Overheating BMW 318i 1994

[zanzibar]

Car us using lots of water, fan not kicking in. all fuses OK. What would cause this and how much to fix it!!????

[logic]

could just be coolant temperature sender, or bad connection to same,
Try connecting fan directly to power source, just to elliminate possibillity of broken fan motor,

Can't be much of a problem there.

[ChuckFickens]

if it's using a lot of water it has to be going somewhere!

assuming it doesn't leave a puddle under it when stationary then I would take a stab at head gasket gone. remove the oil cap and have a look, if you can see white mayonnaise type stuff then head gasket has almost defiantly gone.

if it is you are probably looking a a few hundred quid to replace it.

[Bivvysenior]

are you getting white smoke out of the exhaust?
Then it could be head gasket.

If fan not kicking in and fuses ok .Then check if you have 12 volts at the fan motor when engine is hot

[PeteHull]

The first thing to check is the thermostrat, if you are chucking coolant out of the header tank while engine is running then the stat may not be opening therefore pressure will build up and chuck the coolant out, if this is ignored then the head gasket could blow leading to a very costly bill.
Another, although unlikely fault is a blocked radiator core.

If it is just that the fans aren't comming on to cool the rad, then this will be an electrical problem, either a sensor or a sender to the ecu or the fan.
Low water with no leaks detected, could be leaking waterpump bearings (Noisy fault) water escaping whilst driving etc so no signs when stationary.

I recently had to change the pump on my E65.

Overheating with no other symptoms could be a slipping drive belt.

hth
Pete

[gary2411]

could be headgasket/ stuck thermostat water going out the exhaust pipe ( loss of water)