'97 328i overheating (again)
Hey guys! I've been having a bit of an issue with my BMW and it's getting kind of on the ridiculous side.
My car started overheating about two months ago. I ended up replacing the water pump and the thermostat because of a leak (and the spark plugs, but I don't think that applies to this problem). It ran great until recently.
Which leads me to another bout with overheating. I've been searching for an answer as to what it could be, but I'm just not finding anything. Does anybody have any clue as to what it could be, or maybe point me in the right direction?
My car started overheating about two months ago. I ended up replacing the water pump and the thermostat because of a leak (and the spark plugs, but I don't think that applies to this problem). It ran great until recently.
Which leads me to another bout with overheating. I've been searching for an answer as to what it could be, but I'm just not finding anything. Does anybody have any clue as to what it could be, or maybe point me in the right direction?
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Check your fan clutch.
I was just going to say that. 
I just replaced my fan clutch, yet it's still overheating. It stayed at the 1/2 mark for a bit, but when I stopped to speak with somebody it began to get hot. Do you think the cooling system needs to be bled again?
I had my newly purchased '97 328i's cooling system completely replaced because of overheating. My Independent BMW mechanic replaced the radiator, thermostat housing and thermostat, all new belts and hoses, flushed system and refilled with Genuine BMW 50% Antifreeze. On the way home from his shop my wife drove as I followed and we both got stuck in traffic with outside temps at around 90 degrees F. We were in constant contact on our cell phones and for a while her Bimmer temp gauge stayed in the middle but then after sitting in traffic it started to climb up toward the red so she pulled off the freeway and parked, with me right behind her. We were pretty disappointed after just spending $900 to fix overheating as you can can imagine.
I called our mechanic and he immediately jumped in his service truck and drove about 10 miles to our location. He determined that our fan clutch was not engaging (he was able to just stop the fan with his hand at idle) and so he replaced it with no charge for labor.
It has not overheated since with trips over the Sierras to Reno, NV and to Monterey over the coastal mountains at + 95 degrees F outside temps.
Our BMW mechanic did tip me off that if your Bimmer starts to get hot, turn on the A/C because that will automatically start the two electric fans in front of the radiator which will help cool down the temp.
I called our mechanic and he immediately jumped in his service truck and drove about 10 miles to our location. He determined that our fan clutch was not engaging (he was able to just stop the fan with his hand at idle) and so he replaced it with no charge for labor.
It has not overheated since with trips over the Sierras to Reno, NV and to Monterey over the coastal mountains at + 95 degrees F outside temps.
Our BMW mechanic did tip me off that if your Bimmer starts to get hot, turn on the A/C because that will automatically start the two electric fans in front of the radiator which will help cool down the temp.
Also I forgot to mention that the water pump was also replaced.
how did you bleed it?
My mechanic bled it.
About the fan clutch, my 328i was still overheating after my mechanic replaced the radiator, hoses, water pump, thermostat and housing, and all belts! He ended up coming in his repair truck to where we're parked just off the freeway and stopped the fan clutch at idle with his hand. He replaced it for free labor, apologizing for not doing it when he replaced everything else! He's our BMW Mechanic for life'
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