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Thread: 525i M50 coolant temp sensor change?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    1993 BMW 525iSE Touring

    525i M50 coolant temp sensor change?

    Guys

    Has anyone changed the coolant temperature sensor on a later M50 engined car? I can't even see it and someone told me the inlet manifold needs to come off ! Is this true ?
    Need to do it soon, but want to know what I'm letting myself in for!

    Thanks.
    Kind regards

    John

    1993 BMW E34 525i SE Touring
    1989 BMW E30 320i SE Touring
    1986 Porsche 944 Lux
    1982 Porsche 924 Lux
    1979 Porsche 924 Lux

  2. #2
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    Not inlet manifold, the INTAKE MANIFOLD may need to be removed to replace the engine coolant temp. It just depends how dexterous you are. Some people are able to remove it without taking the manifold off.

    It's item no. 13 on the diagram. Don't get it confuse with item no. 15.

    23.png
    Quote Originally Posted by GarrettSR5 View Post
    Hate to admit it but attack_eagle is right.
    Quote Originally Posted by SpiritofBavaria View Post
    ............. then upallnight has probably got it right
    Spirit

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by upallnight View Post
    Not inlet manifold, the INTAKE MANIFOLD may need to be removed to replace the engine coolant temp. It just depends how dexterous you are. Some people are able to remove it without taking the manifold off.

    It's item no. 13 on the diagram. Don't get it confuse with item no. 15.

    23.png
    Although inlet manifold is the correct term here, you might want to call it 'intake' on a US forum :-) If you look down at an angle between the oil filter bowl and the left hand edge of the manifold, you will see the two leads. As upallnight says, the front one is the coolant temp sensor for the ECU. The rear one is the sender for your temp gauge.
    If I were doing it, I would remove the manifold. That takes me about 20 minutes but of course you have to fit new gaskets when you put it back. Access is much easier then and you get the chance to clean the ICV and inspect all the hoses under there. I wouldnt drain the coolant but would do the swap 'live'. Each to his own method though

  4. #4
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    Oops sorry, didn't realized the Bloke was across the pond. REALOEM list 13 as the engine coolant temp sensor, and 15 as just temperature sensor.
    Quote Originally Posted by GarrettSR5 View Post
    Hate to admit it but attack_eagle is right.
    Quote Originally Posted by SpiritofBavaria View Post
    ............. then upallnight has probably got it right
    Spirit

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by upallnight View Post
    Not inlet manifold, the INTAKE MANIFOLD
    Someone needs some sleep...

    John, taking off the intake manifold may not be a bad thing. Given the age of the car and frequency of people reporting issues due to cracked manifold gaskets, it may be an opportunity to do some preventive maintenance. Valve cover gasket comes to mind as well (you know it's leaking).

    1992 525iT, Manual Swap, Bilstien Sport struts, H&R springs, Style 32 17" wheels (17x8 fronts, 17x9 rears), ACS exhaust, Euro cluster, Wilwood SL6R BBK on E38 rotors

  6. #6
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    Thanks guys. I appreciate the wisdom of removing the manifold but it's not quite so easy on my car as it has an LPG gas conversion, much of which is attached to said manifold! I will have a closer look and see if it's possible but I don't want to cause more problems than I'm solving, if you know what I mean! That's why I was hoping to do the sensor "in situ".
    Kind regards

    John

    1993 BMW E34 525i SE Touring
    1989 BMW E30 320i SE Touring
    1986 Porsche 944 Lux
    1982 Porsche 924 Lux
    1979 Porsche 924 Lux

  7. #7
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    no need to remove the intake/inlet manifold. accessible with it on... takes a little effort but that big of deal.

  8. #8
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    Many thanks for that. I'm going to try changing it and see what happens !
    Kind regards

    John

    1993 BMW E34 525i SE Touring
    1989 BMW E30 320i SE Touring
    1986 Porsche 944 Lux
    1982 Porsche 924 Lux
    1979 Porsche 924 Lux

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    I was able to change mine out without pulling the intake manifold, but I had use a deep socket with a long extension and a u-joint adapter...and I have thin arms and hands...was quite the project reaching back in there and a dropped the washer for the sensor once and couldn't find it (it was copper/non magnetic), so I had to get a new one... lesson learned. it can be done, but if I have to do it again I'm going to pull the intake manifold... good luck with the change out, I hope it goes well for you. =)

  10. #10
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    I can't smash my forearms and hands down in there. You "petite" guys have some advantages at least Ha Ha.
    "It's not what you buy- it's what you build" - unknown
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  11. #11
    Join Date
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    What symptoms was the car showing by having a bad sensor?
    1991 525i - Lots of broken things, lots of rattles, lots of leaks, lots of miles, and lots of lack of horsepower.

    The glass is not half-full or half-empty; it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    Walsall, United Kingdom
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    1993 BMW 525iSE Touring
    From cold (Sub 8 degrees C or so) it runs poorly, won't pull or speed up properly for about a mile, then it's fine (When the Lambda sensor takes over the running.) Had the sensor tested and at higher temps it's fine.
    Kind regards

    John

    1993 BMW E34 525i SE Touring
    1989 BMW E30 320i SE Touring
    1986 Porsche 944 Lux
    1982 Porsche 924 Lux
    1979 Porsche 924 Lux

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