Unique temp sender question

[MacBudd541]

So I am trying to wrap up my swap and I have come to the coolant temp sender for the gauge. My engine is an S52 from a wrecked 95 M3 that had already been OBD1 converted for that car. I realize I need to add in the e30 sender but my question is where do I find the connector to plug it in? I followed the wires from the existing temp sensor and it led me to an area wrapped in electrical tape. I am assuming this was part of the OBD1 convertion for the e36. Wheres the plug I need? Thanks guys.

[dashboardmonkey]

glad to see you are still alive...got no help for you tho

[Matt-B]

my plug is next to blue plug for water temp ecu sender

[StereoInstaller1]

Mac, what is that harness from? Later BMW cars have no separate sending unit for the gauge, it gets its signal from the DME, so you have to run a new wire to C101.

Does your motor have a hole in the head for the 2nd sensor?

[MacBudd541]

No, it does not have the additional sensor in the head. I was planning on using the zionsville inline piece. The harness could be from the 95 M3 or from the 97 M3 the engine came from, i'm not quite sure. there doesnt seem to be another plug for another sensor either.

[StereoInstaller1]

The '95 has 3 holes in the head where yours has 1.

The harness is likely from an OBD2 car if it has no secondary sensor harness.

Go find an ETA harness to chop up, kick its ass!

[samiam3356]

He might not have ran a temp guage in the dash. You can wire up your own if need be or get another obd1 harness.

[Van Westervelt]

the zionsville adapter wont work correctly either. It uses the same temp sensor in the head that the dme uses, which is the e36 one. In order to have the coolant temp gauge read correctly, you need to use an e30 sensor, which when I was doing swaps meant tapping the head for the new sensor. Dont know if anyone else found a way around that for this issue yet.

[StereoInstaller1]

the zionsville adapter wont work correctly either. It uses the same temp sensor in the head that the dme uses, which is the e36 one. In order to have the coolant temp gauge read correctly, you need to use an e30 sensor, which when I was doing swaps meant tapping the head for the new sensor. Dont know if anyone else found a way around that for this issue yet.

UUC makes an "in hose" adapter too, where you add the proper sensor. It is like $80. There should be one at the Picnic if you remind me I can show you.

[jrdeamicis]

Drill and Tap Head. Would put the sensor right where it has to go. And the casting is just filled in where the sensor has to go. So its an easy drill and T

[etxxz]

Here's the three options.

If head has 3 holes (obd1 head, same as obd2 with an extra hole). Replace the (edit- middle/second sensor) sensor with the m20 AKA brown top temp sender. Run one wire to X20 Pin 12 (e36 plug). That'll bring it to your dash via Pin 4 of the C101 (m20 plug). Temp sender grounds through the head. The e36 sensor that originally comes here you won't use.

If it has 2 holes: Drill/Tap is a common, cheap and easy, but be careful with the shavings. Do same as above.

Last option is to Tee it into a hose. Run a ground line to he head, run the other wire to the X20 plug. Done.

The point is you need an m20 "brown top" temp sender wired as i instructed. Ground to Head, pin to X20(4).

[highoutput]

Here's the three options.

If head has 3 holes (obd1 head, same as obd2 with an extra hole). Replace the front most sensor with the m20 AKA brown top temp sender. Run one wire to X20 Pin 12 (e36 plug). That'll bring it to your dash via Pin 4 of the C101 (m20 plug). Temp sender grounds through the head. The e36 sensor that originally comes here you won't use.

If it has 2 holes: Drill/Tap is a common, cheap and easy, but be careful with the shavings. Do same as above.

Last option is to Tee it into a hose. Run a ground line to he head, run the other wire to the X20 plug. Done.

The point is you need an m20 "brown top" temp sender wired as i instructed. Ground to Head, pin to X20(4).

I thought it was the "second" sensor in line, thats for the guage???? My first sensor is the blue one, that I thought was for the DME.
On that note...my temp guage dosent work yet either, lol.
I replaced the original "second sensor" with the one from my M10, and tried both wires. One wire pinned the guage, and the other one sets the needle about half way and it dosent move. So i dont know what I did wrong yet.....
My point is, everything I read said it was the second , or black sensor that you should replace.
Just though I'd add to the confusion!

[etxxz]

...and the computer says.

you are right. its the second sensor. My bad.. hmmm i'm also gonna have to look at 318i diagrams, the c101 pinout is for the 325 e's and i's.
the obd1 heads with 3 holes have two sensors. The thirs and rear most hole is for the throttle body line. One sensor for the DME, one for the dash. The e36 dash sensor you can't use, but you can replace the m20... or 318 sensor in your case if its the same [threads atleast?]. The obd2 heads shared the sensor so you have to come up with a different solution, 2 or 3 abovementioned.

[StereoInstaller1]

And you cannot use a "T".

Water must flow past the sensor or the reading will not be correct.

[MacBudd541]

Here's the three options.

If head has 3 holes (obd1 head, same as obd2 with an extra hole). Replace the (edit- middle/second sensor) sensor with the m20 AKA brown top temp sender. Run one wire to X20 Pin 12 (e36 plug). That'll bring it to your dash via Pin 4 of the C101 (m20 plug). Temp sender grounds through the head. The e36 sensor that originally comes here you won't use.

If it has 2 holes: Drill/Tap is a common, cheap and easy, but be careful with the shavings. Do same as above.

Last option is to Tee it into a hose. Run a ground line to he head, run the other wire to the X20 plug. Done.

The point is you need an m20 "brown top" temp sender wired as i instructed. Ground to Head, pin to X20(4).

Ok, this is the adapter I bought:

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/screen/prod/store_code/6134/product_code/OBDITSM.htm

I have the proper brown m20 temp sender and I clipped the sender pigtail off an m20 harness. The adapter has been grounded now I just need clarification on where I run the signal wire. Are we for sure on pin 12 on the x20 or pin 4 on the c101?
Thanks for the help guys.
-Mac