radiator fan

[Bluemill]

We have an '08 328 xi with 21,000 miles, and about a month ago, in temperatures of about 50-65 degrees F., the radiator fan started coming on, without air-conditioning on. I could see it if it were really hot out and the a/c was on, but neither was the case. Brought it to dealer, and they said all was normal. Just about every car I've owned in my life has had a thermostatically operated fan for the cooling system, and I have never had one come on at such light duty. Mind you, I live in the Boston area, and it's really pretty flat, so it's not tough grades causing this. Of course the car DOES NOT have a temperature gauge so I can not tell you that spec..... really dumb BMW on that one!

I think it's a partially open thermostat, but how can I be sure? I do have one of those laser thermometers, but don't know what I shoulfd look for 220 degrees?

The coolant is quite full, and I did top it up about 6 mo. ago with BMW anti-freeze coolant. This did start in city driving conditions, about 90 minutes of steady stop and go city driving in a large metro area. But this was late winter/early spring outside temps.

Anybody else have this issue? What would you do? Get a factory rep involved?

Best,
Bluemill

[floydarogers]

You do understand that there is no fan attached to the engine/water pump, as older cars had? The only cooling for the radiator is the airflow caused by movement of the car, or the electric fan.

The behavior seems normal to me.

[Stinger9]

into a position of being in one of two categories without a temp gauge. You can be a dumb owner without any feedback from your car, or you must elevate all the way up to expensive code readers that are capable of giving you temperature and pressure readouts after you master the software.
How do you like no dipstick so you can't see your oil level precisely, and how do you like runflats without a space for a spare?

[AussieBob]

[HBWT]

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[Stinger9]