Coolant gauge slightly past middle?

[Slideways]

I don’t know what part of Cali you’re in, but right now in Fresno it’s 71°, not exactly blistering weather. Even when it’s 100° out the coolant should be able to stay at the mid point.

I'm not in Fresno, but I did a trip a while back to Sacramento during the summer and outside temp was 105F crawling in traffic on the highway with the A/C on. It got between the middle and right dot until the A/C was shut off. The radiator and clutch fan are original at 150k, so probably not as efficient with some bent fins and debris in there. Still well within range and nothing to worry about. Under all other conditions, the temp needle stays to the left or in the middle.

[Anri]

Hi,

Now that these care are getting old and parts wearing out.

Most E46M3 owners never paid attention that the 15 years
old "Berh" fan clutch is not engaging...

The cool down is taken by the AC fan which has the variable speed and is
the one to cool down at low speed and around town is just good
enough to keep the "Step Gauge"in the center....but ones the engine
generates more heat via aggressive driving or excessive hot weather
then AC pusher is not enough..and needs help from the 420mm, 11 fan blade.

AC fan will work hard and when it burns is 4 times the cost of just
a fan clutch alone.

Genrally, fan clutch will get lazy engaging anything over 40k miles in
hot weather environment but again it depends the weather conditions..
in Alaska may survive 100k+ miles...

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards,
Anri

[Obioban]

Eh, I'd like to see a test of that - one with like new and one with original - and check the difference. I don't think PA sees the temps that central CA does, so you'd have to make the trip

It gets into the 100s here in summer.

[heinzboehmer]

I've driven in traffic on 105+ days with everything on and coolant temp has never gone up past the middle.

[Slideways]

Conditions vary. Normal operating range according to the owners manual:

"Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. The needle may rise as far as the edge of the red sector during normal operation."

[Obioban]

Conditions vary. Normal operating range according to the owners manual:

"Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. The needle may rise as far as the edge of the red sector during normal operation."

I’ve been driving an e46 M3 for 15 years/270,000 miles. I’ve tracked it in July in VA (109°). I’ve driven through Death Valley in the summer. It’s never done what you’re describing. What you’re describing is a cooling system that needs to be replaced as it is no longer performing like new.

[terra]

Conditions vary. Normal operating range according to the owners manual:

"Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. The needle may rise as far as the edge of the red sector during normal operation."

An alternative reading of that would be "We won't warranty anything for being within that range". Doesn't mean it's correct behavior. If it's rising above the mid point, something is not working properly.

[heinzboehmer]

An alternative reading of that would be "We won't warranty anything for being within that range". Doesn't mean it's correct behavior. If it's rising above the mid point, something is not working properly.

Yes, this.

Normal operating range != optimal operating range, especially as you start approaching the edges of said range.

[Slideways]

I’ve been driving an e46 M3 for 15 years/270,000 miles. I’ve tracked it in July in VA (109°). I’ve driven through Death Valley in the summer. It’s never done what you’re describing. What you’re describing is a cooling system that needs to be replaced as it is no longer performing like new.

I disagree. It functions within its designed range. I'd only replace it if it were a regular occurrence. So far, the other 1000+ times it has been driven since then, the temp has stayed below the middle or right at center.

[Obioban]

I disagree. It functions within its designed range. I'd only replace it if it were a regular occurrence. So far, the other 1000+ times it has been driven since then, the temp has stayed below the middle or right at center.

Your car, your choice, but tell others that that is normal/expected/healthy is misinforming them.

[Slideways]

Your car, your choice, but tell others that that is normal/expected/healthy is misinforming them.

It actually isn't according to the owner's manual.

[FBloggs]

I disagree. It functions within its designed range. I'd only replace it if it were a regular occurrence. So far, the other 1000+ times it has been driven since then, the temp has stayed below the middle or right at center.

The problem though is that the gauge is heavily damped to avoid freaking out the casual disinterested owner. They complain to the factory, when they see movement of the gauge needle. The factory avoids nuisance publicity.
So when there is abit of movement in the gauge, it doesn't really indicate how remarkable the delta is.
E36M3 were notorious for only comunicating when/after the head gasket was in trouble.

[Slideways]

The problem though is that the gauge is heavily damped to avoid freaking out the casual disinterested owner. They complain to the factory, when they see movement of the gauge needle. The factory avoids nuisance publicity.
So when there is abit of movement in the gauge, it doesn't really indicate how remarkable the delta is.
E36M3 were notorious for only comunicating when/after the head gasket was in trouble.

This isn't an E36 and there is a digital readout in the cluster.

[Obioban]

It actually isn't according to the owner's manual.

That doesn’t mean anything

[Obioban]

The problem though is that the gauge is heavily damped to avoid freaking out the casual disinterested owner. They complain to the factory, when they see movement of the gauge needle. The factory avoids nuisance publicity.
So when there is abit of movement in the gauge, it doesn't really indicate how remarkable the delta is.
E36M3 were notorious for only comunicating when/after the head gasket was in trouble.

E46 m3 coolant gauge is not buffered like e36 m3 or e46 non m. His issue is that his cooling system isn’t functioning as it should but he doesn’t want to hear it.