Why I installed a low temp thermostat.

[pothole]

Incidentally, the standard stat for bombproof 90's BMW straight sixes is 88 degrees.

It's a complicated topic. I'm yet to be convinced that a low temp stat is unambiguously a good thing.

Probably the ideal would be a stat that opened at 86 degrees like the factory stat, but opened fully at that temp. But even then, It's not going to make much difference as muc car only runs a few degrees higher than that normally.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by pothole

Incidentally, the standard stat for bombproof 90's BMW straight sixes is 88 degrees.

It's a complicated topic. I'm yet to be convinced that a low temp stat is unambiguously a good thing.

Probably the ideal would be a stat that opened at 86 degrees like the factory stat, but opened fully at that temp. But even then, It's not going to make much difference as muc car only runs a few degrees higher than that normally.

Comparing the impact of coolant temperatures over time between an M96/97 to another make is an "apples to oranges" concept; their are entirely different animals due to the coolant system flow characteristics. The M96/97 has several widely known and accepted weaknesses, poor coolant flow in some areas is just one, but one that can be addressed by simply cooling the engine down somewhat.