Gas gauge light.

[BrettsE30]

Do our cars have a light that comes on if you get low on gas? Ive never had one come on since i got the car, and i rebuilt the cluster. My father insists there is even though he's never owned any bmw and never driven my car. Whats the correct answer?

Also why does it say R instead of E?

[bmw325csi]

Mine comes on around 28-34 miles left on the "range" of my OBC.

PS: I did have to change the second sender under the driver side rear seat before I got it to work though.

[Pussy30]

Yes, from what i remember it comes on around 25 miles left, i think its funny when my obc said 10 miles left and i ran out.

[bmw325csi]

OBC is an average based on your mpg's. In other words, if you driving like a lunatic at high rpm's, your range will be less than when your driving Miss Daisy around.

[bmw325csi]

Also why does it say R instead of E?

R is for refill, damn Germans!

[BrettsE30]

I had an obc but i swapped it to a clock. is the light on there or the cluster?

[MR 325]

It's on the very left top of the gas gauge.

[Adrian_Visser]

Umm yeah past the E or in your case R I guess, mine reads litres (damn metric system) so It reads zero when empty. Anyway to the left of the gauge's empty line there's a strip that illuminated when you are low on gas.

On the subject of gas gauges I finally got mine to actually read a full 62L when full instead of stupid 40L aka 3/4 on the gauge.

Anyone know for sure if there is a difference between a VDO gas gauge and a motometer one? Swapping from a motometer one to a VDO fixed the problem but who is to say that the old gas gauge wasn't hooped... seriously anyone?

[BrettsE30]

Guess I'm gonna let the car run outta gas just to see what happens. Could I have a bulb out?

[nando]

Do our cars have a light that comes on if you get low on gas? Ive never had one come on since i got the car, and i rebuilt the cluster. My father insists there is even though he's never owned any bmw and never driven my car. Whats the correct answer?

Also why does it say R instead of E?

R stands for Reserve. when you get to the light, you should have about 2 gallons (of reserve capacity) left.

[Pussy30]

Guess I'm gonna let the car run outta gas just to see what happens. Could I have a bulb out?

These things dont ususally go out, i mean they are rarely on often in most cases. Just drive around with an extra gallon in your trunk and see how much range you get once the light comes on.

[blck325is]

Umm yeah past the E or in your case R I guess, mine reads litres (damn metric system) so It reads zero when empty. Anyway to the left of the gauge's empty line there's a strip that illuminated when you are low on gas.

On the subject of gas gauges I finally got mine to actually read a full 62L when full instead of stupid 40L aka 3/4 on the gauge.

Anyone know for sure if there is a difference between a VDO gas gauge and a motometer one? Swapping from a motometer one to a VDO fixed the problem but who is to say that the old gas gauge wasn't hooped... seriously anyone?

How did you get the gauge to read full? Mine reads only 3/4 when I fill it up too.

[BrettsE30]

175 miles driven on this tank and still no light. Still about 1/4 full. I only drive about 10 miles a day.

[selturk]

lol mine comes on every other week when low on gas..

[nando]

175 miles driven on this tank and still no light. Still about 1/4 full. I only drive about 10 miles a day.

Either you level sensor is broken or you get awful mileage! Also the light doesnt come on until you hit Reserve, not at 1/4 tank...