C3 Engine Overheating Slow Warm Up

Sounds familiar. I had similar symptoms with my old BMW 3 Series. Overheating and slow warm-up often point to a thermostat issue. The map-controlled thermostat could be the culprit. Has the engine management light come on at all? Any fault codes?

Thank you for the quick response. No engine management light, and I don't have the equipment to check for fault codes myself. Could a defective thermostat really cause both overheating and slow warm-up simultaneously? Is there any way to test this?

Yes, a failing map thermostat can definitely cause both. When it sticks open, the engine struggles to reach operating temp, and if it sticks closed or partially closed, it leads to overheating. Without diagnostic tools, it's tough to confirm. Given your symptoms, a faulty thermostat or thermostat housing is very likely. I'd recommend taking it to a workshop for a proper diagnosis to avoid further damage.

I appreciate the advice. I will schedule an appointment with a workshop to have the thermostat and cooling system checked. It seems like this is the most sensible course of action. Thank you again for your help!