Eng Temp Gauge - BMW Forum

Hallatauer · 07-28-2003, 04:52 PM

Just picked up my new Z4 3.0 last Tuesday. Absolutely love the car. My question however is this. The engine temperature guage seems funky. When starting up cold, the guage reads slightly high, just above the green, dead cold square. Ambient temperature about 75F. Within 30 seconds of driving it rises quickly to operating temperature, with the needle sticking up dead center and never moves a hair no matter the driving conditions. Shutting down and letting the car sit for 2+ hours, at startup the guage is still at operating temperature and hasn't budged. Only sitting over night do i notice any change. A friend with a 318i says this is normal for BMW's.
Is he insane or is this normal in your experience. I have an appointment with the service center for Friday. Am I wasting my time? Just that I think it's odd to have a temperature gauge that doesn't tell you what the actual the temperature is and have this called normal.

Thanks, Dan

Ski · 07-30-2003, 06:03 PM

I would also say this is normal cuz mine does the exact thing..sucker will never move a hair past 1:00 position regardless of driving/air conditions..

DesmoBob · 07-30-2003, 07:24 PM

same thing here

Hallatauer · 07-31-2003, 06:12 AM

Thanks,
The stereo is now acting up, unfortunately, intermmitently. I turn it on some mornings and some of the speakers won't work or they just crackle. Turning it off and back on clears this up.
Will give them both 'problems' when I drop it off tomorrow morning. Getting the feeling they won't be of much help.
DFan

Hallatauer · 08-02-2003, 08:45 AM

Well, got the roadster back yesterday and he said the guage is functioning normally. Ok, guess it's something I'll have to get used to, sort of an analog idiot gauge. On the good side they were able to fix the stereo. Seems several people shjowed up that day with stereo problems. Seems someone at the plant is connecting the player to the amp incorrectly and the the connector slowly wiggles loose.
Dan