[legaleye3000]

1. Coolant light kept going off but no leak was found. Dealer replaced the tank with the sensor.

2. Next day: Coolant light goes on immediately after turning car on, every time. Towards the end of the day, I notice that the engine sounds like its working hard.

-Also, the temperature gauge is higher than I have seen. It is 2 lines to the right of the "250". Its in the 1:00 ish position. Is this temperature normal?

Any comments would be appreciated (and the answer to the temperature question above). Thanks.

[sydande]

i think there is smthign wrong with it, the temperature is way too high for a 328, ive had a 328i xdrive as service replacement car and it runs at around 80.....and my 335 runs at around 120

[Frogman]

My F30 328i normalizes at 205 (right in the middle of 160 and 250) 99% of the time. It might climb to 220 or so on a really hot day and going up a really long hill. It has never hit 250.

You definitely need to take it in again ASAP. If it's a long distance to the dealer, I wouldn't drive it there, I'd have them put your car on a truck.

[legaleye3000]

I'm gonna try to drive it to the dealer. About 30 min drive... Think that's too long?

[legaleye3000]

I popped the hood and there is NO coolant in the tank!!! The dealership either forgot to put coolant in the tank after replacing it or there is a major leak. If I want to put coolant in my self, what do I buy and how much do I put in? I think you're supposed to mix it with distilled water...? Thanks.

[KarenD]

I would call BMW assist and have them tow it in! Which dealer are you taking it to?

[legaleye3000]

Vista pompano. Great guys over there... I just think my car may be a lemon. I'm gonna put some coolant in and drive it in ... They better have a loaner... I've been in so many times for a 4 month old car...

[KarenD]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck.

[DmitryF30]

There is a chance that while replacing the overflow reservoir they got air in the lines and did not properly bled them. When you put your heater setting to maximum heat and the temperature from the vent randomly varies from hot to cold and back to hot, there is a very good chance that you have air in the system. It shouldn't take you too long to do yourself prior to taking the car back to the dealer. Definitely worth a try:

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=689618


It states it in the post above, but you should never take off the radiator cap while bleeding the system - only the overflow tank.

Good luck.

[legaleye3000]

After popping the hood and seeing ZERO coolant in the tank, I decided to poor some in only to see everything draining completely to the floor! They just replaced the tank!

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by legaleye3000

After popping the hood and seeing ZERO coolant in the tank, I decided to poor some in only to see everything draining completely to the floor! They just replaced the tank!

Sounds like you need a different dealer.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by sydande

i think there is smthign wrong with it, the temperature is way too high for a 328, ive had a 328i xdrive as service replacement car and it runs at around 80.....and my 335 runs at around 120

I think you are talking Centigrade. The fellow with the heating issue is talking Fahrenheit. Cars usually function in the 160F to 230F heat ranges.

80C = 144F. 120C = 216F

[Rover]

Originally Posted by Frogman

Sounds like you need a different dealer.

Is that how you are to check if there is adequate coolant in the system?
In the past...on BMW's you checked it when the engine was cold...and checked it at the Radiator Cap.
An empty reservoir (especially if the car is not running) may mean nothing. The reservoir chamber in many cars is an expansion chamber.

[legaleye3000]

I also found the hose disconnected from the expansion chamber...