMW coolant a must?

-Li-wei

[1996 328ti]

Did you position the t-stat correctly?
You don't need to buy BMW coolant but you do need specific types of coolant.

You don't need to drain all the fluid when changing the t-stat.
On my car the needle is slightly above center.

Before I changed the t-stat it never reached center.
Maybe a needle width.

[liweih21]

what is the most accessible and inexpensive substitute i can get?

[1996 328ti]

I don't have that motor, but isn't the t-stat part of the housing?

11531743017 MSRP $92.91

You can contact Bimmerbum here.

If the needle is a little past 12, that's fine.
As I said, mine is a needle width past center.

[liweih21]

I meant the bmw coolant substitute

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

I don't have that motor, but isn't the t-stat part of the housing?

11531743017 MSRP $92.91

You can contact Bimmerbum here.

If the needle is a little past 12, that's fine.
As I said, mine is a needle width past center.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by liweih21

I meant the bmw coolant substitute

IDK.
Some googling mentions Zerex G05 coolant.

Doesn't seem much cheaper than BMW coolant.
I've always used BMW coolant with distilled water.
I tend to use OE as much as I can.

[MINIz guy]

I believe the car need a phosphate-free coolant. Zerex G-05 is one phosphate-free coolant that is suitable substitute for the BMW one.

[liweih21]

How bad is it to put the Preston all compatible coolant in does it cause overheat?

[JFMBMW318i]

When you did the bleeding was the front of the car raised? It helps with the
Bleeding process if the front of the car is jacked up, on ramps or a steep driveway. Like the gentlemen before me said, a little past 12 o'clock on the
temp gauge is fine.