Official Normal operating temp.

[bmwpower603]

Was doing some city driving with stop and go lights. Hopped on the highway. And noticed my temp gauge was well over half way. . Roughly a quarter past half way mark. I tried to pick up speed fast. Incase it was trying to overheat..

I couldn’t pull up the hidden screen in time to see the elevated temperature.


Does anyone know bmws official normal allowable temperature range?


Here’s a pic. It was a little more passed that mark. If I had to guess it was prob 100-105c

I’m going to check ista and see if I can find an answer as well.

How long do these cooling systems last? 100k?

[SAMM3Y]

Mine hit 228 f the other day when ambient temp was 103 doing 75-80mph, radiator temp was about 170 f.

[bmwpower603]

Hey Sammey,

Thanks for the reassurance. Not sure how to check the rad. I just ran ista on it. No coolant faults. But have some other issues. Lol

[SAMM3Y]

I put a temp sender in the drain plug for the radiator.. on that same hot day on a 30 mile highway drive it was 165-170.

[roastbeef]

Coolant temperature sensor has gone bad to a few guys on here and shows temps at something like 400°. Might be the problem if oil temp isn't high. They are somewhat sympathetic of each other.

[AC/DC]

I've got all upgraded CSF coolers and I was running 220-240 degrees during my drive today on Skyline Drive. Outside temps in the low 90s and I was running it pretty hard second and third gears for a couple of hours, along with the a/c.

[Get lit]

in 90 degree weather and stop and go traffic or running the car hard its normal to see your oil temp around 220. winter months it will run about 10 degrees cooler than it does in the summer. I've seen oil temps upward of 240 before running the car hard.

I did my water pump and thermostat close around 95k, nothing was wrong with it but decided it was a good idea to go ahead and put a new one in. also did all idler pulleys and tensioners.

OP, your oil level is at the max mark. FYI.... normal oil level should be between the max and min mark.

[bmwpower603]

Originally Posted by Get lit

OP, your oil level is at the max mark. FYI.... normal oil level should be between the max and min mark.

Well it’s technically a little below the max line isn’t it?

Either way. That’s how I got the car back since doing the rod bearings.

And it hasn’t moved. Which is a good sign. I’m not burning to much oil.

[bmwpower603]

Originally Posted by MBimmer2011

I've got all upgraded CSF coolers and I was running 220-240 degrees during my drive today on Skyline Drive. Outside temps in the low 90s and I was running it pretty hard second and third gears for a couple of hours, along with the a/c.

Your crazy for running it hard with the A/C.

My a/c wasn’t even on. And it prob hit 230...

Is it often that the oil temp goes up, but the coolant temp stays the same. Or when one goes up, the other does as well?

[pbonsalb]

Your oil is fine at 250F. Oil is likely to run hotter than coolant if you are running hot. There is s thermostatically controlled oil cooler but no fan dedicated to it. The coolant has a thermostat and radiator and a fan dedicated to it.

[exVtekGuy]

Originally Posted by bmwpower603

Your crazy for running it hard with the A/C.

My a/c wasn’t even on. And it prob hit 230...

Is it often that the oil temp goes up, but the coolant temp stays the same. Or when one goes up, the other does as well?

i thought the ac turns off automatically whenever you are running hard?

[pbonsalb]

Might just be full throttle that disengages the alternator and ac.

[serranot]

Originally Posted by bmwpower603

Well it’s technically a little below the max line isn’t it?

Either way. That’s how I got the car back since doing the rod bearings.

And it hasn’t moved. Which is a good sign. I’m not burning to much oil.

Technically it never goes all the way to the top. That little triangle is the top. Your oil is at max level.

[Ajolives]

Try bleeding your coolant system, I got my running temp around 190-200 degrees in the Florida summer w/ air con on.

[Alexand3r]

That is pretty normal. BMW even changed the temperature gauge on the F30/F80 series, because a lot of people were concerned about the oil temperature going over the "normal" half way position, just like you. Now the half way is 120°C/250°F. That temperature is fine for the oil, you shouldn't worry. Also, don't compare coolant temp to oil temp. They are VERY different things, operating in different way.

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by serranot

Technically it never goes all the way to the top. That little triangle is the top. Your oil is at max level.

it does go all the way to the top..

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

it does go all the way to the top..

It does...OP check the manual here: https://www.m3post.com/goodiesforyou/e92-m3-manual.PDF, page 203. (as shown also says ">Max" when overfilled. Personally love to have it topped up like yours.

When it comes to temp just over 100C I wouldn't worry. Plenty threads on this subject which I'm sure will reassure you that you're fine.

[AC/DC]

Originally Posted by exVtekGuy

i thought the ac turns off automatically whenever you are running hard?

Nope. She ran nice and cool at 62 degrees.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Ajolives

Try bleeding your coolant system, I got my running temp around 190-200 degrees in the Florida summer w/ air con on.

It’s high mount tank so it’s self bleeding.

[serranot]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

it does go all the way to the top..

Hm. Okay, for clarity if it's at the top it's overfilled.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by MBimmer2011

Nope. She ran nice and cool at 62 degrees.

The cutout is somewhere between 80% and full throttle. AC was working when you were under than and not working when over, but since it’s hard to maintain that sort of throttle level for long on public roads, you probably did not notice.

[amrazM]

Oil is usually 225-230 when beating the car with upgraded cooling, the coolant is around 185-190