overheating issues...

[m30power]

A few weeks ago my 90' 325i began having overheating issues. While moving the temp gauge would read betwen 1/2-3/4. When I stop at a light it creeps up slowly. Sometimes nearly getting into the red but it had not gone that far until now. Then once I resumed moving again it would immediately go back down to between 1/2-3/4.

Well I let my friend borrow my car last night and he left it running in a parking lot, when he got back there was what seemed to be a steady stream of coolant soming out from the engine bay to the ground. The temp gauge was pinned to the top so he immediately shut it off! :hitler:

I let it cool down overnight and this AM it started and idled, but I know there is a problem. I went to open the hood and my plastic hood latch snapped off! Perfect timing right!!?

Any help would be awesome guys. 1st problem is getting the hood open haha.

[jlevie]

Getting the hood open is easier than you might think. Go the to front of the car and look through the grill, just a bit right of the radiator. You'll see a round hole with something that looks like a slot in it behind the hole. Stick a screw driver into the slot and twist. The hood will open.

If you can't find any leaks, the stream of coolant may have been from the overflow when the cap lifted. The first actions should be to replace the thermostat and probably the fan clutch. There is a good chance that overheat has damaged the head gasket. So watch for any of the classic signs of a damaged head gasket (white smoke, oil in the coolant, coolant in the oil, or air building up in the cooling system).