Is car getting too hot?

B

bensz4mc

Member
 Twickenham
Since my service I think my car is running a bit hot...where is your oil temp gauge point too with normal mixed driving? Cheers
 
Directly up, or pointing to the centre point of the gauge.

I however do not have the M versionbut would assume the gauge is the same.
 
Somewhere between 10 and 11 o'clock, and I can't recall it ever pointing straight up.

Are your fans on continuously? That would be a sign.
 
I don't think my fans are on all the time... Right wing and bonnet just seem very hot after normal driving and i thought the needle was previously in the middle of the quarter and half way mark. Now it's just under the halfway mark..
 
Never seen the oil gauge go to more than about the 11 o'clock position (12 o'clock is 100c), whether during spirited driving (Wales, track or 'Ring) or stuck in traffic.
 
mmm-five said:
Never seen it go more than about the 11 o'clock position, whether during spirited driving or stuck in traffic.
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You're not trying hard enough, I've had mine up towards the 130 deg mark, but you're right that in normal use it gets to about 11 o'clock and no more.

OP, have you checked the oil level?
 
carl said:
mmm-five said:
Never seen it go more than about the 11 o'clock position, whether during spirited driving or stuck in traffic.
Click to expand...
You're not trying hard enough, I've had mine up towards the 130 deg mark, but you're right that in normal use it gets to about 11 o'clock and no more.

OP, have you checked the oil level?
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definatly..... my blown ///M see's to the left of the centre line under normal driving even in mega hit weather, at a recent trackday in 25 deg c heat i saw the gauge at the 1 oclock position,....
i have a setrab oil cooler with aeroquip lines, its double the size of the stock unit......
 
I'd get the coolant & the thermostat checked. Mine warms up very quickly from cold to 12' o'clock & then never moves, abuse or no abuse & including a long trip to the South of France where it almost hit 40 degrees... still sat at the 12' o'clock position
 
My temperature gauge stays at 12 o'clock when the engine is warmed up (which does not take long). If yours is showing significantly below 12 o'clock, your thermostat may have failed. Usually thermostats fail in the open position, which actually makes the the engine run cool (and the gauge shows low, like yours). My 1998 Z3 developed this symptom. I replaced the thermostat and the temperature gauge returned to the normal 12 o'clock reading.

Just today I have been working on replacing the thermostat, water pump and belts on my 2004 3.0 Z4 as a preventative maintenance measure. The car has about 70k miles and this is approaching the mileage where these things start to fail, from what I've heard.

How many miles on your car?

If you are inclined, you might consider replacing the thermostat yourself. It is not too difficult.
 
M has an oil temp gauge and the non M cars have an engine coolant gauge so they're monitoring different things for a start. With normal driving the M's oil temp gauge should be around somewhere between 11 & 12 o'clock position. However, it does take some time to fully warm through depending on the type of driving you're doing etc. I never rev the engine over 3000ish until it is fully warmed through in sympathy for the VANOS.
 
Thanks guys... Have tried a few different runs and oil temp is sitting about 3-4mm below the 12 o'clock sign, so gauge seems to indicate all is ok.. Will keep an eye on things. Cheers
 
playalistic said:
M has an oil temp gauge and the non M cars have an engine coolant gauge so they're monitoring different things for a start. With normal driving the M's oil temp gauge should be around somewhere between 11 & 12 o'clock position. However, it does take some time to fully warm through depending on the type of driving you're doing etc. I never rev the engine over 3000ish until it is fully warmed through in sympathy for the VANOS.
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You can get the coolant temp via the intravee, so it says anyway.
 
Check the water level. Mine was sitting about 12 o'clock position and i was low on water!!! Sits between 10-11
 
mmm-five said:
Never seen it go more than about the 11 o'clock position, whether during spirited driving or stuck in traffic.
Click to expand...

+1 or 12 oclock (90C I think) or just a tuch above during track driving the whole day on a hot day.
 
Have checked the water level which looked fine and after a few normal runs mine sits at 2mm less then the 12o'clock. I remember it sitting between the 10-11 mark also, so mine is getting too hot.

Will drop into BMW tomorrow and see what they say.
 
mine seems to never move from pointing directly up, whether that be driving around town (stuck in traffic at 2mph) or a steady 85mph for 2 hours on motorway, hoping that is normal.........
 
playalistic said:
M has an oil temp gauge and the non M cars have an engine coolant gauge so they're monitoring different things for a start.
Click to expand...
This. Arsing around with thermostats and coolant levels will make little difference to the oil temperature. ///M has no coolant temperature gauge -- if it gets too hot a light comes on.
 
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