2002 2.5ltr E46 Compact about160k, problem with temp indicator, within about three kilometres of leaving home from cold start temp indicator will move up slightly then flick up to Max , motor still cold, will stay on Max for no set length of time then drop off to where it usually would be for how long it has been running, heater blows warm then hot as temp reaches usual running temp (needle dead centre of scale). Sometimes needle drops from Max to where it would normally be for the amount of running it has done, sometimes goes back down to left hand end of scale as it drops the engine revs will increase about 500 more than usual then needle rises to where it should be, as it does so the revs drop back to normal. Any suggestions about where to check first, recent water pump replaced but no air block obvious, not using coolant, coolant circulates, no air released when pressure valve (probably wrong name - about size of 10cent coin with cross pattern on top )
Tiddles