No heat anymore, car doesn't come up to temp while driving.

[ScHpAnKy]

how confident are you in the coolant temp sensor? I'm not sure how this is physically possible.

I realize it would not explain the lack of heat but it seems like what you're seeing on the gauge is perhaps not accurate. when the IR gun reads 180 all over, what's the gauge saying? I've found that the standard brown sensor in my S50 head combined with the cluster gauge is wonderfully accurate, showing a little cooler in winter and moving around the halfway mark as I cruise, hit traffic, ambient temp changes, etc. as compared with more modern cars "buffering" the signal.

sensor is brand new, at halfway it's a few ticks under 200 according to the block itself

Triple check your Hcore hoses. Sounds like theyre backwards for one. For two it sounds like your HG may be leaking.

double/trible/quadruple checked - keep in mind, I had heat until I had to remove the radiator and service some things - basically, now that it's back together no amount of bleeding gets me heat :-\

Also not losing any fluid

[MoreMayhem]

Move to a warmer climate where interior heat isn't needed? ;)

Seriously though, maybe there is a blockage somewhere? I don't know how you could even check for that, maybe by flushing the cooling system.

Edit: sorry, I missed that you had already flushed the system.

[schtozo]

When my coolant temp
Sensor was bad, the gauge used to stay in the bluezone. But then again this doesnt describe your problem but it wont hurt checking.

[5Toes]

Make sure your heater core is set to "full hot" while bleeding of course.

I cant think of anything else, lol

I use a pressure bleeding technique that costs a few bucks

[GunMetalGrey]

Did you buy the cheap thermostats?
Advance always seems to have like a 5 dollar one and a 15 dollar one. Friend of mine kept buying the 5 dollar ones and they were always garbage.

[eurosport22]

have you grabbed the valve at the heater core and had someone turn the heat selector knob back and forth to see it it opens?

[cormier]

Ya check heater core valve and connection

[ScHpAnKy]

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...20&hg=64&fg=15

#7... if that's busted, will that prevent coolant from going through the heatercore? I'm thinking if I can't bleed it further, that may be my issue.

[FredK]

Yes. If #7 does not open or isn't plugged in, it would cause coolant flow problems and the overheating symptoms you are describing.

[Cephas]

Triple check your Hcore hoses. Sounds like theyre backwards for one. For two it sounds like your HG may be leaking.

Sounds like a leaky head gasket to me as well.

[ScHpAnKy]

Sounds like a leaky head gasket to me as well.

I'm thinking it's the valve, compression is good and heater core hoses are dead on.

[E30_Doc]

I bet it's the valve... I had mine go and you wont get any heat... pretty easy to swap out another one after you remove all the trim pieces.

[328ijunkie]

I made a thread about the valve a while back... hrm wonder if i can find the URL

[328ijunkie]

Google is my friend ;) http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=203038
You should be able to test it.

[cormier]

If you do get another valve, get both pipes and those stupid square nuts and bolts new as well, they were a headache for me