318i auto overheat on idle...

[beautymeanswheels]

Hi guys- was out with someone in their e30 318i auto recently which the guy wants to sell. Only snag is that on idle it starts to over heat. Heaters work fine and when the car is driving the temp needle drops back again.

Could this be head gasket? We did do a 100 mile round trip in the car and its fine when being driven..

[jmc330i]

More than likely the viscous fan coupling I would think. If it doesn't lock up when it should, it won't do its job of pulling air through the rad so the temp will rise when the car is stationary.

[bimanut]

Just remember that its a left handed thread on the coupling,32mm spanner give it a good swift clout with a hammer and it should crack it loose and unscrew

[BHadley]

Or vise grips and a hard whack.... The wrong way (right)