528 / 1998 - overheating

[tem m. radovici]

Hi all;
Can we get some help with an advice, please?

1 We own a 528i / 1998, currently with slightly over 100,000 miles. Last August, the coolant temperature needle went to red for a second or two and the needle returned to ½ mark, soon after. The following day, my wife took the car to BMW Dealer and the technician checked the fluids, added little coolant and she was told that as long the needle returns to ½ mark we do not have any problem. The BMW Dealer is Park Ave. Motors Corp. in Maywood, NJ.

2 We’ve continued using the car with the needle going occasionally to red and back to normal for a while, until one day it stayed longer that few seconds to red and the thermostat blew off. With the thermostat replaced, we drove the car for about three weeks until the needle went to red and we towed it to the Dealer.

3 The Dealer checked the coolant system, sought it was clogged and cleaned it, inspected the original water pump and found nothing wrong with it, checked the car’s smoke for oil consumption and we were told that there are no problems (first time).

4 However, three weeks later same problem occurred and the BMW Dealer’s diagnostics were again the same, everything OK. At this point, the Dealer performed an oil change to the car (second time).

5 Three weeks later we were again at the Dealer, with the car towed, the results being the same (third time).

6 After another three weeks, by mid December 2004, while I was driving the car the saga repeated itself. That was the forth time the needle went to hot after the Dealer told me it is nothing wrong with the car. I thought it seemed little too much (fourth time).

The Dealer towed the car to its repair facility, gave us a loaner car and kept our 528 until mid January 2005. At this time, we were told that the cylinder head went bad and the cost of repairs amount above $5,400.00. How do we swallow it? I’m aware that the trade in value of a similar car is not much above that figure! Does the Dealer have some liabilities? How should we approach this issue?

7 Currently the car is not drivable; the coolant needle goes to red after two blocks. The car is currently with the Dealer. What should we do?

Thanks, Ted

[4-Door Flunky]

Hi, Ted-
If this were an older car like mine, I'd suspect the fan clutch. The fan doesn't need to be turning when you're going down the highway, because there's enough air coming through the grille to cool the motor.
When you're toodling around in traffic, the fan needs to be turning. The fan clutch engages at low rpms and kicks off at higher ones.
Was your car getting hot in traffic? Or did it happen when you were flying down the highway?
Flunky
PS-In any case, it seems your dealer's 'advice' was incompetent.