No heat from heater and lumpy running omg not head gasket on a E36 BMW

[Vince70]

Today I put a new battery on my low mileage E36 BMW 318ti and it started up first turn of the key after its been sitting for 6 months but It’s not running that well.

 

The thing is the temperature Isn’t getting up quite halfway and there’s a little mayo on the filler but no oil in the coolant but the tick over is very lumpy and it sounds like it’s pinking and the heater only blows ice cold.

 

So today I’ve taken advantage of the GSF code and bought a new one for £29 only to find ECP could get me one for half the price.

 

So do you think it’s head gasket time or is the M44 engine prone to head gasket failure.

[dougiefourspeed]

Has it just been idling or have you been for a proper drive Vince?

 

Could it be 'stat related? I only say that as I've had thermostats stuck open on other cars and the symptoms were cool running and rubbish heater.

[Vince70]

I’ve only had it sitting at idle but it was a bit lumpy and what sounded like pinking before I parked it up and when I would use the heater the temperature would drop whereas my other car with the same engine would sit all day with the gauge sitting at the halfway with heater on or not.

[Bag'O'Spanners]

Might be worth shoving a 'Block tester/sniffer' on it. I've known those engines to blow a gasket, this then cavitates the cooling system and affects the heater temperature. You can pick these up silly cheap on ebay etc. Hope it isn't OMGHGF but they aren't the world worst to do if not badly overheated.

 

Edit: Maybe I should had read the post properly in the first place... Maybe the below is better advice for a start. Apologies, screaming children and crazy Mrs bag isn't the best time for me to read posts....

[Bren]

Take it for a run and see how it goes.

[djimbob]

have you checked the level of coolant in the radiator as opposed to in the expansion tank? (if indeed there is a radiator cap separate in these BM's - not had one so don't know).

 

It could be that while sat the level has dropped and that is why the heater is running cool, the sensors are not getting proper readings etc, so maybe check the coolant level at the radiator (or wherever the cap is situated, my Dad's Hiace's cap is on top of the thermostat housing for instance)

 

Good luck and keep us posted anyway

[BeEP]

As others have said take it for a run, and put a couple of gallons of fresh petrol in it (if you haven't already).  May improve the lumpiness; modern petrol goes off very quickly and some engines seem more intolerant than others.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I have never known an M44 to blow a head gasket, ever. M43's, plenty. 

 

When I worked at a BMW breakers 2-3 years ago, we used to practically give them away because nobody ever asked for one unless it was for a conversion on an E30. Undoubtedly BMW's best engine.