2006 BMW 325 Engine acts like it is in overtemp

2006 BMW 325
37,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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PHOENIX001
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Erratic overtemp indications. Some days the radiator fan goes extremely high soon after starting and the air conditioning goes to low fan speed. Other days it is fine or happens while driving then works fine. I have replaced the thermostat and temperature sensor.
Jul 25, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.
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DOCHAGERTY
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As the model year is important in the process of diagnosis, please send the VIN so I know what the production sequence is.
Jul 26, 2010 at 2:44 AM
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PHOENIX001
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the VIN is WBAVB13596KX48466
Jul 26, 2010 at 1:48 PM
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DOCHAGERTY
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The software will need updating. When was it last at the dealer?
Jul 26, 2010 at 10:42 PM
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PHOENIX001
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I live over 180 miles from the nearest dealer. So it has been years. If there are updates why haven't I been notified by BMW. I have been suspecting a processor problem, I hope it is only software. What lead you to this answer?
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:01 PM
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DOCHAGERTY
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The dealer does not have any incentive to notify you, you need to be more pro-active in the upkeep of the car. As the cars age, parameters can move due to oversensitivity of the software. The joke in the BMW classes I attended was that we were fixing cars with software now, instead of wrenches. The DCS on the car was not extensive, it has been a while, hasn't it?
Jul 27, 2010 at 5:45 PM
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PHOENIX001
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Since this car has less than 40,000 miles there is actually very llittle dealer maintenance required during this period other than an oil change, which has been done locallly. I thank you for your info but you have still not told me what led you to a software upgrade. I will have to travel 200 miles and spend an overnite in a hotel to accomplish this. I do not want to go back and forth between Yuma and San Diego, CA. But I will give it a try with some technical info as to what is going on with an upgrade of software. has this been reported before and has a software upgrade solved the problem? Thank you again.
Jul 27, 2010 at 9:08 PM
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DOCHAGERTY
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There are several bulletins regarding issues with the cooling system as you have reported. The Yuma area has no BMW dealers and probably should get one. I find it interesting that a car maker would market a car, and then abandon the buyer as they seem to have done in your case. The level of sophistication of the E-9x cars is such that there might not actually be a problem, but when the display is telling you one thing, and something entirely normal is occurring under hood, and the repair is due to an intermittent power/ground issue or bit serial data not present or a processor disturbance that controls the water pump and so on. This is why it is important to have the car serviced at the dealer, especially since it is "free" for the first 4 years or 50k miles.
Jul 28, 2010 at 11:58 AM