My mom is in Biloxi, on Popps Ferry. Just north of the Coliseum She
did OK. She used to live on Reginault in extreme west Gulfport...that
would've been bad...vey bad. Near the beach, south of the
tracks...several feet of water. I'd say she sold her house just in
time!

my proper email is zamboni25pant@comcastpant.net

remove my pants to email... thanks for all of your help. And it's good
to meet you! I'll send along pics of my alpinweiß beast once I get her
rolling...maybe pics of the car too. LOL.

Mike

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We stayed during the hurricane... STOOPID US! We were about 1/4 mile from
Edgewater Mall, to the northeast, just north of the RR tracks. We saw no
standing water and the trees saved our bldg. The rest of the apartment
complex was virtually destroyed. We got water in 7 days and electricity in
14. It was like extended camping for me. The wife hated it. The worst was
the heat. Luckily the bugs all blew away. The RR tracks were like a dam and
stopped all the surge to the south. Most other areas weren't so lucky. I may
be tripping home for a few days around September, but probably won't move
back. Housing/apartments cost WAY too much due to price-gouging. Our
apartment was undamaged and rented the next week after we left for $150.00
more per month than we were paying! Yikes! My mom still lives in Gulfport
just a few blocks from the beach and her house took about $2000 in roof
repairs. Not bad at all.

The relays are on the engine side of the fuse box, I believe. The Haynes you
have should be pretty accurate. I have a small picture I can send via
e-mail. I shows the common 3-relay set and defines each relay based on model
and year. BMW actually changed them around... can you believe that???

Bill in Omaha

Interesting. Actually, I'm originally from Pass Christian. A small
town, which I know you're familiar with, who's only clam to fame is
getting wiped off the face of the planet from time to time by
hurricanes. We all thought Camille '69 was bad...she had nuthin.
Katrina was a monster. Even in Mobile I didn't have power for a week.
Downtown flooded, trees down everywhere...(I didn't think there were
any left after our near-miss with Ivan in 94,) and that was about 80+
miles from where she hit.

I might have to take you up on that...but I'm really hoping to find
something so easy/obvious I slap my head. I'm kinda new to this car.
It belongs to an ex-girlfriend sooo I've worked on it from time to
time but she's giving it to me and it's frustrating a bit. It runs so
good, just when it starts acting up I want to thrash it with a tree
branch.

Do you know where the fuel pump relay is, you mentioned that as a
possible problem? The fuse/relay box on the driver's side fenderwell
only has three relays in it and they don't seem to be marked as
anything involving a fuel pump.

Are you planning on returning to Biloxi when things settle down?
They've reopened one span of the Bay Saint Louis Bridge, and there is
supposed to be one span of the bridge over Biloxi Bay by the end of
the year. Some of he beaches are finally opened, and of course the
casinos are opening. The Hard Rock is supposed to open any time now.
Remember it was originally scheduled to open 2 days after Katrina!
It's still pretty depressing driving down HWY 90. I used to really
enjoy that drive. Well, maybe someday in my fully armed and
operational BMW. Sunroof open. Windows down. Buffet on the radio.

Mike

-----

I moved to Omaha after Katrina. I'm from Biloxi, MS! If you like, I can send
the CD I've built that covers a lot of troubleshooting for the e30, e28, and
a few others. I even have the Haynes in pdf. The ECU may be reading a
gap/bubble in the coolant system, if the gauge fluctuates. I checked mine
with the engine running and the reservoir open (cap off). I also squeezed
the hoses until it warmed up good and thermostat opened. I added until it
near overflowed and capped it. Be careful on revving the engine when warm,
it will overflow with the cap off. This technique has been flawless for me
since 1988. I also have a few relays I can send. I get them from the parts
yards and test them on the meter. I got them parts! Let me know what's up.
The CD is free. It could also be fuel injectors. I have a set of those too,
good and inexpensive.

Bill in Omaha
'86 535i

My sad tale thus far:

I have the Haynes, easier to find, though I might look for all the
manuals I can get! I had already bought a coolant temp sensor, which
turned out to be a good thing, because the old one crumbled when I
removed it. It didn't help though. I unplugged the temp switch so the
gauge read 0 (they didn't have the part in stock) No difference.

I did replace it with a good quality one. We have a parts store in
town that specializes in european import car parts. I don't mind
paying a little more even if I just "think" I'm getting a better part.
I'm a sucker like that. No, actually they are a good bunch and they
carry the real stuff. Bosch etc. Thermostat also didn't help.

I want to try this one. Haven't yet
I was just going to replace it. Seems like there are three different
possibilities. I'm going to try to locate it and get some numbers to
match it up.

Oh I will!

Bill, thanks for your input...I'm Mike in Mobile AL

It's really strange. All the obvious things haven't helped. The gauge
climbs and it starts stumbling.When it happens it's revving up and
down and the temp needle does likewise. I was wondering if there might
be a grounding problem...or a computer problem?  It's hard to tell
what's happening first. There's no particular reason that it should
overheat...and so quickly...especially since I replaced the
thermostat. It's full of coolant, the water pump's spinning, fan
clutch seems to be pulling air through the radiator, the color of the
coolant looks good, it runs great until the stumbling starts, so I
don't think its a cracked head or head gasket. Then, just as soon as
it starts...it's fine again. But I don't trust it right now. I zip
through the neighborhood...but I don't want to take it out on the open
road! As long as the temp needle is in the middle, it runs fine. If it
goes above 3/4 then it starts doing its thing.

TIA
Mike

-----

1. Get the Bentley manual and test the coolent-related senders/sensors.
2. Change the thermostat if it's over 2 years old.
3. Check the fuel pump relay. it may be affected when it gets hot under the
hood.
4. Get back to the group with your findings.

Bill in Omaha
'86 535i

Alright all ye who are strong in BMW-fu

98.4 percent of the time this car runs absolutely fantastic. The other
times it acts as though it is overheating then stumbles and runs quite
poorly. The temp needle climbs, it stumbles, won't accelerate, then a
few minutes later it clears up and again...runs great. I have replaced
the thermostat. I have, but have not yet replaced, the coolant temp
sensor. I have replaced the airflow meter, on the advice of a
mechanic. Fortunately, it was cheap...(EBAY) but it made no
difference. I love the car...It's in great shape...but HELP!