e36 overheating

[thebigone]

Hi folks happy new year and all that, i hope you had a good one.
My boy has a e36 coupe 318is, he had a prang the other week looking at some eye candy in Eastbourne, and put it under the back end of a small van.
We replaced the bonnet,r/h wing, and the rad along with the cowling.
It all seems ok put has started to over heat even when she is not pushed hard. The gague goes up well past the half way mark, and looking under the bonnet a small plume of stem can be seen at the rear of the engine.

Both pipes at the top and bottom of the rad seem to be red hot within a few mins would this be a indication of the thermostate us.
Thank you

[march109]

Where it the steam venting from? that can't be right!

You sure all the hoses went back on in the correct places and the system was bled correctly? If you think that it is the thermostat pull it out and test it, drop it in some hot water and check it opens.

[thebigone]

March109, cant see were the steam is origernating from too much stuff in the way, if it stops with the rain to night then yes the stat will be coming out and going in a suacepan cheers

[78dude]

Well it looks like the car need a service....
Take some rad flush and flush the whole coolant system on the engine.
Change thermostate and fit a new water pump & ad on coolant and bleed the system so there is no air and you will see that the problem is sorted!

[steerfromtherear]

Water pump?

[Andyboy]

Could be the heater take off on the back of the head that's fractured.

[blingsta]

the water pumps are very weak on the e36's ! made of plastic and have a tendancy to just snap off very easily... try a new water pump, but not from main dealer !