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Some BMWs get an overheating problem The 3 series E36 car is the one known for this trouble. The model most affected appears to be the 316 4 cylinder model. Made between 1996-1999 This three series BMW cars For Sale model at this time period had concerns with dodgy water pumps and head gaskets that weren’t made of the same stuff as some of the other gaskets made by BMW.

Drivers of this BMW age car heard their water pumps getting louder. This meant the plastic impellers inside the pump had probably snapped causing the cars to begin overheating. Although the pump was spinning, the water was not actually being pumped around the engine. Whenever the temperature gauge begins to move into the red, check the water pump first, especially if it starts to sound a little noisy. New water pumps are today made of metal to stop this initial problem.

If the engine still seems to be overheating and if the heater seems still be cold check the thermostat is opening properly and the system is clear of any blockages. It has been thought that the BMW 3 series system seems to require constant topping up of water with no visible signs of the water leaking from anywhere.

Some garages will tell you it is the head gasket that is at fault or maybe the head is gone. After people have changed the head gaskets, they find that this still has not solved the problem. Thermostat housings can also be at fault occasionally. The thermostat houses are known to slightly warp, enabling a slight gap for air to be drawn in. An airlock can then occur, causing the water to stop flowing around the engine. The fault is also a little difficult to establish even when the engine has been pressure tested.

So the best thing is to check the thermostat housing as one of your first ports of call, so money is not wasted on costly head gasket changes. Change any rubber hoses that could seem doubtful at the same time as this could lead to other leaks in the system. Later 3 Series and BMW 5 Series rarely suffered from these faults.

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