@ richcl, stan and 666tur

Do you mean the EGR thermal valve?

Yes that's it. The BMW websites call it a thermostat. I replaced that today as well as the main stat. According to the bmw forums they can fail and effect running temps. To test remove and try to blow through, if it blows throug easily when cold then it is stuck open. I bought a new Behr one today and when you try to blow through there is resistance.

Easier and cheaper chopping the EGR out of the equation altogether

Worth checking if your cars running too cool and an easy swap. A lot of info BMWland.co.uk

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=118248

^^^^^ Excellent link 666tur  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Glad it was of use. Can't believe some guy bothered to create a CAD model!

Joe90, When you rebuilt yours did you have any teething problems? Been for another test drive today hoping the vibration was oil in the viscous unit resettling but still have a deep thrum, vibration at 3,000rpm plus.

My niggling worry is I have somehow damaged the water pump, getting the fan off was a pig, it needed a pick axe handle pushing down on the spanner with me practically in the engine bay. The nuts were starting to round, really badly seized.

I will run it this week and see if I can get a helper to rev it while have the bonnet up, then strip it down again next weekend!

I have the same problem as joe

I changed my thermostat last year and it was better but it is still taking time to reach full working temp

But mine will cool down if I go down hill, but only if I haven't reached full working temp

But If i get it up to temp then roll down a big hill the temp gauge will not drop

So ill try changing that egr stat  RANGE ROVER 04 TD6
RANGE ROVER ULTIMATE EDITION 2012
UPGRADE.
MK 4 SATNAV
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrautoelectrics/

It's a cheap and takes ten minutes, there is a useful video on you tube, search egr BMW 530d. If you have done the main stat I bet that's your problem. Do you monitor the temperatures on the hidden menu to see exactly what's happening?

Tested mine to day and up to halfway within three miles.

@666tur

No problems after refit with noises you indicate.

Suggest you remove the "vicious" fan and then run the car (this is perfectly OK, some have it removed all the time), see if the noise is still there. My initial thoughts are that something is out of line with the fan, but could be water pump related?

Regarding egr thermal valve, after fitting the new main thermostat I ran at temperature with no issues, however this was done at a time when we had very warm weather for the time of year so no cold snaps to induce downhill cooling. IIRC I did somehow break a couple of legs off part of the egr thermal valve when I removed it (the black plastic bit at the right hand end) so it could be that it is just not working as it should be, even if the main valves are doing their thing. Will be adding it to my Duckworths shopping list! .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

I was thinking the same, remove the fan and see if the noise is still there. I cant see how i could have damaged the fan itself, it went back on easily, cant imagine it was a cross thread causing the imbalance. I am wondering if I have damaged/bent the shaft of the water pump when I was struggling to get the fan off. It looked a bit tight down there to get the pump off, that will be another fun weekend. At least the fan should be easy to remove this time! 2012 4.4TDV8 VSE
2004 TD6 132k miles- SOLD
1995 Land Rover Defender 110 Tithonus Ex Military
1995 Land Rover Discovery 3.9i V8 manual

Poped out the EGR Thermostat tonight only to find that it's passing air and doesn't return back shut once it warms up

New one ordered off eBay £38 inc delivery
Instead of £48 from land rover

Lets see what happens when fitted  RANGE ROVER 04 TD6
RANGE ROVER ULTIMATE EDITION 2012
UPGRADE.
MK 4 SATNAV
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrautoelectrics/

Have you fitted the new egr stat yet?
Keen to hear if it did the trick. 2012 4.4TDV8 VSE
2004 TD6 132k miles- SOLD
1995 Land Rover Defender 110 Tithonus Ex Military
1995 Land Rover Discovery 3.9i V8 manual

It arrived tonight but I was late getting home
So it's a job for Friday,

Ill keep you posted on what happens RANGE ROVER 04 TD6
RANGE ROVER ULTIMATE EDITION 2012
UPGRADE.
MK 4 SATNAV
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrautoelectrics/

Update: seven months in from the thermostat changes I am again getting low coolant temperatures. After my 15 mile commute on a mix of rural and city driving I am only getting 76*c on the hidden menu readout. All I can assume is the main thermostat or egr thermal valve has failed again. Very annoying because its not a quick job, I will monitor but it looks like I will be doing it again but this time I think I will use genuine parts. 2012 4.4TDV8 VSE
2004 TD6 132k miles- SOLD
1995 Land Rover Defender 110 Tithonus Ex Military
1995 Land Rover Discovery 3.9i V8 manual

Can some one tell me how I access the "hidden menu".

I don't have the problem with the needle moving whilst going up and down hills, it just never seems to get to the half way mark Three things in a blokes life his dog,his car and a Cornish pasty,nothing else matters.

2010 Range Rover Vogue SE Santorini Black, Arabica Aniline seats

Previous cars
1973 Mini 1000
1971 Hillman Avenger
1975 Chrysler Sunbeam
1981 Ford Cortina
1985 Volvo 340
1989 VW Golf
1989 Volvo 240
1991 Volvo 240
1991 Jaguar Soveriegn
1996 BMW 730
2003 Honda CRV
1999 Jaguar Soveriegn
2003 Range Rover HSE Epson Green with Sand trim.