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m78 · Last edited by m78 on Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:34 am; edited 1 time in total

Solved. coolant was still low, not much, but enough to not circulate enough. Slowly added about 3/4 gallon and it bled correctly.

Installed new radiator, coolant seems to be coming up to the thermostat and then doesn't go past that point. So the coolant doesn't leak out of the bleed valve.

This can't be the thermostat, I just replaced that several months ago and it was working fine before the radiator broke.

temp gauge gets to a quarter hot, and then I turn the engine off because I don't want to do any damage, but the coolant should be circulating by that time...right?
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles

Top Speed 220 km/h

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85-325e · Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Posts: 4712 Location: Southampton, NY

M... you went through this not long ago.

Either the water pump isn't circulating or there's way too much air in the system.

When was the last time the timing belt/water pump was changed? How many miles are on that water pump? It also occurred to me that you were missing pieces of the radiator hose thing, and perhaps one jammed the water pump.

When you changed the radiator, did you drain the engine block too using the plug on the side???

After doing the radiator, how much anti-freeze did you put into the system?

I'm wondering if you have another air block in there...

Is the thermostat installed in the correct direction???
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

jlevie · Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 553 Location: Huntsvile, AL

The bleed valve is on the block side of the thermostat, so if you aren't getting fluid out of it, the bleed port is plugged or you haven't filled the block with coolant.

If the car has the standard 80C thermostat it is only just beginning to to open, if at all, by the quarter point on the gauge. You have to let the gauge get a bit higher for the thermostat to be open, closer to the half way point than to the quarter mark.
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