M50 Touring Questions

[andyborris]

Hi,

Is there any way of checking if a M50 water pump is plastic without removing it?

I know I've got a wiring miss-match on the temp gauge, how I can check the temp gauge is working before trying to sort the wiring problem? I did find something on this site which explained the wiring colours, but can't find it again, anyone got link?

Been told the car has a ZF manual gearbox, is this better then a Gertrag and why?


Thanks

Andy

[Brianmoooore]

No way of identifying the water pump from outside that I know of.

m50 uses a two wire temp gauge, M20 a single wire. You need to fit a M20 temp sender in place of the M50 one, ( straight swap, same connector), and connect the M50 brown/purple (C101 pin 12) to the M20 brown/purple (C101 pin 4).
The M50 brown/yellow (C101 pin 11) is left unused.
Never known an E30 temp gauge that didn't work at the instruments end yet.
One of the gearboxes is supposed to be slightly better than the other, but I suspect it is marginal, and I don't know which.

[jmc330i]

On the gearbox front, the ZF is meant to be stronger but heavier than the Getrag.