help car blows white smoke

[Ric]

i just got my e36(318 i know, should have got an m) @ the end of last year, and everything has been fine, and i've kept the oil changed every 3000 or 3500 miles, but all of a sudden the temp gauge would begin to move from normal to the red while at a stand still, and then it would go back when i begin to drive. and later that day the car blew out white smoke from under the hood and out the exhaust. some of my friends have said that i blew a gasket. but i started the car today and let it run for about an hour to an hour and a half and it seemed fine. can anyone help me out, i have no idea about bmw's.

[Ric]

oh yeah the car is all stock.

[Joey325i]

white smoke means ur burning coolant, any kinda of smoke out of the hood is a bad sign, you might wanna get it looked at

[TJFitz]

I have the same problem with my E30 318iS. Which has the same motor as the E36 318. I would believe that you have a blown head gasket. The reason that there is smoke coming from under the hood is probable because you have a exhaust leak there. Has the car felt like you have lost power? Is your coolant low? Does the white smoke smell sweet? If this is the case, instead of being upset about having to fix it. Remember you'll have more power when it is fixed! I hope this helps you out.
-TJFitz

[LordGop]

Get it check for sure. Anytime smoke is coming form the hood is usually not good.

[scottycs]

So you just kept the car running even when the needle hit red?

[Newfie2]

i dont know what to tell you only that it is probaly a blown gasket sorry man!

[///M Jefey]

had the same problem, my water pump broke so it couldn;t push the water threw the radiator, and it all overheated and blew the hose off the radiator, and, well i had quite a mess on my hands.