Bmw e36 is overheating please help.

"TheStraightSixKid" (thestraightsixkid) 05/10/2015 at 17:47 • Filed to: None

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Hey oppo I some help with my 1998 328i. It started to overheat when the coolant expansion tank had a crack in it. I changed the tank, but still overheats. It also won't hold water/coolant for very long in the new tank.

My father thinks it is the thermostat, but he is not sure.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 17:51

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Have you checked for mayo?

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 17:52

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Did you bleed the air out of the system? If not you need a thermostat and water pump.

TheHondaBro > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/10/2015 at 17:56

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Get me Ham on 5, hold the Mayo.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TheHondaBro 05/10/2015 at 17:58

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Airplane!

Clown Shoe Pilot > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 18:00

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BMWs of that vintage are likely to need a complete cooling system overhaul after 17 years. You’ve already done the expansion tank, but to save yourself the time and effort of messing with it piecemeal, you probably wouldn’t go wrong by replacing all the other stuff too - water pump, radiator, thermostat (possibly the housing too), hoses, gaskets, etc. Also, you must be sure to completely “burp” the system of air.

brianbrannon > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 18:03

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pull the bleed hose off and check for coolant flow. It's the small one. Common issue is water pump broken and no longer pumping

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 18:53

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your headgasket is blown

jordang1028 > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 19:26

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As brianbrannon mentioned, checking for coolant flow should be your first course of action. This will either confirm or eliminate water pump failure. Also, if you haven’t already, check for oil in the coolant and vice versa; if you find any the head gasket is blown. If neither is present, rent an exhaust gas detector(not sure if that’s the technical term) from Autozone/O’reilly. When you put it where your radiator cap goes and draw air through the fluid, it will change color if there is exhaust gas in your coolant, meaning bad head gasket. If the water pump and head gasket are good, move on to your thermostat. Replace it with an OEM or quality aftermarket part, no Duralast garbage here. I would also highly recommend replacing the thermostat housing with an aluminum one. Its a cheap upgrade and the plastic ones love to crack. Good luck, and if you fix it, go ahead with the rest of the cooling system overhaul asap.

TheStraightSixKid > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 05/10/2015 at 20:26

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headgasket is not blown.

TheStraightSixKid > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 05/10/2015 at 20:26

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Shit

CallMeTURBO > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 21:00

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Make sure you’ve bled it properly.

Otherwise check your water pump, fan clutch, and thermostat.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > TheStraightSixKid 05/10/2015 at 22:50

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If your system is bled and functioning correctly, and you’re overheating, then your HG is blown.

I’ve had E36s for over 5 years. I know

TheStraightSixKid > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 05/12/2015 at 20:29

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I will check again thanks.