Engine Cooling problem
1988 BMW 530 Two Wheel Drive Manual
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a friend is having problems with an 1988 bmw he recently bought. the engine is overheating and pressurising the coolant system which then empties through the tank and brings up the coolant level warning on the dashboard. the radiator appears to be new and hot at the top, cool at the bottom suggesting it is working, the thermostat has been removed leading him to suspect previous owner, who has magically disappeared, knew about this problem. the oil is not emulsified so he does not think it is the head gasket but he does not know what else to try.

Reinstall a thermostat, bleed the air from the system by loosening the screw on top of the thermostat housing during filling, and then the cooling system can properly perform it's job. BMW designed the cooling system to be dependent on the thermostat being in place for coolant flow to carry away the heat of the engine.