slight cooling problem.. please help

[Yeee30]

i finished my swap about a month ago and noticed that my temp gauge was a little above normal.

i swapped my car (94m50 vanos) with mostly all new parts.
-new m42 radiator
-new upper and lower radiator hoses
-new 80c thermostat
-new gaskets
-replaced the plastic thermostat housing
-50/50 mix
-autometer heater hose adapter
-new vdo temp gauge

and when i drive around town, the needle tends to stay two tick marks above 180F but is pretty steady

and it bothers me that my engine is running a tad bit too hot.

any suggestions?
thanks in advance.

[gregslow318i]

gauge is off, I have the same one and it ran in the same spot

[whiltebeitel]

200* F is not an abnormally high temp. I wouldn't be worried.

[Yeee30]

when should i start to worry about my temp?

[whiltebeitel]

210*F would have me worried if it was more then just a momentary jump after a hard run. These cars have 92*C (198*F) thermostats available, so 200*F is nothing to freak about.

[416stroker]

mine runs at 180-200.

edit:The only time I know my car overheated it was running at 230+ it started to puke out colant in the summer because my AFRs were off due to a cracked intake bellow.

[MattM]

on the stock e30 guage mine runs inbetween the center mark and the 3/4 mark. it varies a little depending on the driving, but never passes the 3/4

ever since i got twin 12" electrics on the front of my rad i havent been so worried about temps....