Weird occurrance while at car wash.

[PrOjEcT iCe MaN]

Hey its project ice man with yet another tale and by the way thank you very much to those who have replied to my previous posts much appreciated. To make a long story short while I was @ the car wash about 4 in the morning my car starts to over heat so i think. Because all night while I drove the needle never left the middle. i have a 98 528i . While i was in the carwash surrounded by water and all kind of big machines with brushes surrounding me the needle goes from the middle veers to the right. I turn the a/c off which was running and my cars temp goes back to normal needle back in the middle. I drove home needle never moved i put the a/c on and drove nothing still in middle. I woke up to go to work a few hours later nothing needle didn't move in the middle. When I left i checked to see if it had leaked any fluids none on the ground because i was in a rush to sleep and rush to go to work i havent had a chance to check fluid levels but if anyone has experienced this id be curious to hear. I am wondering if its because i had the a/c running while i was in the car wash if that and some external heat from the car wash water or drier caused the needle to move id appreciate any posts thanks. P.S. My mechanic recently checked the water pump fan etc everything was ok .

[e39dream]

air pocket in cooling system/ bad fan clutch.

[PrOjEcT iCe MaN]

How server would you say that would be as far as getting it repaired

[e39dream]

start with the easy stuff. Let the car cool down and make sure the coolant is full to the full cold mark in the expansion tank.

[AlpinaWannaBe]

i had a "kind of" similar occurance.

I was sitting in the rain, talking with my car on, and my windows fogged up. so i turned my AC off, cranked the defrost, then back to AC. Next thing i know, my temperature is creeping towards red. Of course i shut the car off real fast.

Never moved past half way again. this was in May.

[Qsilver7]

When the AC is on the aux fan (the one in front of the radiator) should be running to facilitate keeping the engine coolant within normal range. If that fan is NOT coming on when the AC is initiated...the engine could overheat especially when it is moving very slow or you're in stop-n-go traffic because there is not enough air pushing thru the radiator to keep things cooled off.

I'd check to make sure the aux fan is running when the AC is on. Again, if you can keep a constant speed going...there will be enough air pushing across the radiator fins to cool things down.

For those that are experiencing odd temp situations...if you've unlocked your OBC...you can open TEST #7 and watch the KTEMP display...this way you can see how your engine coolant is fluctuating. I believe the V8s usually operate between 95-110 degrees (C)...if it gets higher than that then the aux fan should kick into its highest speed to cool things down.

You can watch a video of Cliff (VisionBMW7) keeping an eye on his coolant level by driving with TEST #7 up on his CCD (check control display): if the videos don't appear or won't play, try clicking the "YouTube" (link) at the top center of the video's frame and it will take you directly to the YouTube website where you can watch the video there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8hptP1l4Nk

And here's another video by Cliff where he's riding down the highway and around 1 min:30 sec into the video his COOLANT LEVEL warning comes on...he adds fluid and quickly performs TEST #7 to see what the coolant's temp is (and keep an eye on it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5nStAogdco

[bimmerfiver]

Bro, please don't go to car wash establishments. Ruins your paint. Wash your car and drink some sweet tea while doing it. It's 90+, hot time summer in the city, back of my neck getting hot and sweaty and I can't wait to wash the car.

[e39dream]

Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting burnt and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing at the bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

+1 hand wash or no wash is better than an auto-scrub drive thru paint mangler.

[bimmerfiver]

IT IS HOT IN THE CITY TONIGHT!!!

It's so hot Gumbi asked for honey-bbq ribs from Wendy's instead the spicy chicken. It's so hot Jabba the Hutt's palace concert is cancelled. It's so hot Darth Vader is wearing a Raiders hat instead of teh helmet. The only thing hotter is kerryb's suspension, Jennifer Connelly's meow and the pilot episode of Miami Vice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poINzGrJils

[e39dream]

tis hot in the country today as well! AC units are humming. People are outside hosing themselves off in the front yard. Sunroofs are open and joggers are holding their chests and panting in dehydration. Spirits are good, people are friendly and ready to party tonight.

Yet, there is much work to be completed in the e39 world. I have a 2003 hella that needs some finishing touches after an intrusive surgery, then needs to be shipped. I have a new MAF for my silver e39. I have a 12 pack. I have tools. I want to work on 5s. I hate desks.

[bimmerfiver]

tis hot in the country today as well! AC units are humming. People are outside hosing themselves off in the front yard. Sunroofs are open and joggers are holding their chests and panting in dehydration. Spirits are good, people are friendly and ready to party tonight.

Yet, there is much work to be completed in the e39 world. I have a 2003 hella that needs some finishing touches after an intrusive surgery, then needs to be shipped. I have a new MAF for my silver e39. I have a 12 pack. I have tools. I want to work on 5s. I hate desks.

signature worthy. :buttrock

I am off for 50 miles on the bike. My reward is the look of my driveway upon return.

This chick is hot, I forgive her Sox cap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVHeLdJHeRw

[e39dream]

I'd let her wash my car, after she turns 18.

[Skwisgaar]

It's actually pretty nice in Eastern NC today... the Bermuda High isn't as oppressive today as it was earlier this week. But it's still A/C weather. Some would say it's still...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBUk03rwB-8

[Paintballistic]

I'd let her wash my car, after she turns 18.

according to the bio she is from hong kong, so no washy for you guys hahahah!!!! but she is legal......:devillook

[bimmerfiver]

I've watched her for an hour now. She's 20. I am in love.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tashamiles

I am smitten:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJHYC8amboA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2Ftas hamiles&feature=player_profilepage

[Skwisgaar]

I've watched her for an hour now. She's 20. I am in love.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tashamiles

I am smitten:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJHYC8amboA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2Ftas hamiles&feature=player_profilepage


Hmmmmm... I must say there is something quite stimulating about a girl that doesn't need makeup to look good, plays guitar, speaks Chinese, plays cricket, and has a Pulp Fiction poster next to a Ernie and Bert poster in her bedroom. Subscribed!

[cnn]

Yeah, I agree, I hand-washed my car, NO machine wash.

You probably have over 120K miles. Is it true?

If your Cooling System has never been replaced, then consider a Cooling Overhaul.
Checking the WP is OK, but things in that area have a tendency to blow up with no warning:

www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/199986 (http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/199986)

[02540ico]

Kept cool today, took the boat out and enjoyed the hot sun, but enjoyed the cool water even more.