Cooling problems

[mchilli]

Hi all,

Just wanted to get some feedback on a problem I am having. 2003 X5 3.0 automatic. About 75K miles.

Temp gauge has been showing very close to the blue and only moves straight up when idling. When cruising it moves almost down to the blue (cold) setting. Also, it will peak to hot all the way into the red a little after starting. The car is nowhere near hot / over heating. Shut down the engine and the gauge resets itself. Engine is running cool with a stuck open thermostat (I think)

As for heat in winter, I am getting heat (not super hot). I checked the coolant level and it is ok.

I'm thinking 1) stuck open thermostat and 2) air in system. I don't notice any leaks of coolant. This is what I think is going on, but I'm not real familiar with the X5 yet.

Is the thermostat like the ones in the 5 series that will indicate a fault code if they fail (open) and is the air bleeding procedure also the same as that in the 5. I have a E39 and the service manuals so I can look at them for info on the 3.0 engine. Thanks for the help