M3 S50 help with Temp

Post Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:26 pm

Hi

Quick question, I have a M3 with a S50 engine I have a problem with the temp, the car temp gets to 110oc before the raditor fan kicks in, is there something i can change (sensor ?) in order to get the fan going on earlier.

thanks in advance

cheers

Post Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:37 pm

Yes,

On my Car, I Changed the Rad Temp sensor (on right hand side of the Radiator) from the e36 M3 Sensor to one from an e36 318TI Compact, (m44 engine) not sure if their the very same on the Coupe IS

but either way it cuts in @ 80 and 88 degrees instead of 90 and 99 like on your car,

Ive also wired the fan Direct to an old rear window de-mister switch for really hot weather/track days

Hope that Helps
Brian

Post Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:46 am

Many thanks Brian, thats brills

Post Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:23 am

Hi There,

I have now changed the e36 M3 Sensor to one from an e36 318TI Compact, this has sorted the temp gauge touching red, however the temp gauge still goes as high as 3/4. I would like the temp to stay halfway..... Is this possible?

A Friend mentioned I should bleed the coolant system. So I also self bleed the Radiator (took of the coolant cap and left it over night, and tightened it back on the following day) this still made no difference.

I have also changed the brown and blue sensors....again no change

Is there any way I can keep the under bonnet temp down? This is driving my mad!

Would an additional fan help, if so can anyone recommend where and which I can get? (Currently my fan is on the front, as there is not much space between the engine and radiator.... can I may be fit another here??? )

Another problem I have now noticed, not sure if it’s related. When the temp is high and I have been driving the car for half hour or so, the accelerator gets jammed for half a sec and then the revs automatically raises 1000rpm/2000rpm, whilst changing to the next gear? Any clues on what’s going on here ??

Any help would be great.... thanks

Post Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:32 am

are you sure the gauge is reading right ? I mean if the switch is closing loop at 88º and then turning off again then there's no reason to believe the temperature is actually higher than the 88ºc.

Post Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:53 am

The gauge temp sensor has been changed (the brown one) ... i thought this would indicate to the right temp on the gauge? on the gauge the needle is at 3/4 mark.... im not sure if this is what is should be on?

Post Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:50 pm

virdi325i wrote:The gauge temp sensor has been changed (the brown one) ... i thought this would indicate to the right temp on the gauge? on the gauge the needle is at 3/4 mark.... im not sure if this is what is should be on?

3/4 on the gauge is much higher than it should be with an E30 brown temp sender fitted.

Mine generally runs at at 1/4. I've never seen it much above 1/2.

Ian.

Post Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:35 am

what rad have you fitted?

Post Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:58 am

My M30'd cabby temp gauge was reading high, like yours at 3/4 before the fan kicked in. Confirmed with one of those laser IR probes that the t/stat housing was only at 90 deg C when the gauge read 3/4.

*Eventually* tracked it down (with Brianmooore's helpful suggestions) to a really badly corrodoed main engine earth strap. Cleaned that up, and the gauge started reading more reasonably.

Might be worth looking at the earth strap on your car.

Martin

Post Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:12 am

The Rad fitted is a E36 M3

Where is main engine strap, I might need to have a look at that.

is there a S50 meet, where we can all meet up and check out each other’s cars out ...... I would love to see another E30 with the S50 lump.... and see how the compare in the way the conversions have been done and also the way they run.

I'm based in London; will people be up for this?

Post Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:19 am

ill be at santa pod with my s50`d M3. catch me early though as i soon start talking nonesense when the beer starts flowing.

Post Sun May 08, 2011 2:26 pm

Hi,

Just a suggestion.

Is your expansion bottle inlet at
least 50mm above the radiators
highest water point ?

If not then alter so it is.

Second suggestion-

Some E36 water pumps have a plastic
impeller mounted on a steel shaft.

When the impeller starts to break up
it starts to work loose on the shaft, and
the water circulation drops.

Engine will run much hotter.

Regards,

The Gorilla.