A　pronounced　effect　of　overheating　is　observed　on　the　thermal　stability　and　mechanical　properties　of　Cu36Zr48Ag8Al8　bulk　metallic　glass.　Higher　overheated　temperature　enhances　the　thermal　stability　of　bulk　amorphous　alloys,　corresponding　to　higher　specific-heat　capacity　and　the　smaller　initial　defect　concentration.　And　a　threshold　overheating　temperature　is　found　for　the　fully　amorphous　structure.　Bulk　amorphous　alloys　exhibit　good　compressive　plasticity　at　small　overheat　levels,　whereas　the　compressive　fracture　strength　and　micro-hardness　exhibit　a　significant　increase　first　and　then　a　slightly　decrease.　Mechanical　properties　of　BMGs　can　be　tailored　in　certain　extent　by　controlling　the　overheated　level,　which　is　correlated　with　free　volume　and　residual　stresses.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.