E30 Winterfronts

[ELVA164]

It was below zero today and aside from taking a little longer to warm up, my car was just fine.

[Hooffenstein HD]

Measure the actual temperature. I've found that 80 degrees on the stock gauge doesn't even reach the first hash mark. Blocking off your radiator isn't going to change that. A 92 degree thermostat will get it to point basically straight up according to my old S50US.

I can't help wondering if they changed the sender at some point?

And this is on all three of our driving E30s.

Good advice. I'll have to do this since I've always been told half way = 80C and I've just taken their word. I have early model, L-jet 323i's though maybe that makes a difference?

[DER E30]

It was ~20 degrees here a month or so ago, aside from slightly sticky door handles, and my broken heater valve, she was fine. I threw a towel over the windshield so I didn't have to defrost that window... No snow or any sort of precipitation here then... I also have a garage to park in...

My temp gauge hasn't ever gotten to "noon" or the middle, it rises to about "11oclock" (between 1/4 and 1/2) and stops...

[terminale30]

I think this winterfront only covers 1/3 of the air intake. the air intakes below the grill still bring in a lot of cold air. judging by the temp gauge, this winterfront isn't doing anything.

water pump, radiator, and thermostat were all replaced in mid 2012. my original radiator had a lot of damage (bent fins). Prior to replacement, it always ran on the hot side.

since replacement, in the summer, the needle never goes past 11AM. In the winter, it runs really cold. On sub-freezing days the needle never gets out of the blue section.

my DMM has a thermocouple so I used it to take some readings this morning. Outside air temp was 10degF. With the probe in the vent, after 10min temp plateaued at 104degF.

I assume my new thermostat is failed open.

[jhaurimn]

It was almost -30 with wind chills less than -50 below on Monday here, and my car started, ran, and heated up just fine. Its normal for the coolant gauge to not read exactly in the middle in freezing temps unless you go on a long trip.

[Sea Aych]

It's been negative 20C (or -4F) without the windchill here for the past few days and the my temp gauge has been rising to its regular level just below half no problem, albeit quite a bit slower. Also doesn't run as quietly as when it's warmer. I'm skeptical though since in the fall i was having erratic gauge issues...we'll see i guess

[AndrewBird]

I used to wrap the oil cooler in my MG with a cordura strap to help keep engine temps up. Same thing could be done on an e30, i's at least.

[Nick_S]

put a stupid pink mustache on the front

Assuming you know this...but that's a taxi service.

[emerson.]

Only issue I ran into was a no start on a night we hit -20F (-50F with windchill). So I brought the battery inside for a few hours. No issues after that

[Sea Aych]

^Nice pic!


edit: and plate

[dougie30]

Im running 20w oil and my car wont run after a second and stalls but after I let it warm up runs fine

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[AdironRider]

My e30 hasn't been started above 30 degrees in months. Its my daily, but here in Wyoming its a bit frosty this time of year.

A few weeks back it was -28 and the e30 started no problem. Temp guage didn't move a millimeter though in my ten mile commute to work that day though, this might actually be useful in my neck of the woods.

[TobyB]

I use a thermostat to do that...

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