2000 528i

so I am in the process of replacing my coolant system
just got the WP off and then took the thermostat housing off.
I CANT FIND THE THERMOSTAT!?
this is what I see:
[I cant post pics so there are the links]

picasaweb.google.com/prenasha/528iCoolantRepair/photo#5155040990498768258

click on the forward arrow once you get to the first pic.
there are 5 showing the engine and the removed T-stat housing.

please advise
thanks

PS: what I've order to replace the old is this:
autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=i4heco45vndmeo55kczni0b0&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1358287@528I&year=2000&cid=16@Cooling%20System&gid=2200@Thermostat

The housing you just removed, has the thermostat incorperated into it. It's not like American or Jap cars where you need to replace just the thermostat.

then what is this?:

catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/rodi/image.jsp?title=Thermostat&url=http%3A//img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/G400291331WAH.JPG

the back of mine doesnt look like that

on this writeup the thermostat and housing is completely different?

bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/199986

First off...You have an M52TU?

The write up is for an M52 engine...thermostat is different from yours which is an M52TU(Technically Updated engine)

Was your thermostat metal or plastic?

plastic thermostat housing

And the new one your purchased does not have the thermostat in it? Something is wrong there.

well the new one is coming in tomorrow.
I just thought I would get a head start and take everything down today.
but the housing i took off looks like the pic of the one i ordered.

It should be right in the housing...
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2867/image18tz7.png

:eek:

that does not look like what I removed

mine looks like this:

picasaweb.google.com/prenasha/528iCoolantRepair/photo#5155040994793735586


I am assuming at this point that the thermostat is incorporated into the housing and it is a single piece.

If your housing looks like the pic from fp5241 above the stat is all as discribed in his pic it's all one peice with electronic control.
If you housing looks different ,the stat is a seperate part--is there just a hole that you have found behind the housing? Are you the original owner? Me's thinking someone may have taken the stat out for some unknown reason--Go to the search engine and read Cn90's cooling system write up and look at the part where he has to turn the stat to make it come out of the block--that may help