E46 M3 Running hot in traffic

[huggyST]

As above really, just noticed lately in the hot weather that when the car is in traffic the temp gauge rises quickly to above 3/4. One the car is moving again it sems to cool down again reletively quickly. Im useless with mechanicals so have no idea what it could be but am tempted to take it to a garage to have a look at.

Just wondering what you guys think could be the problem as none of my old cars have ever got hot, even in traffic.

Cheers

[Beedub]

is this water or oil temp??? i cant be sure but im sure my z4m doesnt have a water gauge.

[huggyST]

er, water i think- its the gauge on the far righthand side of the speedo binnacle

sorry cant remember off the top of my head

[asbo]

Sounds like water guage and sounds like you need to get it looked at PDQ.

Running hot is not something that these engines like.

[huggyST]

yeah i made sure i didnt rev the engine etc and got out of the traffic as soon as i could in order for it to cool down again.

its been fine today/yesterday but was getting hot during last weeks really hot weather

poss radiator or thermistat?

[asbo]

huggyST said:

yeah i made sure i didnt rev the engine etc and got out of the traffic as soon as i could in order for it to cool down again.

its been fine today/yesterday but was getting hot during last weeks really hot weather

poss radiator or thermistat?

What's the age/mileage of the car?

[huggyST]

02 with 69k on it now

only owned it 4 weeks

[Vixpy1]

The water temp guage should really never move. Get it looked at ASAP otherwise you run the risk of doing the headgasket

[huggyST]

yep thats what i thought.

I have booked it into a specialist for Friday

[Chris_H]

I had something similar on mine. Turned out it was the electric fan in front of the radiator seized.

[M3 HUG]

Chris_H said:

I had something similar on mine. Turned out it was the electric fan in front of the radiator seized.

How much did it cost to repair?

[Chris_H]

M3 HUG said:

Chris_H said:

I had something similar on mine. Turned out it was the electric fan in front of the radiator seized.

How much did it cost to repair?

I think it was about £500 in the end. I had it done by a local garage though who's labour charge is half that of BMW.