Running warm
 

I was driving home last night ( 1996 325 ) and I noticed my car was running warm. It never went into the red but was close a couple times. I check fluid levels they seem o.k. I squeezed the hoses they are full. I don't see any leaks and the electric fan does work. I was looking for a direction before I start ripping stuff apart any help ?

If it is running warm at sustained driving over 40mph then it is:

1) air in the system
2) thermostat
3) water pump
4) sludge

Does your heater work? Are the upper and lower hoses hot?

Step one is absolutely fill and bleed air from the system. Look up procedure in the Tech section or in my posts.

I think I found the problem. The clutch fan does not engage at any temp, I can stop it with my hand. I know that at higher temps this should lock up right ? I mean this thing hardly spins.

Your fan clutch is definitely bad.

A bad fan clutch will only effect your temperature at low speeds. I didn't understand what type of driving was causing your overheat from your original post.

O.K. new fan clutch, new thermostat and flushed system . I start out fine but in 20 miles or so it starts running warm, not over heating but warm. I also really don't have heat all the time sometimes it is cold . I got home overflow still full not used and cold, lower radiator hose seems empty and is also cold. I have had a 740i and a 533 I have done water pumps on both and know what to look for pump seems fine no leaks no noise but what the heck is going on ? Please help !

Your symptoms are classic "air the system" and it is also VERy common for people not to properly bleed the air. so much so that I getting tired of retyping the procedure. I need to make a thread just on that. Please search and if you don't find the procedure let me know. The part you are probably missing is to open the bleed screw and while it is open rev the engine.

I pulled the water pump and the pump blades spins on there own . I have never seen a pump seperate like this before . So problem solved.

Thanks

Steven