this was wierd, any one else?

[barry 90 525i]

my daughter was driving our 90 525, yesterday morning, it was about 20 degres out, she calls and says shes getting high temp coolant message and the car is going into the red, she pulld over right away, i was there in 10 min, there was some coolant spilled on the ground on the pass side and i could see some splattered on the right side of the rad and lower hose, i started up and temp was in the middle, no message, drove it home and around last 2 days, everything is fine, is it possible ice bockage?, never seen this before, thanks

[repenttokyo]

do you have antifreeze in your car? if so, what is the mixture?

[vince]

I would agree about a possible ice blockage somewhere, maybe preventing the coolant from circulating to/through the eater pump. How old is the coolant and what is the mixture?

[Ross]

If the coolant wasn't frozen somewhere I'd look to the water pump first. If the impeller becomes loose on the shaft they work a little sometimes and not others.
Don't fool around with an overheating M20. The crack cylinder heads like to crack.

[E34-520iSE]

Don't fool around with an overheating M20.
Ross has hit the nail bang on the head! The M20's are notorious for overheating problems if not looked after - get it sorted quick!

Cheers,

Shaun M

[whiskychaser]

Water pump gland? Coolant leaks onto the pulley/belts and sprays everywhere. Glad expands: no leak. For now.

[barry 90 525i]

i jusr replaced the water pump this last summer with all new belts, im thinking i didnt put enough coolant in then and maybe the mixture was to low, its warming up to mid 60's tomorrow so i think i will re do the mixture, thanks

[GoldenOne]

air in the line? It happen to my sis' a month ago when it dropped below freezing. Somehow a huge air pocket formed and was reaking havoc