strange temp gauge?

[vintage42]

... I didn't get any owner manuals with the car...

Here's an Owners Manual for my 1997...

 

[Barry Gadd]

Hi V42
I'm sure BMW designed the temp gauge reading to avoid some drivers panicing when the engine temp varies a few degrees but Joe and myself have now seen 3 cylinder heads which have warped and needed re-skimming.
The digital readout on your car looks just the job. Are they available? If so where could I buy one? How is the sensor mounted?
Thanks

 

[vintage42]

... The digital readout on your car looks just the job. Are they available? If so where could I buy one? How is the sensor mounted?

It's called a ScanGauge II:
http://www.scangauge.com/store/scangaugeii/
The mfr does not sell outside the US, but Amazon does:
http://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-Automotive-Computer-Customizable-Real-Time/dp/B000AAMY86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411049134&sr=8-1&keywords=scangauge 2
It has no sensors, as it uses the car's sensors by plugging into the OBD II port to receive all the info that the ECU knows.
Here is the one in my 1997 Z3:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/BMW Z3 Related/ScanGauge/ScanGaugeampiPhone_zpsfcc71d04.jpg
And the one in my 2008 Forester:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/Forester/Forester ScanGauge/4SGcoverday.jpg
And the one in my 2006 Scion xB:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/xB ScanGuage/ScanGuageII_1.jpg

 

[Cooper]

It's called a ScanGauge II:

That is a friggin awesome gadget. How is it wired in to the system? Is it easy to do?

 

[hard top]

That is a friggin awesome gadget. How is it wired in to the system? Is it easy to do?

It has no sensors, as it uses the car's sensors by plugging into the OBD II port to receive all the info that the ECU knows.

 

[Barry Gadd]

Many thanks V42
I need to check if the European 1997 M44 Z3 which has the multi-pin round diagnostics socket (not the standard OBD11) can be adapted to take the standard one. I believe converter cables are available quite cheaply.
Also not sure if the 1997 Euro diagnostics complies with OBD11 or if it is an earlier non-compatible version.
Maybe someone can confirm or otherwise.....

 

[zedonist]

Just buy am elm327 device and dashcommand app and you can do all that and more for less than £20 on your smart phone, plus you can record the data and show it to us.

 

[Barry Gadd]

Many thanks for the above info.
I've just bought a 318 electric cooling fan and want to sort out the best way to wire it in to my Z3.
My car has just the viscous clutch fan and I'd like to replace this with the electric one.
The fan has a 3 pin plug with 3 wires.... Attached to the washer pump wiring cluster there is an unused 3 pin socket with only 1 lead going to it.
I guess I'll need a lead from the on side of the ignition switch going to a relay then to the fan plus a thermoswitch to replace the blanking plug currently in the top corner of the radiator.
I'm sure many Z3 owners have done this before. Is there a write up describing this???
If not does anybody have a wiring diagram showing the connections?

 

[zedonist]

Barry, I've looked at this but never done it, and the question that stops me doing it is - is it worth it, can I trust it. You will not gain any performance benefits from removing parasitic drag on a good working order viscous, also I have peace of mind that as long as the fan is attached I have cooling protection.

If you do go ahead, can you do a write up?

 

[oldcarman]

Hi Barry, I , like Zed, would question the removal of A properly working viscous for what little there is to gain. Unless of course you are looking to upgrade to A/C in the near future. I've read a lot of posts regarding the removal but most were due to improperly working fans and going to electrics. If the viscous is doing it's job and your thermostat is also the gain with removal would be minimal. If you do go ahead please let us know the results. JIM

 

[Brian H]

@Barry Gadd I did this diagram for @bruce&kim a while back, all seemed to work well after the install of an electric fan.

HTH

 

[robertjones]

I started this thread as was concerned that the engine seemed towarm up too quickly, so today went for a run to the Peak district, engine ran fine , back over road Buxton to Macclesfield, with all its twists, cheked engine on return all cool and fine so , obviously temp gauge is supposed to act in that way

 

[zedonist]

Mine is up to temperature after 3 miles, always been like this, my T5 though especially in winter can still be below the standard after 15 miles. It's all down to individual engine type dynamics and efficiency. I would worry only if it never got to temp or went over temp.

 

[t-tony]

Ditto with my Z3 and my Touareg.

 

[Barry Gadd]

Hi Zed and Jim,
The plan to install an electric fan is due to me being paranoid about overheating as I've had really bad experiences so far (since March this year) and still not got my Z3 running without overheating.
I've had 2 heads skimmed and Joe (also a member of ZRoadster) has also had his head skimmed but had problems soon after due to his fan failing. Maybe Z3's don't like Surrey!!!!
I've now got the latest re-skimmed head fitted but can't get the engine to tick over smoothly so a mechanic friend is coming over this afternoon to sort it out.
I'm wondering if I can retain the viscous fan and add the electric one as well. Mechanically the electric fan fits easily. Maybe this is an overkill but I'm so worried about overheating, I plan to fit a manual override switch in the car so I can switch the electric fan on at any time should the temp. rise too high before the viscous or electric fans cut in.
Apologies if this sounds silly but this car has thwarted me for months.
I like the idea of getting dash command but don't have a smart phone. I make/receive so few calls it doesn't make financial sense to get one,BUT if I can buy a second hand iPhone cheaply etc just for the purpose of running dash command in the car then I'd like to have a go.
My problem is what phone to buy and how do I know it will accept the dash command download? A friend offered to give me his Samsung mobile but we couldn't download d-c on it. Any ideas??

 

[zedonist]

There is an app called torque on the android platform, the samsung will be cheaper than an iPhone, you will need a Bluetooth elm327 device and not wifi.

Fingers crossed for you.......

 

[Cooper]

I ordered the ELM327 and will have it delivered for less than USD10. I have also just ordered the app Dashcommand for $9.99. I can't wait until the device arrived. I have a couple of questions though:

01. Can I leave the ELM connected permanently and mount it in behind the driver's foot-well [so I don't accidentally kick it?
02. Can I register the android phone AND my Galaxy Tab without having to pay extra?

Thanks.

 

[Cooper]

No need to answer above questions. I managed to set everything up on my GS4 and my Galaxy Tab. This program looks awesome,

 

[zedonist]

Sorry Cooper for delay, but yes you can do all that, buy then you know now already

 

[Cooper]

@zedonist is it OK to unhitch the OBD connection, insert the ELM and zip tie it under the steering column to keep it safe from being accidentally hit with my feet? I mean, to leave the ELM permanently connected...