S50 water temperature issue

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  • M3PO
    E30 Addict
    • May 2012
    • 537

    #1

    S50 water temperature issue

    Hey guys, so I'm trying to sort out whether my water temps are good or not.

    My S50 came from a car that appeared to be well maintained. It had 113k on it and seemed to have a new rad, hoses, water pump, and thermostat housing (thermostat also I am assuming, no clue if it's 80 or 88).

    I used all of the stuff from that car. I added a Spal fan in front of the rad wired to the aux fan wiring utilizing the stock resistor. I put an 80/88 switch in the rad. To do that, I had to re-wire the plug because the early cars (mines an 84) used two separate switches.

    Using a late model M20 bottle on the drivers side so it should be well bled.

    E30 sensor for the cluster. For the first couple weeks it ran at about the middle of the gauge. It would creep up a little but until the fan came on (on high) and the fan would bring it back to the middle and shut off.

    All of the sudden, it seems to run/operate exactly the same except now it's moved up a notch. Now it runs at 3/4 on the gauge. Is the sensor bad or what?
  • M3PO
    E30 Addict
    • May 2012
    • 537

    #2
    I should also mention that the fan never comes on low unless I hit the AC button on the dash.

    Comment

    • M3PO
      E30 Addict
      • May 2012
      • 537

      #3
      Last night I went to a movie and the temp went almost to the red. Came out of the movie, drove it home and it stayed at the middle. Same thing this morning, right in the middle. WTF is going on here?

      Comment

      • 328ijunkie
        Forum Sponsor
        • May 2007
        • 3961

        #4
        sounds like coolant circulation problem

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        Comment

        • M3PO
          E30 Addict
          • May 2012
          • 537

          #5
          So I installed a VDO aftermarket sender and gauge this weekend. It seems to be running around 195-205. That seems pretty normal right? OEM dummy gauge still running around the middle.

          Comment

          • burlmays9
            Wrencher
            • Jan 2012
            • 227

            #6


            Your OEM gauge is probably right.

            I also agree with 328iJunkie.

            Comment

            • mpowerful
              E30 Fanatic
              • Jul 2013
              • 1273

              #7
              Mine runs between middle and 3/4 all the time in new orleans heat. It could prob be better as one of my heater hoses is pinched because i hacked em in due to not having the correct ones for the swap. I actually ordered new hoses and may put em in this weekend. Anyway so far 3/4 is what it says on heat soak when i turn the key on after sitting for few mins hot and before starting and recircing cooler coolant from radiator. Oem m20b25 late radiator. Euro fan/540 clutch. M52 water pump and oem thermostat.

              Comment

              • M3PO
                E30 Addict
                • May 2012
                • 537

                #8
                Originally posted by burlmays9

                Your OEM gauge is probably right.

                I also agree with 328iJunkie.
                Thanks, so you think 200F is not okay? The E36 M3 forums suggest that 200 is normal.

                Comment

                • 328ijunkie
                  Forum Sponsor
                  • May 2007
                  • 3961

                  #9
                  Originally posted by mpowerful
                  Mine runs between middle and 3/4 all the time in new orleans heat. It could prob be better as one of my heater hoses is pinched because i hacked em in due to not having the correct ones for the swap. I actually ordered new hoses and may put em in this weekend. Anyway so far 3/4 is what it says on heat soak when i turn the key on after sitting for few mins hot and before starting and recircing cooler coolant from radiator. Oem m20b25 late radiator. Euro fan/540 clutch. M52 water pump and oem thermostat.
                  Which 540 clutch are you using? Most of them lockup way too late as the v8s run ~215+ on average.

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                  OBD2 Tuning Available! OBD2 E36, S54 Swap, S62 Swap, etc: tuning@MarkertMotorWorks.com Dyno Thread

                  Comment

                  • mpowerful
                    E30 Fanatic
                    • Jul 2013
                    • 1273

                    #10
                    E39. Havent had any serious issue yet. I can put an e36 clutch on it. It seemed stouter than the e36 one i took off but alas it was a free new clutch.

                    Comment

                    • MyE30
                      Grease Monkey
                      • Sep 2013
                      • 326

                      #11
                      Originally posted by M3PO
                      Thanks, so you think 200F is not okay? The E36 M3 forums suggest that 200 is normal.
                      FWIW, on my s52 I've never had the needle on the temp gauge go above halfway during normal operation. However, one time when the fuse for the electric fan popped, the gauge went to 3/4 while I was sitting in an In and Out drive through on a day when it was about 90 degrees outside.

                      S52
                      88c thermostat
                      80/88 thermoswitch
                      16" SPAL pusher

                      Comment

                      • nrubenstein
                        No R3VLimiter
                        • Feb 2009
                        • 3148

                        #12
                        The stock thermostat is 92C.

                        If your fan is not running at absolutely all times, you have an issue with your cooling fan circuit. (I like the flex-a-lite controller.) Also, if you still have the AC condenser installed, a pusher basically doesn't do shit.
                        2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
                        2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
                        1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
                        1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
                        - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
                        1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
                        1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

                        Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
                        Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

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                        Comment

                        • M3PO
                          E30 Addict
                          • May 2012
                          • 537

                          #13
                          Originally posted by nrubenstein
                          The stock thermostat is 92C.

                          If your fan is not running at absolutely all times, you have an issue with your cooling fan circuit. (I like the flex-a-lite controller.) Also, if you still have the AC condenser installed, a pusher basically doesn't do shit.
                          My fan doesn't run unless the car is at full temperature and sits still for ~5 mins (like in traffic). Then the needle goes a bit above the middle and the fan comes on. The fan is easily able to bring the temp down then shuts off.

                          No AC condenser. With the fan on and the door open, I can feel the fan pushing hot air under the car! :-D

                          Comment

                          • mpowerful
                            E30 Fanatic
                            • Jul 2013
                            • 1273

                            #14
                            So I got the pyrometer out today when I got to the shop. I drove about 3 miles to get there and measured with A/C on and off. I think off was probably the most important. Anyway I got 210 at the upper radiator hose actually on the radiator where it spills out. I got no more than about 185 on the aluminum housing for the thermostat. I got 195 on the upper hose. I got 155-165 on lower passenger side of radiator and hose. I let it idle for 20 minutes like that.

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