Overheating issue?

Finally got around to givin the e36 a big service yesterday as I have NCT coming up and putting the car bak on the road after the service I went for a drive as it wasn't driven in awhile (2months), wasn't drivening the car long and the engine bay seemed very hot for the length of driving I gave it. Temp gauge was sitting halfway and driving seemed normal, but I think it's defiantly overheating the car was sitting hot in the garage for a good bit after the drive aswel.. Anyone here have this happen to them or is this normal for the e36.?

thermostack sticking closed? happened to me

Big job? Will I need to replace the thermostat so and hopefully that should do :) ?

25 minutes i had mine taken out, take rad out makes life 100 times easier

Sweet :) thanks man, would I be better off changing water pump while I'm at it.? Would it make cooling better if I do both

Dont just go changing parts for the sake of it (though a new w pump and stat wont hurt it) diagnose the problem. Why is it getting hot? Does she have a n electric or viscous fan?

Viscous fan, I can spin it freely each way with my hand, maybe change out for electric?

Decided last nite to bleed out the cooling system, was air blocked very badly really took a long time till I got a nice solid flow, maybe this will help a lot ?!

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Originally Posted by murphykidd

Decided last nite to bleed out the cooling system, was air blocked very badly really took a long time till I got a nice solid flow, maybe this will help a lot ?!

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Yes, If there was a lot of air in it that'll cause it to get hot.

I once bought an E36 with 'Headgasket' gone cause it used overheat quickly, Bled the system properly and it was 100% again.

Hopefully that will do the trick for me :) to bleed it I let unscrews the bleed screw and let the car run idle and it's seemed to be clearing up nicely and the fan kicked in then.. Is that the right way ? Never bled one before like so I was guessing I done it some bit right?

Set the blower to max temp while the car is idling to help drive the air out. Then once you're happy, tighten bleed screw and take it for a spin. Repeat the process again and should be fine !

Also as it's an e36 raise the front of the car up while bleeding.

Thanks lads :) I'll give it another go tonight see if anymore air drives out of it