06 325i overheating

froman · 06-20-2010, 10:55 PM

It was very hot in Houston today! I was driving to my Mom and Dad's house for Father's Day this morning, about 40 miles away. I was just a couple of miles from their house when bam! yellow temp warning, then two seconds later bam! red temp warning and the car goes into limp mode. Luckily, I'm right at the freeway exit, so I turn off the AC and turn the heater up to max and creep the last two miles to their house. When I get there, I pop the hood and the fan is still running full blast. I see a bunch of coolant has leaked out from under the pressure cap, with coolant all over the wheel well. I let it cool down for an hour or two then open the pressure cap. I put about half a gallon of 50/50 coolant/ water mix into the overflow reservoir. We decide to press our luck and head back home. On the way home, same thing- after driving at 75-80 MPH for 30-35 minutes, bam! yellow bam! red. Limp home once again, pop hood, lots of coolant leaked out from under the cap.
My question is: is this just a simple matter of a failed pressure cap? I sure hope so! What else could cause the coolant to blow out from under the cap like that? I figure a stuck thermostat or blown water pump would cause overheating much faster than 35 minutes in 100 degree weather. I don't see any coolant leaking under the car when parked.

Chriztofor · 06-20-2010, 11:42 PM

It is either the water pump or thermostat. See my sig, it should be throwing a code.

froman · 06-20-2010, 11:50 PM

Thanks. After more searching and digging, I see that could actually be the case.

RomanWilson · 10-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Hey, What ended up happening here? And more importantly, what was the cost?
I'm encountering the same issue.

Thanks,
Roman

Chriztofor · 10-11-2010, 03:19 PM

^ I thought you were encountering a coolant fan issue? Now it's your water pump and thermostat?! That sux.

FVM3 · 10-11-2010, 03:32 PM

my friend's 328i got overheating on the freeway while cruising at 90mph

06-20-2010, 10:55 PM	#1
froman Private First Class 16 Rep 178 Posts Drives: 2008 550i Sport Space Gray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	06 325i overheating It was very hot in Houston today! I was driving to my Mom and Dad's house for Father's Day this morning, about 40 miles away. I was just a couple of miles from their house when bam! yellow temp warning, then two seconds later bam! red temp warning and the car goes into limp mode. Luckily, I'm right at the freeway exit, so I turn off the AC and turn the heater up to max and creep the last two miles to their house. When I get there, I pop the hood and the fan is still running full blast. I see a bunch of coolant has leaked out from under the pressure cap, with coolant all over the wheel well. I let it cool down for an hour or two then open the pressure cap. I put about half a gallon of 50/50 coolant/ water mix into the overflow reservoir. We decide to press our luck and head back home. On the way home, same thing- after driving at 75-80 MPH for 30-35 minutes, bam! yellow bam! red. Limp home once again, pop hood, lots of coolant leaked out from under the cap. My question is: is this just a simple matter of a failed pressure cap? I sure hope so! What else could cause the coolant to blow out from under the cap like that? I figure a stuck thermostat or blown water pump would cause overheating much faster than 35 minutes in 100 degree weather. I don't see any coolant leaking under the car when parked.
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06-20-2010, 11:42 PM	#2
Chriztofor Colonel 103 Rep 2,783 Posts Drives: '06 325i and '13 X5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (1)	It is either the water pump or thermostat. See my sig, it should be throwing a code. __________________ If no codes are being thrown use Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner (concentrate). It solves rpm fluctuating upon cold start-up. Also, for most BMW problems start off by scanning your car with the Peake Research Tool. It contains the actual BMW codes. If you want to register a newly installed battery for free (just buy a $10 cable) and google/download BMWLogger
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06-20-2010, 11:50 PM	#3
froman Private First Class 16 Rep 178 Posts Drives: 2008 550i Sport Space Gray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Thanks. After more searching and digging, I see that could actually be the case.
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10-11-2010, 02:58 PM	#4
RomanWilson Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Hey, What ended up happening here? And more importantly, what was the cost? I'm encountering the same issue. Thanks, Roman
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10-11-2010, 03:19 PM	#5
Chriztofor Colonel 103 Rep 2,783 Posts Drives: '06 325i and '13 X5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (1)	^ I thought you were encountering a coolant fan issue? Now it's your water pump and thermostat?! That sux. __________________ If no codes are being thrown use Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner (concentrate). It solves rpm fluctuating upon cold start-up. Also, for most BMW problems start off by scanning your car with the Peake Research Tool. It contains the actual BMW codes. If you want to register a newly installed battery for free (just buy a $10 cable) and google/download BMWLogger
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10-11-2010, 03:32 PM	#6
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	my friend's 328i got overheating on the freeway while cruising at 90mph
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