Replaced Thermostat....now....

[Swizzle]

Before I replaced the thermostat, the temp gauge would barely leave the blue. In bumper2bumper traffic it would reach half maybe, with spirited driving it wouldnt even reach 1/3.

With the new T-Stat, it quickly reaches the 1/3 mark, heat comes quicker too (the old T-Stat must've been stuck open?) So...now even with a good half hour of driving quick with some redlining, it does not reach half.

Can anyone tell me: Is this normal?
Thanks!

The car is a 1990 325i, 160,000 km. Changed the coolant too, 60/40 water/bmw coolant.

[lordofthewaters]

Which temp T-stat do you have in it now? Which did you have in it before?

Standard is 80 degree C..........

[JmsRad23]

haha thats funny, i just had to buy a new thermostat today cuz mine was running hot, around 3/4s! i hope it does the trick...Im also putting in my cold air intake:D

[Swizzle]

I put in a 75 degree thermostat, the weather here isn't often below freezing and never gets crazy hot, my commute is also never more than half hour. If I put in an 80 degree, that would cause the T-stat to open later, right? Thus warming the engine to more like half of the temperature gauge? I don't really want to change it again though, another 20 bux for the part and some coolant, is the 75 OK?
Thanks.

[lordofthewaters]

If it doesn't go much below freezing I think you'll be ok. You'll take a bit longer for your heater to warm up, and you may lose a little mileage.