Temp gauge - 525iT

Hey guys, I just picked up a new (to me) '02 525iT. Have one big question about it, everywhere I have read it says that the temp gauge should be directly at 12 o'clock but mine isn't. It is a smidge to the right of 12, now a buddy of mine has a 540 and it sits right at 12 and never moves. Should I be worried I am running too hot? Most of the cooling system was just replaced and it never moves any further to the right.

Here's a pic for reference. I tried to be as dead on as possible.

That looks exactly like my 540. I have not had problems. If there is a problem, I hope someone else chimes in.

needle is buffered to be straight up . Anything else is not normal. Just watch it carefully to make sure it never goes any higher.

That's about were my 540 sits. If your concerned unlock the cluster and get it to display the actual engine temp in degrees (test 7 I believe)

mbell, thanks for the info. I have not unlocked the cluster yet. I have only had the car a few months and am learning every day about it. The last thing I want is get stranded.

Looks like I will be busy this weekend unlocking my cluster.

Originally Posted by mbell666

That's about were my 540 sits. If your concerned unlock the cluster and get it to display the actual engine temp in degrees (test 7 I believe)

Do you have a link to unlock the cluster? I have found a few threads but they all seem to be for the low cluster. I have the high.

Here you go:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1138110

Could b tstat as well, cheap aftermarket, or just not the correct one. Opening at lets say 104c instead of 94c

After unlocking my cluster, the temp is 106-108F. That was fun to read through my dead pixels.

How the temperature gauge works, in detail, is listed in this thread (found by typing /temperature F3 in the best links):
- What is the temperature of the coolant & when the thermostat opens under normal conditions (1)

Also, how the temperature gauge gets it's readings is found by typing /dts F3 in the bestlinks:
- How to replace the dual temperature sensor DTS, aka double temperature switch (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to make your own short DTS removal tool out of a 22mm or 7/8" box wrench (1)

Originally Posted by esilvas

After unlocking my cluster, the temp is 106-108F. That was fun to read through my dead pixels.

On my 528iT I have never been over 98C. Usually hangs out at 96 in city and 94 hwy. but then again you have a 525 which might have a different operating temp. Driving it in city and hwy try to see the fluctuations in temp and report back to us. You may have a small issue

Finally unlocked my cluster and I was reading 90C - 93C (with LOTS of dead pixels)

Originally Posted by Euro_Hobbs

Finally unlocked my cluster and I was reading 90C - 93C (with LOTS of dead pixels)

That is correct running temperature for 525. Since the needle isn't at 12 o'clock there is an issue with the cluster. Maybe someone has opened the cluster and twisted bumped that needle. There are quite many reasons to open the cluster like fixing dead pixels, blocking warning lights due to some fault in the car etc. Simplest way to fix that would be send the cluster to get those pixels repaired, or repair those pixels yourself. While fixing those pixels it is easy to fix that needle. I fixed the pixels on my e39 and it wasn't as bad as some let you believe, but it's not easy either.