I need to replace my thermostat.
I found 2 different ones. can anyone explain what the difference is, why I would want one over the other, and what the OE specs are for the thermostat on a 94 325i?

#1 Part Description: Thermostat; 88 Degree C; With Gasket Brand Name: Behr/Wahler

#2 Part Description: Thermostat; 92 Degree C; With Gasket Brand Name: Wahler

The only difference i see is the 4 degrees C difference. If i'm not mistaken, that is the temperature at which it opens? Whatever that means exactly..
Any help is appreciated.
thanks in advance,

nick

I think that people use the 88 degree one in conjunction with the fan delete, otherwise go with the 92.

I think that people use the 88 degree one in conjunction with the fan delete, otherwise go with the 92.

I believe the 88 degree tstat is what the car comes stock with. Fan delete kits use an 80 degree tstat. I just just did the fan delete kit on my car and it was a very simple task to change the tstat. I would recomend buying the fan delete kit from bimmerparts.com becuase it comes with a tstat and an aluminum tstat housing. The kit only ran me about $70 and i got a few extra hp.

With you being in Wisconsin and winter coming on, I would vote for the 92, but the 88 is OK too. Make certain you have a metal impeller water pump and a metal t-stat housing, this would be the time to change either or both if they are plastic. Realize that you can't tell if you have a plastic impeller without taking the waterpump off the engine.

This would be a good time to change the large radiator hoses as well if they are more than say 4 to 6 years old (I know this is conservative but blown radiator hoses....blow...if you get my drift.

Don't mix genuine BMW coolant with other stuff. You will get some sort of oil separating out of the genuine coolant. Most Bimmerheads recommend using the genuine coolant. Failing that, Zerex Z-05 is similar. Use distilled water. Bleed carefully when you finish, heater blowing cold at idle is a classic symptom of air-bound system.

Sorry to give you a bigger 'honeydew' list but if you do all this stuff with a little luck you won't have any coolant problems this winter...