E36 overheating

[seanboy]

Pal I work with has A E36 316i compact 98 R reg. He lives in dagenham. works at oxford circus. His problem is after his 30/40 minute drive to work and the car is idleing the temp gauge shoots up to the red. It is fine on his way down to work moving in traffic. Could it be the viscous fan or do these not have them?
Cheers

[snoops]

on e30s its usually the viscous fan if it overheats when stooped but fine when driving, im not sure bout the e36 tho

[seanboy]

Not clued up on the e36 316i too

[Dan318-is]

yes it will have a viscous fan; you can do the paper test on it; it could also be a number of things e.g. water pump or even a leak; is it loosing or burning coolant etc?

[Ant]

might be blessed with a plastic impellor water pump, best place for that is the bin.

works fine until the plastic impeller grows a little with heat, then the shaft spins freely whilst the impeller does nothing.

Check the viscous as stated, but given the low ambient temps @ the mo, I'm going to stick my neck on the block and go for the pump.

If you change the pump, use a new stat too, no sense saving a few £Â£ on parts that are vital to engine longevity.

[seanboy]

Sounds good lads. the paper test on viscous fan how does this work as my convertible overheats in traffic but sound while moving.cheers

[jcjdavis1]

Hi My wife's 96 316i compact kept overheating,flushed it out and changed thermostat and all has been well since.

[seanboy]

Matey has been told by the second hand car salesman that its the head gasket and warranty will cover it?
Thought if head gasket is gone you get mustard colour in your oil?

[Andyboy]

The M43 engines on these have the all in one plastic top elbow with the 'stat integral. They can fall apart inside and block water flow. But if it only gets hot in traffic, new viscous coupling. The pump is easy enough on one of these and I would also replace the drive belt. The thermostat is about £20 from BMW.

A word of advice though; before you take the belt off do a drawing showing all the pulleys and which way the belt runs - if you don't there's almost no chance of ever getting it on again!

[blingsta]

might be blessed with a plastic impellor water pump, best place for that is the bin.

works fine until the plastic impeller grows a little with heat, then the shaft spins freely whilst the impeller does nothing.

Check the viscous as stated, but given the low ambient temps @ the mo, I'm going to stick my neck on the block and go for the pump.

If you change the pump, use a new stat too, no sense saving a few £Â£ on parts that are vital to engine longevity.

I will second that!! i changed so many on e36's whilst working at Tech Tuning... all coming in coz they were over heating... cant believe bmw put a plastic prop on a metal shaft

[seanboy]

Took it to another place and it was an air lock. sorted now