Overheating

[Brian 1]

I have just purchased a 93 325is and it has a antifreeze leak somewere and i cannot pinpoint it.The car gets hot fast but the temp. gauge is not going all the way up.Also the aux. fan is not turning on. I have no knowledge of BMW'S. I am getting it pressure tested because I was told that it might be the thermostat sticking?It does not leak bad but I don't won't to ruin the engine by running the car.I checked the oil and it was good!No signs of water.Does anyone have any input so I don't have to dump alot of money into it just to find the problem?Is there a switch or something to test the elec. fan,because that will help cool the motor.Also my reverse lights don't work but they both have new bulbs.Thank you! PLEASE HELP????

[Jeron]

Wow, that was a lot of questions. Especially for a 325 on the M3 forum

What do you mean it gets hot fast but the temp gauge is not going all the way up? What are the indications of it getting hot if not the gauge?

The electric fan will always run while the a/c is on and it should also come on when the coolant in the radiator gets too hot. Turn on the a/c to see if the fan is functioning. There is a temp sensor on the side of radiator that turns on the aux fan based on heat. There are some test procedures in the Bentley service manual.

Low coolant or air in the cooling system is common and could cause your cooling problems.

The reverse lights are probably actuated by a sensor on the transmission that detects the reverse gear selection.

[bimmerdog]

There is a forum specific to the E-36 325 and would persoanlly recommend that you post the question in that particular area.

[Eli at Pelican Parts]

There can be several answers to your questions and I would be taking a stab in the dark unless I could see, smell and touch your car. It’s sort of like a stomachache; I can’t fix it unless “you come to my office”…

There are several starting points for this sort of error. I would definitely start with the cheapest and most common. The thermostat is by far the cheapest and first thing to consider but if I was going to perform that operation I would also suspect that you would want to take a good look at your water pump. Your water pump may be the culprit here as I’ve seen many of the stock faulty units go out time and time again.

Sensors, fan clutch and radiator components are just a few other components left for inspection . . ..

I would recommend getting under your car, finding out where and what is leaking and only then can you start on your way to repairing your vehicle.

-Eli