Engine running hot or gauge malfunction?

[Gray S.]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up a 91 318is and am in the process of going over the entire car. It has been very well taken care of, but like any 17 year old car needs a few things here and there. I have 1 pressing question about an issue that sort of worries me. In my 318, the car always seems to consistently run between the 12:00 line on the temp gauge, and the line immediately to the right of it. It never goes past this line or anywhere near the red, but no matter what my speed or how hard I drive it, the temp gauge will fluctuate a couple needle widths in between those two lines.

Is this something to worry about? Is it possible my gauge is just reading high? The hottest outside temp I have driven in yet would be right around 70degrees F. I did a search and everyone elses cars seem to run right at that 12 o'clock line or a bit lower. My car had almost the entire cooling system and headgasket replaced a little over 2 years ago, so I feel like everything should be in working order.

If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them so I can know if this is something I should worry about or not.

Thanks!

-Gray

[Zilla]

I get the same thing happening, where it moving slightly to the right of the "12" position. I have changed the thermostat, the fan clutch, the waterpump, did a coolant flush, all in the past 1000 miles, so I'm puzzled my self. No clue though if its harmful, does anyone know if its just a malfunction . I have another e30 different engine, the m40. It has never done this, it always hangs around the middle.

[D. Clay]

To be sure, put a surface pyrometer on the thermostat housing. Gauges vary from one to the other and also with SI board batteries. My car always ran at the 1/4 mark. After SI board batteries it runs at 12:00 mark.

[Jak318]

I would check the thermostat. There are a couple different temps you can get. Yours is probably the 88c instead of the 75c.

[hoevesruperd]

I get the same thing happening, where it moving slightly to the right of the "12" position.

same here! not sure what it says but i like to think its just because of a low level of coolant. maybe the temperature sensor is starting to go bad?

[batsbats]

I'm guessing for all year round warm weather, the 75c is a good idea?

I live in NJ, and just purchased a 318iS. This is also happening to me. I guess it's a good thing I'm not the only one..

[waldo]

I have the 88c thermostat (new) with a new waterpump and the needle stays at 12:00 to 12:15 mostly. It has gone to 5/8 once or twice, and I can slap the dash and it goes back to 12:00 :)

[PartsCar]

I have the 88c thermostat (new) with a new waterpump and the needle stays at 12:00 to 12:15 mostly. It has gone to 5/8 once or twice, and I can slap the dash and it goes back to 12:00 :)

i'm having the same issue as well. but not only is my temp gauge funky, but the fuel gauge acts up as well, as in, when I press the trip reset button it goes to the correct level, but when i release it it goes back to full. haha.

my trip and odo is busted as well, so now im just looking into a new cluster.