Coolant temp sender location for aftermarket gauge

[bmwpower]

It was easy on my M30..just remove one of the factory plugs at the thermostat housing and put a sender in. The M20 thermostat housing doesn't look like it has those plugs. It looks like it may be possible to machine and tap a hole, but that might be considerable work on such an odd shaped piece as the thermostat housing.

What has everyone else done for an aftermarket coolant temp setup?

[jlevie]

Replace the thermostat housing. The OE part that you get these days has two extra ports, one of which can be used for an aftermarket temp sensor. That or replace the sensor for the guage with your aftermarket sensor.

[asubimmer]

THIS IS FOR A M50...

I bought an adapter to fit a sensor into the head of the M50 but after I did that I kinda wish I had bought one of the ones that goes into the rad hoses by the radiator,just because it seems like more ppl do it that way. Is one way better/more accurate than the other?

[jlevie]

The ideal location for a temp sensor is in the head. That's because that is the critical area and the thermostat must be open and the water pump operating for a hose mounted sensor to accurately reflect engine temperature.

I don't know why anyone would want to add a temp gauge to an E30. Unlike later BMW's the temperature gauge isn't heavily buffered and thus is reasonably accurate.

[asubimmer]

Hmmm...thats a great point. I didn't think about that. The reason I am putting a diff gauge in is because I took out the factory cluster. And I prefer to know exactly what the temp is not just "in the middle".

[jlevie]

Well yeah, if you removed the cluster you'd need to add a gauge. But in that case there's no sense in retaining the sensor that used to drive the gauge.

A sublime solution, especially for a track car, would be to install a RacePak IQ3... Gauges, shift lights, programmable warning lights, and GPS track data all in one package.

[asubimmer]

yeah I was looking for the best place for an aftermarket sensor. The stock one was removed when I did my motor swap. I may have to look into that RacePak, thanks

[bmwpower]

Replace the thermostat housing. The OE part that you get these days has two extra ports, one of which can be used for an aftermarket temp sensor. That or replace the sensor for the guage with your aftermarket sensor.

Perfect. That's good to know. I was wondering why realoem showed more ports.

I guess I need to order the oneplug to stop up the hole that won't be used.

Thanks....