Overheating

Thrawn · #1 05-16-2021, 06:30 PM

So on a trip and currently headed home. I am about 4 hours away from home driving on the highway and get a message on the dash the car is hot and to drive slower or something like that. I get off within 1/2 mile and get the BimmerLink app up and check my temp. It is running about 243f i coast into a gas station. The temp keeps dropping. I decided to turn the heat on and see if I can get some water circulating through the heater core to drop the temp enough to check the coolant. The heater only is blowing cool air. After waiting until the temp is safe to check the levels, I find out it is a little low, maybe a little more than 1 qt. I add that and start the car and pull out of the station to see if it starts to get hot again. It climbs right back up to 240f as long as I give it any rpm about 1200. I stop again as to not damage the engine. It is still blowing cool air from the heater. I am guessing a thermostat failure. Any ideas? I am currently waiting to hear back from roadside to see about having it towed to the nearest dealer. Luckily that is only 5 miles from where I am located.

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Thrawn · #2 05-16-2021, 09:24 PM

I waited until it cooled down below 100f and then drove it 4 miles to a hotel. Temp didn’t get over 140. I am less than a mile from the bmw service center. I will drive it there first thing in the morning.

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Zulu95 · #3 05-16-2021, 10:47 PM

If it is the 3.0l engine then electric water pump/thermostat and or electric engine cooling fan would be my first suspects.

Thrawn · #4 05-16-2021, 11:21 PM

Thanks. The electric fan is Definitely working. It is keeping it from overheating at low rpm and low speeds. Not sure about the water pump. It might not be working correctly.

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Zulu95 · #5 05-17-2021, 06:20 AM

Help everybody help you and tell us what you drive.

The E70 and beyond use an electric water pump which is prone to failure. How many miles on your vehicle and how many miles on your pump? You really need to keep track of the pump "age".

Thrawn · #6 05-17-2021, 07:52 AM

I don’t know if it has ever been replaced. There is 93k on the car. I have had it since 89k

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Thrawn · #7 05-17-2021, 07:55 AM

Sorry I forgot to list the what it is... was a little stressed with the car packed and family setting along the highway asking what we are going to do.... 2013 x5 35i with the m sport package

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Zulu95 · #8 05-17-2021, 08:47 AM

Nice!
Water pump/thermostat are a 60k failure item. There is even a class action lawsuit relating to this. Both of our 3.0L, electric water pump engines have had the cooling system freshened. The 2015 M Sport had a different design of pump so I guess the lawsuit must have prodded BMW in the right direction there.
I would check around for an indy and buy the parts at FCP Euro to get their lifetime warranty.

Thrawn · #9 05-17-2021, 09:22 AM

Well this sux... bmw is swamped and out of loaner cars for this week and most of next week. It will also be a few days before they can even look at it... stranded at the dealership. Battery dead on phone, and have to find a car to get to the hotel then one to get home...

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Thrawn · #10 05-17-2021, 09:54 AM

This just keeps getting better and better. 0 car rentals in the entire Springfield Missouri area....

Currently plan looks like rent a uhual truck and I drive it home get our other car and drive back and pick up the family...

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