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If your coolant temp reads at the 1/2 mark ALL the time and isn't taking longer than normal to warm up to 1/2, then your thermostat is fine as long as it isn't leaking, which would be easy to see the leak all over the front of your engine.
Also, you should get a check engine light for abnormal Tstat behavior, like taking too long to open, or getting stuck open or stuck closed.
On the M54 I'd suspect radiator or expansion tank. And at your mileage, or is it kilometerage?, if the hoses haven't been replaced, I'd replace them at the same time as the offending part. See the other many cooling system threads going on right now...
And regarding the bleed hole...that just goes back into the expansion tank, you have a closed cooling system. If your bleeder screw is leaking, replace it, problem solved.
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Olympic Peninsula, WA, USA
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2005 Mini Cooper 100k, British Racing Green/Silver-Black
04/2002 4.6is 140k, Silver/Black-Alcantara *FOR SALE*
1989 325iX 270k, Diamond Black/Black
1984 318i 370k *SOLD* (First Bimmer)
Honorable Mentions: '71 2002, '87 325, '90 325ic, '92 525it, '93 325i, '94 530i
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