"Jon Blake"wrote
> I've heard the more than likely apocryphal story that for the USA market
> the average bimmer owner was concerned that such a fine car had such
> fluctuations in its coolant temp, hence the rock sold reading regardless
> of actual engine temp. I pray this story is urban myth.

It's quite probable actually. Other manufacturers (Audi/VW for one) have
been doing it for years. The gauge has a dead range, and within this range
the needle is designed to stay put. Only when the coolant temp is
significantly too high/low will it budge. You'd just have to find out what
that dead range is. I'm hoping the engineers aren't as dumb as you might
expect and put some thought into this without endangering the engine.


> am considering adding oil temp

Yeah, that would be a more useful gauge, IMO. My A4 had it and I always
paid more attention to it than to the coolant temp gauge because I wanted to
make sure my oil was warmed up before I drove it hard. Normally the oil
takes a bit longer to warm up as compared to coolant.


> so am prepared to be spanked again with some sort of comment about the
> guage will do what's it's supposed to do if things get overheated so I
> shouldn't. :-)

)

Cheers,
Pete