Retrofitted an aftermarket water temp gauge into the cluster

[jeffmn8]

I know most of you aren't big fans of the oem water temp gauges. After I swapped in my s50, my temp gauge wasn't working (I forgot to pick up the brown sensor.) So after a while I picked up an autometer sport comp short sweep gauge from the factory :) I didn't really have anywhere to mount it, and I didn't want to get an a-pillar mount quite yet soo... I decided to retrofit it into the cluster. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done.



It was a pain in the ass to fit it in there, but I made it work.. I wish I could have used the stock needle, but they're different sizes.

[mbonder]

Looks pretty darn good, nice work!

[dnick]

i like it! MIGHT have to do this myself.. mines not working i dont think lol

[MR 325]

It actually does look like a clean install, post a pic with it back in the car.

Would have been easier to buy the $5 sensor though. :)

[Jszy25]

I really like that a lot. Good idea and execution.

[jeffmn8]

Thanks guys! I'll get another picture of it in the car a little later. Yes, it would have been easier to just get the right sender, but knowing exactly where my temps are at is nice :D

[Jszy25]

Would have been easier to buy the $5 sensor though. :)

But then you'd still be in the dark with what your actual temps are.

I really want to do this to my cluster now.

[FreedS4]

I know most of you aren't big fans of the oem water temp gauges. After I swapped in my s50, my temp gauge wasn't working (I forgot to pick up the brown sensor.) So after a while I picked up an autometer sport comp short sweep gauge from the factory :) I didn't really have anywhere to mount it, and I didn't want to get an a-pillar mount quite yet soo... I decided to retrofit it into the cluster. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done.



It was a pain in the ass to fit it in there, but I made it work.. I wish I could have used the stock needle, but they're different sizes.

Nicely done! I've got an Auto Meter in the dash, in a two gauge faceplate that replaces the radio. However, having two water temp gauges in the car is unnecessary, as the stock one is almost worthless. More info on what you did to make this work, so I can get rid of the stock one and use the open spot for another gauge (oil temp?). Thanks!

Chris

[Jand3rson]

I like it. Just paint your needles red, and do that one the same color.

[E30_Doc]

+1

i like it. Just paint your needles red, and do that one the same color.

[cale]

Neg, I say get a new gauge face printed to clean it up a bit. Then paint the needle white and the oval portions of the need black like the other needles are.

[kalib0y]

looks very clean. When I first glanced at the picture I just thought it was a stock cluster

[nando]

It looks pretty good. Too bad it's degrees F. seems a bit goofy in a car that's all metric. :p

But then you'd still be in the dark with what your actual temps are.

I really want to do this to my cluster now.

not really.. 1/4 = 70c, 1/2 = 85c, 3/4 = 100c

there's nothing wrong with a functioning E30 temp gauge. But BMW started doing dumb things like dampened gauges for the stupid people buying modern cars. The E46 only reads cold, warm, and hot. You can't see any fluctuations in temp at all. It can be programmed out though..

[Jszy25]

It looks pretty good. Too bad it's degrees F. seems a bit goofy in a car that's all metric. :p



not really.. 1/4 = 70c, 1/2 = 85c, 3/4 = 100c

there's nothing wrong with a functioning E30 temp gauge. But BMW started doing dumb things like dampened gauges for the stupid people buying modern cars. The E46 only reads cold, warm, and hot. You can't see any fluctuations in temp at all. It can be programmed out though..

You're probably right, I think I'm jaded by the e36 dummy temp gauge.

[jeffmn8]

Thanks everyone. I don't think I'll be painting the needles though... This car is bound to be a track rat within the next year or two if I don't sell it.

Nicely done! I've got an Auto Meter in the dash, in a two gauge faceplate that replaces the radio. However, having two water temp gauges in the car is unnecessary, as the stock one is almost worthless. More info on what you did to make this work, so I can get rid of the stock one and use the open spot for another gauge (oil temp?). Thanks!

Chris

Here's the quick and dirty summary..

-Remove the stock temp gauge
-Cut the bezel off the new gauge and remove the gauge from the shell.
-Cut the three studs off the back so that they were flush with the plastic frame (so that it's the right height)
-Remove the needle and face plate.
-Solder wire leads to the upper part of where the studs are
-Remove the face plate off the stock gauge
-Drill holes in the stock gauge face plate to match the aftermarket ones
-Put the stock faceplate under the aftermarket one and put the two screws back in (stock is slightly larger than the aftermarket
-Reinstall needle and calibrate gauge
-Install gauge into cluster.. I ended up taping the edge of the faceplate on the inside to keep it from moving. Once you screw everything back together, it'll stay nice and snug in there.