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Thread: Temperature question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2021
    Location
    Marblehead MA
    Posts
    26
    My Cars
    1997 Z3 2.8 2004 325i

    Question Temperature question

    I have had my new (to me) Z3 for about a month. '97, 2.8, 94 k miles. Passed inspection by a trusted BMW mechanic with no issues other than reccomendations for new pads (and rotors) and replacing the brake hoses with braided. No info on cooling system components other than a few obvious new hoses. Brake and cooling refresh, bushings are on the list for winter hiatus (New England). Temperure has been rock steady at 12 oclock (Iknow there is a deadband at 12 oclock so this does not mean actual temp is constant) for about 1000 miles of warm weather driving. Until today. Drove about 200 highway and fast 2 lane miles, about 55 f air temp and top down. When I turned the cabin heat on, max temp, fan 2-3) the engine coolant temp gauge dropped slowly to its 1/4 mark. Turn cabin heat off, coolant gauge rises slowly to normal. This behavior repeated every time I changed the heat settings.

    I have never seen this behavior in any other BMW I have driven (2002, E36, E46) other than a stuck open thermostat that ultimately failed, but in that case the engine never warmed up and I had no heat. I am concerned that this is a sympton that I have never seen that is a precursor to a failure. Any input?

    Dave

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    12,462
    My Cars
    36 Cylinders
    Definitely change the thermostat, it's stuck. The gauge on the cluster is buffered to stay in the middle for a broad range, so if it's dropping, your thermostat is sticking when it shouldn't be.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

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