Outside Ambient Air Temp Sensor...

[Silent 1]

Does anyone know where exactly it's located? I've look under the front bumper (left & right) but don't see it anywhere

1995 BMW 318is

Thanks for your help!

[Zodiacbw]

In the right/pass brake duct.

[Silent 1]

In the right/pass brake duct.

Ok...thanks I'll check that out.

[low36]

Mine is on the drivers side.

[JDStrickland]

The brake duct part is right, but the temp sensor probe is in the left side duct work.

[Spyke]

I have to replace mine... driver's side brake duct has been confirmed in multiple threads. I just have to find a connector & pig tail for the new sensor I got though

[ttkid06]

I have to replace mine... driver's side brake duct has been confirmed in multiple threads. I just have to find a connector & pig tail for the new sensor I got though

Can you do a short write up of this for me? My senor is cut at the end of the wires.

[Spyke]

Can you do a short write up of this for me? My senor is cut at the end of the wires.

Going to post a DIY as soon as I can find a connector and wires for it, I know it's a common issue.

[c0re]

Going to post a DIY as soon as I can find a connector and wires for it, I know it's a common issue.

When my ext. temperature sensor wires broke I ended up buying new wires from the $tealership which, fittingly, robbed me blind. Ended up being 30 bucks for two wires with the pins attached!

The connector, if you still have it, can just be pried open with a small flathead and reused with new wires. Attaching wires is just a simple cut/solder/heatsrink and you are good as new.

[MParallel]

It's the left duct. It's a small plastic probe you can see sitting right when you look into the duct.

The right side duct has the thermo switch (coin like sensor) for the heated washer jets (and still in debate it may or may not also regulate the heater side mirrors).

But since not all cars have the heated jets, but all have heated mirrors and no thermal switch, that should be enough to say it doesn't control the heated mirrors.

[flyfishvt]

There should be no more debate on the thermoswitch and the side mirrors. I am the one who is responsible for raising that question and I have since been proven wrong. The thermoswitch ONLY controls the washer jet heaters.

When I replaced my temp sensor I got an inexpensive non OEM one off ebay. it didn't have a connector. it had wires. since my connector had ripped off I was left with just the ends of the two wires and I soldered them onto my new sensor. Its been working fine for over 2 years.

My current car is reading -35 so I assume the sensor is missing or faulty. I haven't had a chance to look yet. I have collected a bunch of various e36 connectors during my many trips/vacations to my favorite junk yard. I have a replacement "Yellow" connector for the temp sensor and I have a stock sensor if I need it. If no one does a DIY on this soon then I probably will.

[mwood]

I think location varies. Mine is on the Passenger Side brake duct ( factory M3 front, euro )

[coolpizzadude]

Mine was zip tied to the inside of the bumper.

[MParallel]

I think location varies. Mine is on the Passenger Side brake duct ( factory M3 front, euro )

No, BMW didn't vary the location. Someone probably retrofitted it and used that side.

But who knows?

[flyfishvt]

I think location varies. Mine is on the Passenger Side brake duct ( factory M3 front, euro )

If it's on the passenger side and it's not yellow it's not the temp sensor. It's probably round and that would be the thermo switch.

[MParallel]

If it's on the passenger side and it's not yellow it's not the temp sensor. It's probably round and that would be the thermo switch.

I'm astouned by the amount of misinformation is given about E36's on this board and how easy people take myths for facts.

[boostlife]

What does the thermal switch do mine is the but not pluged in

[flyfishvt]

OK here it is for LHD cars...the temp sensor is on the drivers side. The thermoswitch is on the passenger side. The "factory" temp sensor is Yellow. The thermoswitch is kind of silver and round. The temp sensors only function is to display the outside air temp on the OBC/MID. The thermoswitch's only function is to turn on the heaters for the heated washer jets when the outside temp falls below 38F and turn them off when it warms up above 38F. If your car is not fitted with the heated washer jets you will not have the thermoswitch. You won't even have a connector for it. both of these sensor go in the brake cooling ducts of the car if those ducts are still there.

How do you tell if you have the winter package and heated washer jets? Very simple. Look at the hood strut that has the hose for the washer jets attached. If you have the heated jets you will see the hose AND a wire bundle going up that strut. The wires go to the heaters. If you don't see the wire bundle then you do not have the heated washer jets. On US cars the heated washer jets and heated drivers door handle were only available as part of the winter package. The only other time you would see wires going up the hood strut is if your car had a light installed under the hood.

[MParallel]

A pics says more than a 1000 words...

Outside temp probe (left brake duct)




Thermal switch, right duct.

[boostlife]

I have them both just don't have the airducts

[MParallel]

I have them both just don't have the airducts

Then someone took them out. All E36's have these ducts (they are different for the M and non-M bumpers.

[boostlife]

It's a 328is but I switched to m bumpers so I'll need the m ones right

[MParallel]

It's a 328is but I switched to m bumpers so I'll need the m ones right

Is my previous post in any way ambiguous?

[Silent 1]

The brake duct part is right, but the temp sensor probe is in the left side duct work.

Ok...I still can't find the air temp sensor. I've looked on both sides, and I don't have brake ducts either. I'm trying to avoid taking it somewhere to get it fixed when I can do it myself

I have a '95 318is coupe.

Anyone have any suggestions or better yet pictures? I know what it looks like...I just can't seem to find/see it.

Thanks.

[Silent 1]

Update: 10/24/2011

I bought another one off of ebay...found the wires under the driver side wheel well. I guess the old one was broken off, anyway I hooked the new up and mounted it in a different area and it works like a charm now!

Thanks for the help