[bazz780]

Hey guys,

After getting low running temps and long warm up times i decided to change the egr thermostat, ordered original from cotswold bmw with forum discount,

I followed an online guide which was pretty straight forward and will take the car out for a spin later to see if the temp holds on a long run, previously i was getting 60 degs on the motorway and approx 80 on local runs.

The one i removed from the car was run under a cold tap and still let me blow straight through it (safe to say it was stuck completely open)

Car has only done 66k miles so hopefully wont need main thermostat changing

Will update soon

[WRichieX]

Were you able to do this without changing the water pump? I need to replace mine and thinking of tackling it myself.

[Ajs_435d]

You temperature should be 90s to mid 90s depending on driving, current team is still too low change coolant thermostat.

[Digitalize]

Can change an EGR stat without even topping up the fluid, it's at the top of the system.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by WRichieX

Were you able to do this without changing the water pump? I need to replace mine and thinking of tackling it myself.

Neither thermostat requires water pump to be removed etc, this was the egr thermostat which is at the top of egr cooler, very straight forward to replace and hardly lost any coolant whilst changing

Best way to tell if yours is defective is take it out and blow throught it, if you can easily blow through it means its stuck open, this is because once it is removed it should be cold and should be closed inside

Hth

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by ajs_335d

You temperature should be 90s to mid 90s depending on driving, current team is still too low change coolant thermostat.

Those temperatures were with old egr stat in the car, i read that if egr stat is stuck open it contributes to lower operating temperatures so worth testing/changing first, although not expensive @ 43.66 delivered, i didnt think to test it first before ordering but i guess the gamble paid off, new thermostat was hard to blow through.

Will see what temps it runs on when taken for a long drive tomorrow

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

Can change an EGR stat without even topping up the fluid, it's at the top of the system.

Correct

[danb21t]

Will likely be the main stat that needs doing.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by danb21t

Will likely be the main stat that needs doing.

You are prob right but i hope not as its a pita to do main stat, i did it on my e60 530d and managed to change it, didnt think id have to change it on 66k miles tho

[danb21t]

I wasnt looking forward to changing mine, that was after reading everything on here and the opinion was it was a complete nightmare.
The reality is its a simple and straight forward job in the grand scheme. Just takes a while.

Here's hoping though :-)

[Dr Dave]

Agreed - it's not a difficult job at all

[bazz780]

Update: went out to lakeside yesterday which is a fair trip for me, noticed temperature rising to 89 degrees and occasionally dropping to 87 but pretty much held, did not see 65 like my last motorway trip, locally it hit 92 a couple of times as well, i will see how i get along this week and decide on main stat, if main stat was the issue surely it would have dropped to 65 again on motorway, just to refresh the egr stat was completely shot as can blow through it like a straw

[Jedimindtrix]

Bazz, have you got a link to the online guide, might change mine today.

Cheers

[Digitalize]

Around 90 is right, few under is fine as long as it's motorway etc. The air is still cold. Think the stats should open at 88c.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by Jedimindtrix

Bazz, have you got a link to the online guide, might change mine today.

Cheers

Right here mate

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=132937

[bazz780]

Just be careful with pulling the oil pipe out, you got to jiggle it gently so it pulls out with the rubber seal intact

[Jedimindtrix]

Cheers, just changed it 15minute job.

Tip, cover the belt and surrounding area in kitchen roll or an old cloth, makes tidying up easier.

[bazz780]

Any difference in running temp?

[Jedimindtrix]

Took it out for a drive and it has made a difference, on a short run I got 40+mpg whereas last week the same run was 35ish.

The old stat could've been used as a straw.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by Jedimindtrix

Took it out for a drive and it has made a difference, on a short run I got 40+mpg whereas last week the same run was 35ish.

The old stat could've been used as a straw.

Did you change your main stat recently?

As for the straw idea coolant does not taste nice lol, when i first took it out i couldnt wait to test it and ended up with bit off coolant in my mouth, couldnt taste food etc for 20 mins lol (still better than petrol which kills taste buds for a day or so)

[Jedimindtrix]

I haven't attempted the main stat, looks as though the EGR was the culprit.

[danb21t]

Sounds like you got off easy, I would think about replacing the main stat soon anyway.

The egr straw ides is somewhat flawed though. This thermostat starts off open so that coolant can flow through the heat exchanger and warm up quicker. Once the temp is up the stat starts to close up and hands off to the main stat.

Best way to test the old egr stat is to run some boiling water through it, put it in a pan or in the oven. If moves then it's probably ok