M10 overheating PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[85.318i]

okay so ive got an 85' 318i and has been overheating ever since its gotten cold out. ive looked in the radiator several times and have to top it off with coolant. i have NOT let it reach over half way on the gauge so hopefully no major damage has been done to the block or head. My heat on the car also does not work, not sure if that has anything to do with this. UGH!!! my lexus is down now too with a spun bearing so im really hoping for an easy fix. maybe a new thermostat, radiator, or radiator cap?

[oliver.r]

do you see any leaking coolant? your heater valve must be closed shut.
you would have a wet passanger floor and that would explain the loss of coolant

[85.318i]

do you see any leaking coolant? your heater valve must be closed shut.
you would have a wet passanger floor and that would explain the loss of coolant

yes!the floor is wet actually. i was wondering how it got wet last night. i tried smelling it to see if it was coolant but couldnt get a good wif. any links or tutorials on how to fix this? i really dont want to have it hauled somewhere to have it fixed. i have very little $ in my pocket and in the car.

also i just tried it again and the top tube out of the radiator is hot while the lower stays cold...

[85.318i]

okay so im looking into the work needed to do the heater valve and i noticed i start by removing the upper hose in the engine bay... Well i mine is cut and have no idea where its supposed to lead.

[oliver.r]

yes!the floor is wet actually. i was wondering how it got wet last night. i tried smelling it to see if it was coolant but couldnt get a good wif. any links or tutorials on how to fix this? i really dont want to have it hauled somewhere to have it fixed. i have very little $ in my pocket and in the car.

also i just tried it again and the top tube out of the radiator is hot while the lower stays cold...

I don't know of any diys.
if the bottom hose stayes cold then your thermostat is no good

[85.318i]

okay thank you Oliver! im going to pull my hoses from the radiator and run a garden hose through the top to see if the radiator is clogged first

[thebutterson]

Nothing wrong with the coolant guage getting to the halfway mark, but you should fix your coolant loss issue. If you're having trouble with the heather core you can loop the hoses so that the coolant bypasses the core. Lots of people do it but it results in a nonfunctional heater.

[ButtJuice]

Buy a new heater core.