Thermostat options...

[Psymon]

So I am starting to do some "freshening" up maintenance to my car and I would like to refresh the cooling system.

I have not had any issues to date with overheating or anything but not knowing too much of when it was last updated and I know the car had been sitting a good part of the last 10 years before I bought it last year.

I figured it is cheap insurance to change all the hoses and thermostat and flush the coolant system.

My question is being in the northeast what is the recommended temperature thermostat? 71,75, 80? I only drive the car between 60-90 degrees in temp.

thanks

[Napes]

I think you'd be fine w/ an 80º thermostat. Reminder to open the heater valve all the way, drain the block coolant at the same time, and I'd recommend using BMW coolant when you refill. Yea, it's a little more expensive, but how often do you do this. It'll result in less alum head corrsion in the long run. Just my 2¢ worth.

Bob Napier

[Psymon]

Thanks Bob. Good advice.

[MrSharky]

Just did this, Simon - went with a 71... I think for our driving conditions it doesn't matter all that much. Also, consider the silicon hoses - they're supposed to last a lifetime, and not that much more than the OEM tubes. And +1 on the BMW coolant - they have oodles of it at the dealership, and it's only 3 or 4 bucks more than the stuff at Pep Boys. Also - consider a new water pump while you're at it....

http://www.bmw2002.us/blog/2012/04/01/rainy-day-wrenching/

Matt

[JohnS]

I just reworked the cooling system on my daily driver '74 tii.

Here's what I went with:

Three row re-cored radiator from Silicon Garage.

New water pump.

New 360mm fan (was previously using tropical 400mm fan).

75 degree thermostat.

That combo works perfectly for me up in North/Central California. I tried an 80 degree thermostat 1st, but it ran a little too hot so I swapped in a 75 degree thermo. 80 degree would have worked fine had I kept the 400mm tropical fan.

[schwartzerritter]

early 70's we drilled small holes and circulated some water all the time.In South Dakota winters... Summer driving go coolest

[c.d.iesel]

80*C

11.53.1.253.249

SUGG LIST from your Conn. dealer $74.27

you do not want condensation buildup in your motor oil,

you want good MPS's, you want HEAT. you want

proper engine warm up - 80*C is what BMW specifies

for your year 2002

[cbgii]

Just ordered from BMW the 80CEL thermostat for my '77 320i - same part number, the price has dropped to about $28.00! Not sure if this means they outsourced the supplier or what - will look inside the box when it arrives and keep my fingers crossed!

[Napes]

One online BMW dealership says the P/N has been superceded to 11531468056, with a price of $19.69. I don't know who BMWs supplier is on these, but the same thermostat is used on a bunch of different Bimmers, clear up to, and including, 1987 735i.

Bob Napier

[JohnS]

I bought my new thermostats from Blunt's automated site (www.blunttech.com) for around $30 each. They are Wahler brand which I believe is the OEM supplier of thermostats to BMW. I thought it was funny because I could see where the little BMW logo on the thermostat had been ground off. I guess they cast them all with the BMW logo and then grind off the logo for the ones sold directly by Wahler...

[cbgii]

Well, my thermostat ordered from a BMW dealer showed up today - opened the box and it was a Vernet, was hoping it'd at least be a Whaler - guess that explains the price drop!