Temperature gauge on dash not functioning correctly

[discopig]

Hi there,


The temperature gauge on my instrument panel doesn't seem to operate correctly.

it only ever gets up to just over the quarter mark and never really bang on in the middle.

This can't be normal ? can it?

One lad told me that it's just a matter of changing the thermostat and that they are only around €30 and not hard to fit.

He reckons they get "stuck" or something

any thoughts ?

i'd lke to have my temp gauge working properly

[Peter-E36]

Not sure about the price but that is correct

[John_D]

Yep sounds like a sticky thermostat. They are a little more than €30 iirc.

[Paddy]

The stat usually will fail open, or get 'stuck' open, it's a safety thing as if it were to fail shut your engine will cook itself. So it fails open to allow continuous flow of coolant through the engine!

[discopig]

so is this the thing i need?

http://www.mister-auto.ie/en/sensor-oil-temperature/facet-7-3272_g829_a1597.3272.html?KTypeNr=19951?KTypeNr=19 951

[John_D]

Eh no.
That's an oil temperature sensor.

[John_D]

Assuming you have the N42 engine i'd say this is what you want:
http://m.mister-auto.ie/en/coolant-thermostat/bmw-3-e46-318-i-143hp_v16198_g316.html