OVERHEATING PROBLEM
 

I have a 2001 X5 3.0i, It is overheating, not leaking coolant, I have replace the fan clutch and thermostat and it is still overheating except when I have the heater on. While I am driving if it begins to overheat I can turn the heater on and the temp. returns to normal. Anybody have any ideas?:dunno:

Does it happen when the vehicle is moving too, or only at low speeds / stationary?

While I'm driving and stationary.

It sounds like it's possibly the water pump. The oem one has plastic impeller blades that do occasionally fail. Next time you go to start your truck (cold start), first pop the hood and open the radiator cap. Start the X and go look into the opening in the expansion tank... you should see a stream of coolant pissing into the tank from right where the cap was. If not, have someone hit the gas for you as you still watch. If it doesn't have the flow stream pissing you have a water pump problem.

Mine only pisses when the heaters on. does the heater have a pump of its own??

Anyone

Yes, the heater has a small electric coolant pump.

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

it could be faulty sensor look into it