Posted on 1/30/2026
Most performance German cars can feel flawless for months, then one hot day in traffic makes the temperature look a little higher than you expected. That is the moment most drivers realize the cooling system has been dropping hints. If you catch those hints early, you can usually avoid the kind of overheating that ruins a weekend and sometimes an engine. Early Clues That Suggest Cooling Trouble The first signs are usually small behavior changes, not dramatic warnings. The heater may run cooler at idle, then warm up once you are moving, or the cooling fan may run longer after you park than it used to. A faint sweet smell after a drive, or chalky residue near hose joints and the expansion tank, can point to a slow seep that dries before it drips. Symptom Timeline Before An Overheat Event Cooling problems often progress in steps. First comes inconsistency, brief temperature rises in stop-and-go, a reservoir level that drops faster than normal, or a w ... read more