Is this for 4cyl engines too? My MOT is due in Feb and on one hand I'm confident car will pass nicely but on the other hand from what people are reporting with older e46 models I just don't know!
Thermostat E46 problem?
- Thread starter thepharcyde
- Start date
Is this for 4cyl engines too? My MOT is due in Feb and on one hand I'm confident car will pass nicely but on the other hand from what people are reporting with older e46 models I just don't know!
You more than likely have a problem, there was a design fault with some of the thermostats on earlier 6 cylinder E46 M3's, though I am not sure it impacted the 330 models. I had one fail on a 323 as I drove into London one evening for a Christmas bash and it started with the temp gauge moving around a bit like the OP outlines. I ended up having to get the car trailered to a garage, so my advice would be get it into the dealers for a check.
It is not normal as ALL of the 6 cylinder BMW's I have had have sat smack in the middle of the temp gauge once up to temp with no deivation, with the exception of the M3's.
It is not normal as ALL of the 6 cylinder BMW's I have had have sat smack in the middle of the temp gauge once up to temp with no deivation, with the exception of the M3's.
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
Supprise supprise "no fault found"
On the flip side, after telling them from day one from reviewing the service history with my car that one of the exhaust brackets was broken and marked as "advised". Specialist Cars Luton investigated and after speaking with Wollaston Motors said it was my driving style. Not having this Luton said it was possible the flap in the back box and replaced this under warranty. This did not sort it so the next option they said that they would swap the whole exhaust system off another 330. Got a call, please bring it in. I did, only to get a call stating that the doner car was an automactic and I would have to wait for a AUC to arrive which was a manual. A month past and Specialist cars have a franchise business in both Luton and Stevenage, one came in at Stevenage and at the time I specifically asked that if one came in stock from both branches, would they swap it with a car from Stevenage. I phone Luton when one came in stock which was Stevenage. Sorry Mr Gilbert we cannot take stock from another branch basically contradicting what I was told by the same person. Anyway today even though they were not meant to be looking at the exhaust guess what. We are replacing the downpipe and cat because a bracket is broken. In shock at the time, I have not said anything over the phone as the monkey on the end of the line knows jack about anything. But these cretins were told this from day one, why do they not do their job, and think maybe the customer is right?!?
So back to the themostat, BM have said it is normal, so should anything fail it should all be logged, but going by the exhaust situation above "customer is always right" they prob have not checked it properly.
They are also replacing the upper steering column, to fix the noise/juddering over uneven roads!
On the flip side, after telling them from day one from reviewing the service history with my car that one of the exhaust brackets was broken and marked as "advised". Specialist Cars Luton investigated and after speaking with Wollaston Motors said it was my driving style. Not having this Luton said it was possible the flap in the back box and replaced this under warranty. This did not sort it so the next option they said that they would swap the whole exhaust system off another 330. Got a call, please bring it in. I did, only to get a call stating that the doner car was an automactic and I would have to wait for a AUC to arrive which was a manual. A month past and Specialist cars have a franchise business in both Luton and Stevenage, one came in at Stevenage and at the time I specifically asked that if one came in stock from both branches, would they swap it with a car from Stevenage. I phone Luton when one came in stock which was Stevenage. Sorry Mr Gilbert we cannot take stock from another branch basically contradicting what I was told by the same person. Anyway today even though they were not meant to be looking at the exhaust guess what. We are replacing the downpipe and cat because a bracket is broken. In shock at the time, I have not said anything over the phone as the monkey on the end of the line knows jack about anything. But these cretins were told this from day one, why do they not do their job, and think maybe the customer is right?!?
So back to the themostat, BM have said it is normal, so should anything fail it should all be logged, but going by the exhaust situation above "customer is always right" they prob have not checked it properly.
They are also replacing the upper steering column, to fix the noise/juddering over uneven roads!
Last edited:
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
Just to summise my BMW ownership in 1.5 years
Mini Cooper S had the following mechanical fixed this is excluding any damage in their care which they have had to repaint etc!
1) Windscreen replaced.
2) Clutch
3) Flywheel
4) Gearbox
BMW 330 Auto which was rejected without the following attended too
1) Replace jacking blocks
2) Driver sun visor
3) Two front alloys
4) Rain sensor
5) Missing drivers airbag
6) Memory seats and mirrors
7) Seat belt tentioners
8) Rear screen
9) Both front window regs
10) Exhaust manifold gaskets
BMW Manual (current)
1) New back box
2) Front exhaust
3) Steering column
BMW frankly are crap. In comparison the Fords I have owned have been spot on.
Mini Cooper S had the following mechanical fixed this is excluding any damage in their care which they have had to repaint etc!
1) Windscreen replaced.
2) Clutch
3) Flywheel
4) Gearbox
BMW 330 Auto which was rejected without the following attended too
1) Replace jacking blocks
2) Driver sun visor
3) Two front alloys
4) Rain sensor
5) Missing drivers airbag
6) Memory seats and mirrors
7) Seat belt tentioners
8) Rear screen
9) Both front window regs
10) Exhaust manifold gaskets
BMW Manual (current)
1) New back box
2) Front exhaust
3) Steering column
BMW frankly are crap. In comparison the Fords I have owned have been spot on.
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
It is just so annoying. I was in work late today to bring the car in only to be told yet again, we will have to rebook as we have to order parts!
So again on Wednesday I am going to be late to work to take the car back in for them to replace the part of the exhaust where the exhaust bracket is broken despite telling them from day one of this. Two months later they have eventually opened their blinkered eyes and found the already diagnosed fault from another dealers which was logged on the service history!
So again on Wednesday I am going to be late to work to take the car back in for them to replace the part of the exhaust where the exhaust bracket is broken despite telling them from day one of this. Two months later they have eventually opened their blinkered eyes and found the already diagnosed fault from another dealers which was logged on the service history!
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
I am sorely tempted to swap it for a ST220 right now.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
You seem to have an extraordinary bout of bad luck, its really rather odd. I mean one lemon sure, but 3 in a row? 
Anyway. Your dealer is wrong, it is not normal. Go back and complain. If they persist, ask for a 5 minute test drive in a used car on their forecourt with the same engine.
Anyway. Your dealer is wrong, it is not normal. Go back and complain. If they persist, ask for a 5 minute test drive in a used car on their forecourt with the same engine.
In contrast there are many happy BMW owners here, including myself. You have just been seriously unlucky
Yeah, in nearly 2 years of owning a BMW diesel I've had to replace a propshaft doughnut and a cracked alloy. Pleasure-pain theory I guess
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
I checked the coolant level and cold it was on minimum. I went for a drive to Halfrauds to purchase some more antifreeze. Temp went to the middle after a mile 5 mins in slow traffic. 2 miles later and I put the heater on max, and it dropped slightly 3 mile journey to Halfords.
Got home 'carefully' removed filling cap and the reading is on max i.e. the yellow marker is out of the filling hole, cold it drops inside indicating according to the measure that it is on minimum.
Something I thought the garage would have checked? Anyway would low coolant level equal fluctuation in temp. It never goes above the half way point only slightly drops.
Sorry I know this has already been covered, but I want to get my facts right before I take it back on Wednesday for the other work to be attended too.
PS I have purchased some neat 'blue' Halfords own antifreeze. Current antifreeze is blue as well. Should I mix with distilled water, or will tap water/brita filtered water be okay?
Thank you
Got home 'carefully' removed filling cap and the reading is on max i.e. the yellow marker is out of the filling hole, cold it drops inside indicating according to the measure that it is on minimum.
Something I thought the garage would have checked? Anyway would low coolant level equal fluctuation in temp. It never goes above the half way point only slightly drops.
Sorry I know this has already been covered, but I want to get my facts right before I take it back on Wednesday for the other work to be attended too.
PS I have purchased some neat 'blue' Halfords own antifreeze. Current antifreeze is blue as well. Should I mix with distilled water, or will tap water/brita filtered water be okay?
Thank you
As I said above, you seem to be seeing the same problem that I had years back on a 323 I had, exactly, and that needed a new thermostat and radiator fitted and was acknowledged as a BMW fault of design. It will not get better, it will eventually fail you and rest assured, all my 6 cyliner BMW's bar the M3's never budged from the centre of the temp gauge once up to temp............EVER!
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
How can they say that it is normal?!? I have constant stress 24/7 driving the car, why if I have explained the above to the dealer do they then turn around and say it is normal. Even around town down, car gets upto temp, turn the heating on it drops.
Any suggestions. Would driving it out, then calling the BMW breakdown work. Would they have a thermostat and replace it at the roadside?
Any suggestions. Would driving it out, then calling the BMW breakdown work. Would they have a thermostat and replace it at the roadside?
Last edited:
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
BMW are coming out now to replace it 
they have told me it is not normal and is sticking open
they have told me it is not normal and is sticking open
- Joined
- 17 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 8,259
I explained to the operator that I had taken it into the dealers and they had said that it is normal. I said I am driving down the road and the car gets upto temp. As soon as I turn on the heater the temp drops.
Puts me on hold and speaks to BMW tech guy who covers my area. She came back and said the tech is in Harpendon, but has said that it is the thermostat is sticking open and thinks he has the part on board and will come and attend to me when he is done. Fingers crossed
Puts me on hold and speaks to BMW tech guy who covers my area. She came back and said the tech is in Harpendon, but has said that it is the thermostat is sticking open and thinks he has the part on board and will come and attend to me when he is done. Fingers crossed
