E34 520i 1989 model overheating

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   Hi hope someone can help. I have recently bought a 1989 520SEi auto 158000 miles. The car drives like a dream with a service history upto 114000 miles. however, we recently went to the lakedistrict and while travelling over a very very very steep pass in 1st gear ( wouldn'd go too well in 2nd, it was steep) the temp guage went up to the red (not into red). Once at the top we waited 15 mins and going down the otherside no problem , the temp dropped back to normal. It was ok until the 70 mile journey home ( a week later) having driven around the lakes for a week.  Towing a trailer tent it was great all the way until almost home and then an incline again caused it to go towards the red again. ( not the first incline on the journey) Is it due to slow moving and high revving and is it normal? In addition to the temp change it also seemed to lose power and the metal part of the gear stick (up to the T) was very hot (also the case after the pass journey). I have since checked water, oil and both are ok, also left it on tick over for 20 mins no change in temp.  HELP

Nick

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nick mcd Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 05-August-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5	Topic: E34 520i 1989 model overheating Posted: 23-August-2004 at 18:03
	Hi hope someone can help. I have recently bought a 1989 520SEi auto 158000 miles. The car drives like a dream with a service history upto 114000 miles. however, we recently went to the lakedistrict and while travelling over a very very very steep pass in 1st gear ( wouldn'd go too well in 2nd, it was steep) the temp guage went up to the red (not into red). Once at the top we waited 15 mins and going down the otherside no problem , the temp dropped back to normal. It was ok until the 70 mile journey home ( a week later) having driven around the lakes for a week. Towing a trailer tent it was great all the way until almost home and then an incline again caused it to go towards the red again. ( not the first incline on the journey) Is it due to slow moving and high revving and is it normal? In addition to the temp change it also seemed to lose power and the metal part of the gear stick (up to the T) was very hot (also the case after the pass journey). I have since checked water, oil and both are ok, also left it on tick over for 20 mins no change in temp. HELP Nick

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Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Posted: 24-August-2004 at 00:03
	Hopefully this is just the fan coupling. The standard test seems to be, leave the car on tickover, let it get warm, roll up a newspaper, then carefully feed it into the fan. If the fan stops, coupling needs changing, if it shreds the paper, its ok. BE CAREFUL of course, dont want you losing any fingers here. You should have the M20 engine, like I have, and the worse case scenario is the head is failing. The tell tale sign of this for me was "rock hard" coolant pipes when the engine was hot and ticking over, feel them when cold, then compare them when hot, mine were so hard I couldnt compress them at all. Apart from that it could be anything inbetween, blocked rad, broken waterpump etc.
	Best Wishes Nigel

Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Posted: 24-August-2004 at 00:04
	Also, have you checked the gearbox oil ?
	Best Wishes Nigel