1996 318i overheating problems

[kjr525]

I was just wondering if anybody else has ever had an overheating problem with this model of car. It only seems to happen when I sit idle in a drive thru. It will overheat, but then once I let the car sit for fifteen minutes it goes back to normal and then runs great for 4-6 weeks and then i'll go through another drive thru and it happens again. I just took my car on a 400 mile road trip with no problems, but the 10 mile trip to Taco Bell is killing my car. My mechanic is as baffled as I am. Any insight would be appreciated .

Thanks
Very Frustrated BMW Owner

 

[echothreezero]

Check the clutch on your fan. They are prone to fail. When you are moving you have the air from your movement blowing over the radiator. When stationary or at low speeds you rely 100% on your fan. If the clutch has gone maybe it isn't spinng anywhere near as fast as it should be. They are a viscous clutch. When the car is off you should be able to turn the fan by hand, but it sghould stop turning pretty smartly if you give it a flick and let go. If it keeps spinning after a flick the clutch has gone.

Or it could be a faulty waterpump that is keeping up OK when the water is quite cold (the car is moving) but does not pump enough volume when the car is stopped and the water temp goes up a bit.

Finally your car is an e36, not an e21 or e30 so technically this is the wrong forum for you, but do not worry! We don't bite, but the e36 guys might know of something we e30 fullas don't.